He poked his head over my shoulder as his black curls brushed up against my cheek. He stepped back and his piercing blue eyes locked on mine.
I let out a heavy sigh and turned my body slightly away. “What do you want?” I asked, the venom clearly seeping from my voice.
“Ouch. I’m devastated.” He placed a hand on his heart like I physically wounded him.
He flashed a smile; one that I used to love, but now, it only pissed me off.
Jared’s flirty antics were just plain annoying now.
He leaned against the bar and towered over me. He didn’t bother sitting down on the barstool beside me. Which told me—he didn’t plan on sticking around or he didn’t want to wrinkle his tailor-made suit that molded to his muscular physique perfectly.
God, I hated him.
“Clearly.” I looked past him and at his two friends loitering behind. “Hello, Chad one. Chad two. It’s been too long. I missed you guys.” I gave an insincere wave that was more like a flick of the wrist.
I heard Chad one scoff as he turned to mutter something to Chad number two. I honestly didn’t remember their names, but they weren’t worth the effort. They were always rude to me while Jared and I were dating, so why bother playing nice now?
“Who knew I’d see you here of all places,” Jared paused. Shooed the Chads away and then proceeded to talk like we didn’t just break up a month ago. “Addy, I missed you. Why haven’t you returned any of my texts?”
“You know why.” I continued to not look him in the eyes and twirled my glass. The ice swished around and for a split second, it was all I could hear.
“So?” Jared asked with his dark brows furrowed.
My eyes widened and I looked back at him. “So?”
“Can I buy you a drink?”
I glanced at the bartender and then back at Jared. Was it worth having him buy my drinks because I was so broke? If I accepted them—would he think he’s forgiven? What a dumb question. Of course, he would.
“Fine.”
His face lit up and he waved the bartender down and then ordered my favorite drink.
The bartender dropped the drinks in front of us and then gave Jared a wink and then went back to help the other customers.
I was chopped liver, apparently. Unbelievable. I chugged the last of my drink and then grabbed the next. I tapped my fingers vigorously on the bar top, trying to hold my tongue.
Don’t be petty. Don’t be petty. Don’t be petty. “Seduced the bartender already I see,” I blurted out.
Damn it.
Jared's deep chuckle reverberated in my ears as he brushed his curls back and leaned toward me. His gaze didn’t falter. “I seem to remember that you liked it when I seduced you.”
He laughed again, pulled the barstool out, and sat down. He took a sip of his drink and looked at mine and then back at me. His face was unreadable for a split second but quickly eased back into his flirtatious smile.
I almost spit out my drink, but immediately regained my composure. “Yeah, past tense. I did. Not anymore,” I clarified.
I took my second drink and chugged it in a matter of seconds. I contemplated if I wanted him to keep me company any longer or if I should take my chances back at my apartment with that thing.
Both sounded atrocious.
My thoughts became muddled. The shelves of liquor started shifting out of place and my whole body became numb.
I turned to face Jared but the whole room was spinning. “What the f—” I didn’t even get to finish my words or even hear my head hit the bar top before it all went black.
Comments (16)
See all