She was always pretty protective of Kora and their friendship, earning a few scars herself over the years, only from much better motivations and reasons. Kristen's were almost badges of honor. The red badge of courage as they used to say in the army movies. Fact was, times were hard when we were younger, and we all did things that we regretted.
"Get out there and mingle," Kristen said, pushing me gently from behind. “Go see her.”
I went over to the table, doing my best to hide the hard-on forming in my pants, half hoping Kora wouldn't notice and the other half hoping that she would and would know it was because of her.
There were only two places left and Kristen had already claimed the one at the head of the table. I pulled out the chair beside Kora before sitting down next to her, cursing the fates and my luck.
"You look familiar," I said, pretending to just notice her.
"Really?" she asked.
"Yeah, you look just like a girl I knew in high school. Well, not exactly. You look more mature. She was only 16 at the time."
"Ran off, did she?"
"I'll never stop looking," I said.
"How romantic," she said, picking up her wine glass.
"I have my moments," I said with a shrug.
"Or maybe she was trying to get away from you," Kora said.
"True. Then again, some kids want to run away and join the circus," I said.
"What would her act be?" Kora asked.
"Likely a knife throwing act."
"Oh, skilled, was she?"
"Certainly. I mean, she stabbed me in the heart," I said.
"I don't think that's the idea of a knife throwing act," Kora said.
"Could start a new trend," I said.
"She sounds hip," Kora said.
"Oh, she was. In more ways than one," I said with a wink.
"Dangerous curves?"
"Absolutely deadly," I said, looking her in the eyes.
She looked down, blushing.
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Kristen wink.
Her smile told me she thought her cunning plan had worked.
I wasn't so sure.
I definitely couldn't get over this woman but wasn't sure what to do now that I had seen her again. Something I'd never thought would happen.
Fuck.
Now what?Chapter Five - KoraKristen’s place was nicer than I remembered. I'd only been there a few times. Before things blew apart entirely.
I think she had updated the décor. But there was still an odd feeling of familiarity. Like nothing had changed since the last time I was there.
I sort of hoped that was true. That maybe Kristen and I could pick up where we had left off like nothing had happened. Not very likely, I knew but it was a nice idea.
I couldn't see Kristen anywhere at the table. Just people I didn't know and lots of wine. I found one of the last available seats and claimed it. There was an empty one next to it and I started wondering if someone was going to arrive even later than I had.
I had been nervous to come but had finally made myself.
Better later than never, I supposed.
"I'm Lara," said the girl next to me as I sat down, holding out her hand.
"I'm Kora," I said, shaking her hand.
Then I heard a voice I could have sworn was Logan's and turned so fast I nearly fell over. Lust and hate collided in my head I couldn't decide whether I wanted to punch him or fuck him. Probably one and then the other, if I was being honest. I wasn't usually into the kinky stuff but that was just the response he brought out of me.
I went more towards fucking him when I saw his huge cock hard in his pants. I just knew it was because of me. Then he came out with that opening line about me looking like someone he used to know.
My surprise at seeing him again first turned to anger at Kristen for setting me up. Though, to be fair, I didn't ask, and I could have and really I should have. I even should have assumed that she might have invited him.
From what I knew, Kristen and Logan had always been really close. Even during the nastiness that happened back in high school, she had always seemed more concerned about him than mad.
She couldn't really be blamed for doing something she thought was nice for two people that she loved. I could have sworn I saw her winking at us when she saw we were talking. Blissfully unaware that the whole thing had a good chance of devolving to a gun fight at the O.K. Corral.
Things went surprisingly well for the rest of the night, though, the barbs kept to a minimum, and always mixed in with gentle flirtations. Some girls might have taken it as a back-handed compliment but I had encountered the type enough times since to know what was going on.
He was still acting like an arrogant ass, but a flirtatious one, and I got the feeling that Logan was as conflicted as me.