Page 1 of The Little Black Rose

Chapter1

Are you Sure?

Ava

Three months ago…

It’s slim pickings atThe Red Scorpiontonight. Trust me, I’ve observed and discarded every single, dateless dude in the bar, and not one of them has struck a chord of interest. And after watching my best friend Sophie suck face with her boyfriend, Jared, all night, I’m itching to find a little company of my own.

I look around the table. My other bestie, Zoey, is giving her best impression of a boozy lush, slurping down drinks faster than our waitress can get back to the bar for the next round. I don’t know what’s going on with her. Until tonight, she’d been MIA for a few days, always too busy to hang out with Sophie and me, which is totally unlike her.

My gaze lands on Sam, Jared’s best friend, and he’s watching Zoey suck down another cocktail with a look of concern. I wonder if something is going on with them. They’ve been spending a shit ton of time together lately, ever since Zoey agreed to be his wing-woman and spy on his dates to determine what he’s been doing wrong on his path to finding true love.

Sam meets my eyes, and my suspicion must show on my face, because he clears his throat and excuses himself to go use the restroom. I watch him go, then look back at Zoey. She’s watching him, too.Very interesting.

“I have to pee!” Zoey announces before leaping to her unsteady feet.

“Do you want me to go with you?” I ask, but she brushes me off and wobbles toward the back corridor where Sam disappeared a few seconds ago.

I settle back in my chair and look back over at Sophie, who’s straddled Jared’s lap since the last time I looked over. I roll my eyes and focus on the only other person at the table––Zeke Beckett. Zoey’s twin brother and the bane of my existence.

Okay. Maybe that’s taking it a little far. I like Zeke. At least, I did a lifetime ago. Beforeher.

Zeke used to be an outgoing, fun-loving guy. He’d hang with me, Zoey, and Sophie when we were in our teens and early twenties, always making us laugh with his quick wit and penchant for goofiness. When he started dating Samantha, he drifted away. But that was okay. He was happy, and we were happy for him.

But after they broke up––and none of us really know the details of what happened––Zeke changed. It was like he erected this impenetrable fortress around himself. He doesn’t let anyone in, except maybe Zoey, and he never laughs anymore. He’s…stoic.

And somehow, I’ve made it my mission to break through his walls with pointed barbs and calculated insults. Nothing ever works, and I always end up frustrated.

And the worst part is, before Samantha, I had a secret crush on him. I never told anyone. Back then, I was awkward and unsure of myself, and I spent my days and nights praying Zeke Beckett would notice me. Then he got with Samantha, and my hopes were dashed. And after they broke up, we’d both changed too much. He’s not a lovable goofball anymore, and I’m no longer that dreamy-eyed girl who wishes on stars.

“I’m going to take Zoey home now.”

I look up to see Sam, his arm around Zoey as she sways against him. She’s shitfaced and obviously needs to sleep it off.

Sophie stops kissing Jared long enough to look up at them and nod. “Call me tomorrow, Zo.”

“I can take her,” Zeke offers, but Sam shakes his head.

“I don’t mind. Can you make sure Ava gets home?”

Zeke looks over at me, and I shrug. Then he looks back at Sam and nods. I watch as Sam leads Zoey out of the bar, then look back at Zeke. He’s staring into his glass of water, that perpetual frown on his face. I wonder if he’s irritated at having to drive me home without his sister.

Zeke has been our designated driver for as long as I can remember. Even when he was with his ex, he never hesitated to come when Zoey called. It wasn’t until recently that he started joining us on our outings, mostly because of his budding friendship with Sam and Jared. And now that Sam is gone and Jared isbusy, I’m guessing he wants to get the hell out of here.

“I can call a car if you want to leave,” I offer before taking a sip of my cocktail.

“I promised to drive you, and I will,” he says gruffly, never meeting my eyes.

“Way to make a girl feel special,” I grouse, taking another drink.

This is my third cocktail, so I should be pleasantly buzzed, but I’m not really feeling it. I look over at Sophie and Jared again, then tilt my head back with a sigh. This isnotfun. I don’t begrudge them their love, but that doesn’t mean I want to sit here in silence and watch it play out with a man who barely tolerates me, and vice versa.

“Let’s go,” I say.

“Thank God,” I think I hear him mumble under his breath as he stands.

“Hey, yo, lovebirds,” I say snapping my fingers at Sophie and Jared. “You guys might want to take this to the privacy of your own home. We’re leaving.”

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