“Why do you always laugh at that? It’s good to have standards.”
“I’m not saying standards are a bad thing. I just find some of yours to be comical is all.”
“Anyway, I’m out of here. I don’t want to leave him waiting. He’s taking me to that little deli around the corner.” She adjusted the collar of her jacket and flipped her hair over her shoulders.
“Have fun.”
“I always do.” She winked over her shoulder at me before slipping out the door.
I fell back against my mattress again and let out a long sigh. My sister was getting married. I really needed to call her.
I PULLED THE DOOR to Double Shot open and stepped inside. Sadie had wanted me to be here by six thirty. However, it was nearing seven, which meant I was late like always. I realized early on in life being punctual wasn’t my thing and had grown used to it. Sadie was my alarm clock. She knew how to wake me up and get me out the door on time for most things. Tonight she had left me on my own, and I wasn’t sure why.
Double Shot was a place frequented by the students of Bradly University, but rarely by Sadie and me. Which had me wondering why we were here tonight, considering I needed to leave first thing in the morning for Parish Cove. I grimaced at the reminder, because the seven hour drive was not something I was looking forward to.
Scanning the dimly lit place, I searched for Sadie. She was sitting in the back beneath a light with a logo for some beer I’d never heard of, staring at her cell. Jeff was beside her, staring at his cell phone also.
Strike two, I thought as I watched them. Jeff’s first strike had been the way he shook my hand the night I met him. My grandma—God, rest her soul—had a firmer handshake than he did. A guy should have a firm handshake, it was an unwritten man rule. Jeff’s second strike came from paying more attention to his cell than Sadie. They should be chatting, not trolling Facebook. I gave them another week, tops.
Tugging my purse higher onto my shoulder, I started toward them. I bit my bottom lip, trying to keep a smirk off my face. Sadie hated it when I tossed out predictions about her relationships. Not because she found it annoying that I would place a time limit on her relationships based off something she thought was ludicrous, but because I was always right. Always.
“Hey, guys, what’s up?” I slipped into the chair beside her, and hung my purse on the back. “Anything happening on Facebook I should know about?”
“Nope. Nothing new.” Sadie set her cell on the table, and then pressed the button at the top to darken the screen.
“I just took a quiz that placed me in the orange personality group,” Jeff said as he continued scrolling through whatever the quiz was telling him about his personality. I arched a brow at the intense expression of concentration twisting his features and the lack of sarcasm he’d spoken with. “It’s been pretty dead on so far. Even got that I’m a perfectionist. Plus, orange happens to be my favorite color.” A smile twisted his lips.
“Interesting,” I muttered, dragging the word out.
Sadie gave me a look I knew meant she wanted me to cut the sarcasm. “I think it’s cool.” She smiled at Jeff. “You’ll have to share it, and I’ll take it later.”
“Okay, sure.” His thumb tapped on the screen of his cell. “Text me with your results whenever you take it. I’m curious to see if we are compatible.”
Dear God, was he planning to let a quiz on social media be a guide for their compatibility? If that was the case, he might not last to the end of the week. I knew Sadie well enough to know she wouldn’t tolerate such cheesiness for long.
“So. What are we doing here?” I glanced around, taking in Double Shot. It was a typical bar—dim lighting, crappy music, and ugly signs for standard beers you already knew the place carried lining the walls, dark wood everywhere. “Are we celebrating me leaving in the morning?”
“Something like that.” Sadie grinned. Her eyes had shifted over my shoulder, landing on someone she was obviously glad to see. My stomach flip-flopped.
“What did you do, Sadie?” I arched a brow. “If you set me up with someone again, I’m going to hurt you.”
“I didn’t set you up with anyone.” Innocence entered her voice while softening her features at the same time. “Fate did. All I wanted was to have a drink with my friend before she leaves town.”
Was she calling herself fate now? Did she really think this match was that good? I squared my shoulders, preparing for whoever was about to slip into the seat beside me. Thirty minutes. That was all I was giving the guy no matter who he was, and then I was out of here. I had stuff to pack and a roommate to kill. No one came though.
Seconds ticked away and still nothing. The seat remained empty.
“I’m going to order us a pitcher. Is that okay?” Jeff asked, finally setting his cell down.
“Sure. Thanks,” Sadie cooed.
“What do you want?” Jeff shifted his stare between the two of us. “I prefer light ales, but if you ladies want a darker one, I’d try it I guess.”
While I did enjoy a man who knew what he wanted, there was something annoying about the way Jeff had asked. The guy rubbed me the wrong way.
Strike three. I hated Jeff.
When Jeff stood to order our pitcher of pee, I turned in my seat to glance behind me and see who Sadie had said fate brought my way. I didn’t see anyone. Until I did.
William Pelzer.
The sight of him had my heart pumping hard and fast through my rib cage. It had been months since I’d last seen him. What was he even doing here? He was supposed to be on a mission trip still. A tingle of panic skated through me. Had something happened to him while away that would have forced him to return home early? He looked fine, mouthwatering even.
“Close your mouth, sweetie,” Sadie teased. “Like I said, I didn’t invite anyone for you. All I wanted was for the three of us to have a drink or two together before you leave tomorrow, but it looks like fate may have had something else in mind for you tonight.”
Dear God, I wished she was right, but I knew she wasn’t. Nothing like that would happen. We’d known each other for over a year, and while we got along well and seemed to have loads in common, there seemed to be something always standing in the way of us ever crossing the friendship line.
“He looks good. Tan. Really tan,” Sadie stated.
I watched him as he smiled and talked among the group he was with. He did look tan. I knew why though. He went to Haiti. The last time I talked with him was the day before he left, which was over two months ago.
I continued to stare at him. Helping people in Haiti sure did look good on him. The sun had kissed his skin a thousand times, making him a rich, golden brown and lightening his hair. Stubble now covered his cheeks and chin, giving him a rugged appearance that suited him. Normally, he was clean-shaven and baby-faced. This was a new look for him. A manly look. I loved it.
“You should invite him over to have a drink with us,” Sadie suggested.
I should. I knew I should. We hadn’t seen each other in so long. It would be great to catch up...right before I left. Our timing was off again. Disappointment spread through me.
“It’s not like you’re going to be gone for forever, just a weekend,” Sadie reminded me as though she knew where my thoughts had dipped. “Now might finally be your time together.”
“Yeah, you’re right.” I placed my palms flat against the tabletop and moved to stand. The second I did, a dark-skinned beauty stepped to his side. His arm reached for her tiny waist, wrapping around it and forcing her to Will’s side. It was so natural, so smooth, as though he hadn’t thought about the movement at all until it happened. I watched them from where I stood. She was made to be pressed against him. She was his. He was hers. They were a couple, and they looked perfect together.