R – Ha ha! I hope none of those things happen...

I grin.

A subtle hint.

M – Well, maybe not all three things, but at least one...

R – Yeah, okay, one. I hope you don’t like your top, it’s going to suck when someone spills a drink on it.

I can’t help it, my heart flutters, and I grin.

M – How’s your night?

R – Good. Just had an old friend show up! I’ll talk to you later, okay?

M – Have fun!

R – You too, pretty lady.

With a huge grin, I put my phone away and join the conversation. Jack’s eyes are roaming the club, looking for Baylee no doubt. I scoot closer to him. “She here yet?”

“Not yet. Dammit.”

“Aw, Jack, you’re hung up on this one.”

He looks to me. “It’s the hard to get thing.”

“So, when you get her, you’re going to get bored?”

He grunts. “I highly doubt she’s the kind of girl you get bored with. She drives you batshit crazy with just one conversation.”

“Then why all the interest?”

“She’s just ... she’s different, Mol.”

Aw.

Jack.

“You think she might be the one girl you actually keep around?”

He shrugs, shifting anxiously. “Yeah, maybe. I don’t know. I just know she is hard to get, because she’s classy. She doesn’t take anyone’s shit. I like that about her. And she’s funny, I’ve heard her talking to her friends. She just seems ... like a good type. For me, anyway.”

“Well, I hope—”

“There!” he whisper-yells, and I look to where his finger is pointing.

There is an absolutely drop-dead-gorgeous girl about twenty feet away, wearing a stunning red dress. She’s got angel-blond hair, and as her eyes scan the crowd, I can see they’re the deepest green eyes I’ve ever seen. She’s only a little thing, petite and small. She’s absolutely breathtaking. Her looks alone would capture any man.

“If she’s got balls and she’s that small, I like her already,” I say to Jack.

“Don’t let her size fool you, she’s a pocket rocket.”

“So,” I say, nudging him. “How are you going to play this?”

He looks helplessly to me.

“Honestly, Jack, if she’s hard to get, I’d say it’s genuine and not a game. She’s probably concerned about a guy like you. We women can sense a player from a mile away. She’s likely scared you’ll use her, and if she’s classy, she won’t allow herself to be used.”

“So how do I go about this then?”

I glance at the girl, and her eyes are on Jack. There’s something in them, for sure. She’s curious about him. The second she sees me staring, she turns away. Yes, she might have self-worth and be guarded, but she is interested.

“Talk to her, keep trying, be yourself. I know that sounds cliché, Jack, but it’s true. Don’t chase her like you were, that can be off-putting, do pull back a little, I think that’ll work but don’t do it by trying to make her jealous or being a jerk. Be suave, cool, and gorgeous, just like you are, and let her come to you a little. Trust me, it’ll draw her in.”

“So, I don’t go over right now and say hello?”

“No,” I say. “You say hello, but you don’t stop. You stand, you hold those shoulders back, you put on your best grin, you saunter past her saying a husky hello, tell her she looks gorgeous, and keep moving. Do not, I repeat, do not look back.”

He looks to me.

“Dammit, this better work.”

I take his hand. “It’ll work, Jack. Trust me.”

He takes a breath, stands and starts walking. Jack is gorgeous. He knows it. Girls around him know it. He walks with suave, he holds himself with confidence. He walks towards the group of girls, stops when he reaches Baylee and puts on his most charming grin. Even I swoon. It’s hot. He says something to her that makes her cheeks go a little pink, and then, he turns and strides off.

And just like I thought, she watches him go, looking a little confused.

But mostly intrigued.

Score one: Jack.

~*~*~*~

R – Hey! Come over here before you head home, meet my friend.

I giggle as I stumble into the cab, trying to respond to Roman’s message. I’ve had a great night, dancing and laughing, and a few too many Cosmos. I give the cab driver Roman’s address and text him back.

M – On my way. Bit drunk, oops!

R – Haha, good stuff. See you soon!

I arrive at Roman’s place about ten minutes later, pay the cab driver, and climb out. I skip happily into his backyard where him and another man are sitting, drinking beers. I can tell right away they’re both well on their way to being as merry as me. I wave and chirp a loud, “Hey!” as I move towards them.

“Jesus.” Roman laughs, brown eyes studying me. “Had a good night?”

I laugh and flop down onto a chair. “What makes you think that?”

He grins at me and winks, then he pulls out his phone and holds it up, snapping a sneaky picture. “You wouldn’t send me one, now I have one. Hot, by the way.”

I flush and look to his friend. “Considering he’s so rude that he won’t introduce me, my name is Molly.”

His friend isn’t nearly as good looking as him, but he’s full of charm, it’s written all over his face. Sandy blond hair, slim in build, mischievous eyes. “Johnno.”

I giggle. “Johnno, original.”

He winks at me.

“Don’t take anything he says seriously.” Roman laughs. “He’s a slut and a womanizer. He’ll tell you anything to get into bed with you.”

I look to Johnno, and he winks.

“Well, I’ll keep that in mind, but you don’t scare me.”

“I should,” he grins.

I look back to Roman, and he’s studying me with that softness in his eyes again. I didn’t think I’d see that look from him again, and I wonder what it means. I shake myself instantly and push it away. I’m here to be his friend. To be fun and happy. To be exactly what he needs to get through. I’m not here to make things harder again.

“How was your night?” he asks, sliding me a beer.