The man looks to me, reaching down to my soul with his eyes.
“And what about you?” he asks.
I should say no. These men are complete strangers who haven’t even introduced themselves to us. If we go with them, it’s going to be a night of drinking and bad decisions that will inevitably end up with us doing a walk of shame in the morning. But I’m wearing one of the most expensive shirts I have ever worn. I look hot, and I need a fun night.
I feel more eyes on me. I glance up and see Arlo staring at me. He shakes his head ever so slightly at me. He doesn’t want me to go.
I smirk. He doesn’t control me. He doesn’t get to tell me to stay away from him one second and then kiss me the next. And he definitely doesn’t get to tell me not to go to a party with some hot men either.
“Yes,” I answer defiantly.
“Great! It’s just two blocks away. If you are ready, we can walk you over. I’m Clive by the way,” he says.
“I’m Nina.”
“And I’m Eden,” Eden says, pushing herself between me and Clive. “Nina is currently in a complicated relationship. I, on the other hand, am completely free.”
I shoot a look to Eden.
Eden grabs on to Clive’s arm. “What? You are.”
I frown. “These guys don’t need to know that. And I’m not in a relationship anyway,” I hiss into Eden’s ear.
Eden rolls her eyes and then turns to the other two men who are equally as hot as Clive. “You,” she says, pointing to the next hottest man, “escort my friend, and buy her a drink.”
The man she pointed to smiles and holds out his arm. He’s almost as good-looking as Clive but not even in the same ballpark as Arlo.
“I’m Erick.”
I smile as I take the man’s arm, and I am escorted out of the auditorium as Erick tells me all about himself. He’s a college student. Business major. He grew up in England and moved to Italy for school.
I turn back to give Arlo one last smirk, but he’s no longer on the stage. I glance around at the crowd on the floor of the auditorium, but he’s not there either. He’s just gone. And I’m left alone, realizing that Erick is my best chance at getting laid tonight. And, after being sexually frustrated from watching Arlo lecture me onstage while the entire time still feeling his kiss on my lips, I can’t take it any longer. If Arlo won’t have sex with me, then I’ll take the next best thing.
* * *
“Can I get you another drink?” Erick shouts into my ear over the loud music, which has overtaken everything else in the bar.
I nod.
He smiles and then slowly moves through the crowd, toward the bar in the center of the room. It will be at least twenty minutes before he returns. This bar is completely insane. I’ve never been to a bar this crowded before.
Eden holds up her empty drink and points to her date, Clive. He nods and follows Erick over to the bar.
Eden and I start dancing together, which basically just consists of us moving our hips a little from side to side while keeping our feet planted in place. There isn’t enough room to do much more.
Eden shouts something at me, but I have no idea what she said.
She tries again.
I shrug and shake my head.
She frowns.
I smile as I take her hand and dance some more. I feel much better after having a couple of drinks. The only thing bringing me down is the fact that I keep thinking that I see Arlo. Everywhere.
I see him in the face of every man dancing around me. Every time they turn and look at me, I see him.
I see him in the face of every bartender.