Unknown Number:
What are you doing?
As soon as I read it, I knew it was from him. I don’t know how, but I just did. I also knew it wasn’t merely a simple message from a friend asking what I was up to. No. This message was entirely different, a warning of sorts, but I didn’t care. I wasn’t going to play into Zander’s hand. He didn’t have the right to question me in such a way, not after blowing me off. I considered responding with a chastising message, telling him to go to hell, but decided that ignoring him would be much more effective. Feeling confident in my decision, I put my phone back in my purse, finished my drink, then turned to Krissy. “Are you ready to get back out there?”
“Girl, you know it.”
She smiled and then followed me out onto the dance floor. We hadn’t been there long, when two guys came up and started dancing alongside us. Soon after Krissy started flirting with one of them, and they quickly got carried away. His friend kept a courteous distance, but it was clear from his intense stare that he was interested. He was good-looking, tall with blond hair and hazel eyes, and physically fit, but sadly, when I looked at him, my heart didn’t race the way it had with Zander. In fact, my heart wasn’t in it at all, even when the music turned slow and he took me in his arms and we swayed to the rhythm. I should’ve just danced along and pretended that I wasn’t bothered by the fact he wasn’t Zander, but I simply couldn’t do it. Disappointment crossed his face as I stepped back and said, “Thanks for the dance, but I’ve really got to go.”
“Oh ... okay.” He gave me a slight smile and said, “Maybe we can do it again sometime.”
“Yeah ... maybe.”
I hadn’t gotten far when Krissy called out to me, “Hey, Dee! Where ya going?”
I turned to face her as I answered, “I’m gonna go. I’m just not feeling it tonight.”
“What? We’re just starting to have fun.” She motioned her hand back towards the dance floor. “Those guys are totally into us.”
“I know, but I’m just—”
Before I could finish my answer, a surprised look crossed her face as she muttered, “Oh, my god.”
“What?”
“Umm ... He’s here.”
“Who’s here?”
I quickly turned to see who she was talking about, and that’s when I noticed Zander walking in our direction. His eyes were trained on me as he plowed through the crowd with an intense expression marking his handsome face. When he made his way over to us, he reached for my hand and started walking towards the front door. I jerked my hand away from his. “What the hell do you think you’re doing?”
“I’m taking you home.”
“I’m not ready to go home, and I’m certainly not going home with you.” My drinks had clearly caught up with me when I slurred, “So, you can just put that in your pipe and smoke it.”
“You’ve been drinking.”
“Yeah. And?”
“And you’re going home ... Now.” He reached for my hand once again, pulling me forward until I stopped dead in my tracks.
“Just wait a doggone minute! I’m not going anywhere. Besides, I’m not here alone.”
“I’m sure Krissy can get home on her own.”
“That’s not the point,” I argued. “I came with her, and I can’t just leave without telling her. Hold up ... How do you know her name is Krissy?”
Before he could answer, Krissy came rushing past us and waved. “Don’t worry about me, sweetie. I’ve got a ride. You two kids have fun!”
With a big, goofy smirk on her face, my best friend disappeared out the front door, leaving me alone to deal with Zander. Clearly amused by the fact, he cocked his eyebrow and said, “Well, how about that? Looks like Krissy is covered.”
“Yeah, well, no thanks to you.” I wanted to stay mad at him. I needed to. It was the only way I could overcome the disappointment I’d felt over not hearing from him for the past two days, but it wasn’t easy, especially when he looked so damn good. I crossed my arms in defiance as I snapped, “Why are you here, Zander?”
“You know why.”
“I wouldn’t be asking if I did.”
“I’m here for you.” Even though he’d already proven otherwise, he stared at me like I meant something to him—like I was his. “I’m taking you home.”
With that, he took hold of my hand, and this time I didn’t resist as he led me out of the bar and into a crowd of people. When he turned down a dark alley, I thought he was taking me to his bike. Instead, he pinned me up against the wall with his mouth just inches from my ear. The bristles of his day-old beard prickled against my cheek as he whispered, “Why didn’t you answer my message?”