Page 3 of Always. Forever.

I stare at Toni, eyes wide, not wanting to turn around to see who is behind me. My thoughts go straight to the man from earlier, but his voice is embedded in my head—it’s definitely not him. I turn around and don’t recognize him. He’s cute with his mousy-brown hair styled to perfection, swept back off his face. His soulless, borderline black eyes unsettle me as he studies me. As I take in his face, it’s then I remember he was one of the guys standing behind Blue Eyes earlier, which I’m assuming is his friend. Oh God. I laugh it off and wave my hand in front of me.

“Oh, just a joke,” I say to him, smiling. He smirks at me, as if he knows it is not a joke, but he doesn’t push.

He places his hand out. “Well, it’s nice to meet you, I’m James.” He flashes me a dazzling white smile, which shows off his straight white teeth, while moving closer. He has to be at least six foot, if not more, and the way he towers over me has me stepping back. I shake his hand and offer him a polite smile. “I’m Rylee and this is my friend, Toni.”

“Best friend!” I roll my eyes at her, and he laughs.

"Well, it’s nice to meet you, “Best friend Toni,” he jokes.

We both laugh, and he offers to buy us a drink. Before I can even say no, as we just had our drinks delivered, Toni has listed what we are drinking with added shots. This girl has no shame. James calls over the bartender while Toni downs her drink and nudges me to do the same. I side-eye James to make sure he’s not watching us, because it feels awkward, although, I’m sure he sees our drinks in front of us anyway.

As our drinks are delivered, Ton snatches hers straight away and downs the shot. I down mine after, and it’s then I realize James is staring at me. He has moved closer and is making me uncomfortable. Don’t get me wrong, he’s a handsome guy, but not my type. He seems nice enough, but there’s just something about him that’s off. It’s just a feeling.

“Thanks for the drinks, James,” I say as I turn to Toni but bump into someone before I can get her to go to the dance floor again.

I mutter an apology, and before walking off, I hear that voice.

“I bumped into you, you bumped into me. I don’t feel as bad now, we can call it even.”

I swear I feel his voice between my legs.Is that a thing?Who knew? It’s Blue Eyes smirking down with the most panty-wetting smile. Literally. The laugh that comes out of me is not something I have heard come from me before. It’s between a little girl’s giggle and a hyena.Kill me now.

“Before you run away from me again, are you going to let me buy you a drink to say sorry for earlier?” Before I can even reply, James pipes up from behind me.

“Already brought her a drink, Jay.” James sounds irritated but tries to pass it off as friendly. I don’t know if Jay notices, but he doesn’t even glance at James, just keeps his eyes on me.

“Well, I would like to buy the beautiful girl another drink.” He nods at me, as if to ask,Is that okay?

“She would love another drink,” Toni says over my shoulder. I don’t think I could say no to him, he’s so intense—in a good way. What I like most is that Jay keeps his eyes on me, waiting for me to say yes. I smile while looking down and nod.Who am I, accepting two drinks from two guys within two minutes of each other.

I turn back around to lean against the bar. Blue Eyes leans beside me and waves the bartender over, and he rattles off what he and James are drinking and then looks at me. I say what I’m having, Toni adds in what she is having with a side shot, of course. James then shouts to make those four shots.Fuck, I don’t know how much more alcohol I can handle.

Toni nudges my side, and she whispers in my ear, “Remind me to take you out more often.” We giggle loudly and then Blue Eyes asks us to share the joke. I hold eye contact while fluttering my eyelashes, trying to muster an innocent look, which makes him laugh.

He leans in while placing his hand on my hip and whispers, “Sorry, I didn’t introduce myself, I’m Jace.” I swear his lips brush my ear—my clit certainly thinks it did, it’s fucking pulsing.

What is this guy doing to me?Jace, not Jay. Jace suits him, it’s sexy but also bold, and I couldn’t think of better fitting words to describe him. I gather myself and try to control my breathing.

I lean my head back, as he’s still close, and stare into his eyes. They’re just too beautiful not to look at. They stand out more against his pale skin and short, dark brown hair.

“I’m Rylee, it’s nice to meet you, Jace.” His warm smile, framed by the sexiest stubbled beard, lights up his face.

“Cringe line coming, but your name really is beautiful, which, of course, matches you,” he says while scratching his head with his lips tipped up in a half smile.

I throw my head back on a laugh. The drinks are hitting me more than I realized, and I try flirting by following up with “That is a cringe line, but out of your mouth, it’s not.” Heat creeps into my cheeks.I can’t believe I said that.

Before Jace can say anything, James says—sounding slightly annoyed over Jace’s shoulder—he is going back to their table. Jace turns around and nods.

“Someone’s pissed they didn’t win the girl,” Toni chimes in.

“Oh, did I get the girl, then?” Jace says, making me jump. I roll my eyes at Toni.

“Just ignore her, I normally do.”

“Rude,” Toni mumbles. I wink at her, and she kisses my cheek while backing away.

“I’m heading back to the girls, I need to shake this ass and find me some meat. Ciao, babes.”

I glare at Toni as she walks off while raising her brows at me with a shit-eating grin on her face.I can’t believe she has left me here on my own.

---