“I sat next to him in a class today.” I decided not to tell Polly he was the guy who offered his services.
“You’re honoured because he normally keeps his distance,” she said.
I turned and puckered my lips at her words.
“Watch,” she said and nodded his way.
Sitting back in the booth, keeping out of the way but seeing enough. Kane stood next to Carter but away from the girls who had swarmed around him and his friends. A gorgeous girl with long red hair leaned over the table, trying to get his attention, but he picked up his drink and blatantly ignored her.
“Is he gay?”
Polly laughed so loud I was glad the music was deafening. “God no. He isn’t interested in flirting or talking. He keeps himself to himself. A closed book. Nobody knows much about him.”
“And he thinks I’ve got issues.”
Polly tilted her head to one side. I shrugged my shoulder. “Who is he with?” Wondering what she’d say about Carter.
“I don’t know their surnames but Ryan, Carter, and Seb. They’re all studying law, and in some of my classes. Ryan, the one with the glasses, goes to the library most days. He is really studious.”
I smiled. “He’s cute.”
Polly nodded. “He seems sweet. At least he is when he isn’t with those. Carter is the tallest one with really dark hair.” She laughed. “Apparently, his father is a hotshot lawyer and Carter struts around as though he is. You might meet him, he’s a ballet dancer too.”
“A brilliant ballet dancer…”
“Ah, you know of him?”
“Carter is the ex-boyfriend.”
“What?” she gasped and raised her head and burst out laughing. “And you were thinking of getting revenge on him with one of his friends.”
“Or your friend,” I said and raised my eyebrows, and turned back to Carter and his friends, looking toward the man with olive-coloured skin. “Mmm, what about the last one?”
“Seb… I’m not sure. He’s quite flirty, you’ll see. He walks around and talks to girls, but I never see him leave with anyone.” She plonked her empty glass on the table. “I finished my drink. Do you want the same again?”
“I’ll get them,” I said and picked up our empty glasses and wriggled out of the booth. “Vodka cranberry.”
“Oh no, this is your birthday. I’ll get them.”
“No, you won’t. Vodka cranberry?” I asked again, a little louder.
“Lager is cheaper.”
I danced around hoards of students as I pushed my way to the bar. “Two vodka cranberries,” I said to the long-haired bartender behind the bar as I swayed to the music and stared at the silver ring pierced through his bottom lip.
He smiled. “Coming up.”
Fingers touched my arm and I turned to see Carter, and the scumbag had the cheek to drag his eyes from my face and scan down my body. His eyes lingered over my see-through top and lower.
I cleared my throat and finally; he raised his gaze to my face and I rolled my eyes. “You are good at making it look obvious.”
“I meant to because you look amazing,” he said, trying to turn me to look at him.
I smiled. “Thank you.” I wanted to say something nasty and bitter, but knew that would sound petty or cause an argument with him. And tonight was not the time or the place, but I knew it would happen, eventually.
“Come and talk to me,” he said. His face looked sorry, but I knew it was an act. Like the lawyer he would become, he could hide it very well.
“No, thanks.” I nodded to the table where he had stood with his friends. “Looks like you have plenty of girls waiting to talk to you.”