Christian

The moment I walked in, I spotted Eloise sitting on the couch looking down at her phone. I needed to act casual, so Peter and I hit the bar first for a drink. While we were waiting for our drinks to be made, I saw Eloise and Claire trying to escape. She must have seen me, but I wasn’t going to let her get away that easily.

“Peter, stop those two.” I pointed. “I’ll grab our drinks. Be casual.”

Peter smiled and headed toward Eloise and Claire while I stood there and watched him stop them dead in their tracks. After grabbing our drinks from the bar, I walked over to where the three of them were standing.

“Eloise? Claire? What are you doing here?” I asked as I handed Peter his drink.

“Why wouldn’t we be here? It’s a singles mixer,” Claire spoke.

“But you’re not single.”

“She’s here with me,” Eloise spoke as she stood tall. “What are you doing here?”

“Like she said, it’s a singles mixer and I’m single.” I smirked.

“You don’t appear to be the type to come to these things,” she spoke.

“What type does a person have to be to attend?” I arched my brow.”

“Well, I’m here taking photographs for an article.”

“Where’s your camera?” I asked with a narrowed eye.

Peter took Claire by the arm and escorted her to the bar to give Eloise and me some alone time.

“I’m taking pictures with my phone. Smile,” she spoke as she snapped a picture of me.

“I think you’re lying. You wouldn’t do that.”

“Fine, Christian. It’s a long story and I really don’t want to get into it.”

“I have all night, sweetheart.” I grinned.

“I’m doing research for a blog I run. It’s for relationship advice.”

I chuckled.

“You, the woman who won’t go out on a date with me, gives relationship advice?”

“It’s complicated.”

“So you’re not here to meet anyone special?” I asked.

“No. It’s purely business/blog related. I told you that I’m not ready to date anyone. I swear I’m telling you the truth.”

“Okay. Well, I am here to explore my options, so I’ll let you go do your research.”

“You are?” She cocked her head.

“Of course. Why else would I be here?” I smiled.

Peter and Claire walked over to us and I held my glass up to Peter’s.

“Let’s go explore our options. Shall we?” I grinned.

“We shall.” Peter smiled as he tipped his glass against mine.

****

Eloise

Christian and Peter walked away and I stood there with a feeling of—I don’t know what the hell it was. All I knew was that I was uncomfortable with Christian being here.

“See.” Claire smiled. “No big deal. You were worried for nothing.”

I swallowed hard as I watched Christian walk up to some tall brunette who had more Botox and fillers than natural beauty.

“Whatever.” I scowled at her and walked away.

“There you are, Eloise.” Jack smiled. “Can we get to know each other better now?”

I glanced over at Christian, who was laughing with the brunette and lightly touching her arm.

“Of course we can.” I hooked my arm around Jack’s.

I led him over by the bar and he ordered me another cosmopolitan. After he handed me my drink, we took a seat on an empty couch and began to talk. My eyes wouldn’t stop diverting over to where Christian was flirting with that woman. A lump grew in the back of my throat with each finger stroke down her arm and her finger strokes down his chest.

“Eloise? Am I boring you or something?” Jack asked.

“Umm. No, of course not. I have some questions for you if you don’t mind.”

“Go ahead and ask away.” He smiled.

I questioned him, and he willingly answered but with a strange look on his face.

“These are some really weird questions. Maybe you’re not the woman I thought you were.” He got up from the couch.

“In all honesty, Jack, I’m not.” I lightly smiled.

“Well then, I’ll be moving on.”

I gave him a nod just as Claire walked over and sat down.

“Where were you?” I asked.

“Checking out the crowd, being hit on, and listening in on people’s conversations.” She grinned.

I finished my drink just as Christian walked over to me and Claire.

“Any luck?” He smirked.

“Not really. But I see you found someone.” I cocked my head.

“You mean Brio? She’s a nice woman and she wants to go out with me.”

“Good for you, Christian.” I stood up and patted his chest. “I hope the two of you have fun.”

There was a discontent, an anger, so to speak, rising in my chest. I needed to get out of here and fast.

“Are you ready, Claire?”

“Yeah. If you are.”

“I’m more than ready.” I looked at Christian. “Enjoy the rest of your evening, Mr. Blake. I’ll see you in a couple of days.”

“You too, Miss Moore,” he spoke with a cocky attitude.

I grabbed Claire by the hand and high-tailed it off the rooftop as quickly as I could.

“What is wrong with you? You can’t seriously be jealous about Christian. You turned him down, remember?” she spoke.

“I remember and I’m not jealous. I’m tired and I want to go home.”

We climbed into the back of a cab and since Claire’s apartment was closer, the driver dropped her off first.

“You know you can always change your mind about going out with Christian.”

“I’m not changing my mind. I don’t give a fuck who he dates. But it sure as hell isn’t going to be me.”

She sighed as she climbed out of the cab and shut the door. Pulling out my phone, I sent a text message to the only person who I knew would make me feel okay.

“Hey. Sort of a bad night.”

“Hey. Your singles mixer didn’t go too well?”

“Not really.”

“Want to talk about it?”

“It’s just this guy that wants me to go out with him. He was there and he ended up meeting someone.”

“Ah. Why won’t you go out with this guy? You’re always going on dates.”

“Because he’s the type of man I could fall for in a second, and that’s something I don’t want.”

“All because of your past relationships?”

“Yeah. I guess. I’m taking a break from guys and serious dating.”

“What’s the harm, Digits? Maybe the two of you won’t even hit it off and then you don’t have to worry about it.”

“Trust me, we’ll hit it off. The physical attraction is so strong. I have to tell you something.”

“What is it?”

“We had sex in his bathroom not too long ago. It just happened and I freaked out. Now I’m going to be doing a freelance job for him. We’re going to Chicago on Friday.”

“So after you had sex and freaked out, you still talk to him?”

“Sort of. I ran into him the next day and he apologized to me for the bathroom sex.”

“That was nice of him. I would say he was a true gentleman to do that.”

“He is. He’s a great guy.”

“Then what’s the problem”

“The problem is I can’t give myself to anyone again. At least not for a long time. I have other things I need to focus on and guys and dating aren’t one of them. I need to focus solely on myself for now.”

“You never know, Digits. He could be the one to change your life.”

“Or he could be the one to destroy it.”

“You’re being paranoid.”

“I have reason to be, Mobile Man.”

“Some of the greatest gifts in life are on the other side of fear. I think you’re afraid to get hurt again, so you’ve put up this wall around your heart.”

“He’s a serial dater and he never commits. For once in my life, I’m using my head. I just got home and I’m exhausted. Catch ya later?”

“Catch ya later, Digits. Good night.”

“Good night, Mobile Man.”