Second Chance Boyfriend (Drew + Fable #2)(48)

I smack her lightly on the arm. “Good one. I don’t think so.”

“How about Jake’s? It’s always hopping.”

“Well…you do realize I’m underage.” I used to have a fake ID but I lost it. After that bouncer guy made me sign a piece of paper to make sure the signature matched that one night about a year ago when I was with some loser dude on a date, and it didn’t match? I was done for. He snatched that license from me and I haven’t bothered to find another one since. “So I’m not much fun on the go-out-and-get-drinks deal.”

Jen laughed and shook her head. “I forgot. You act so much older than twenty, you know? You’re like an old soul.”

“I don’t know whether to take that as a compliment or an insult.” I wrinkle my nose.

She laughs some more. “It’s definitely a compliment. We can go out to dinner. I’ll drink and you can watch me.”

“Ooh, sounds fun,” I say sarcastically but I really do mean it.

“I’ll text you details tomorrow.” Jen slings her purse over her shoulder, studying me. “You don’t mind, do you? I know you have that guy in your life now.”

I squirm, suddenly uncomfortable. I’m not prepared to talk about Drew with anyone yet. “I can stand to be away from him for a few hours.” Maybe.

“Are you sure?” Her gentle voice and twinkling eyes tell me she’s teasing, but I also wonder if she’s worried I’ll bail on her for a guy, which I have no plans in doing so. Drew and I don’t need to spend every waking moment together.

Though sometimes it sure feels like we do. Being away from him is hard. Silly, considering he’s been back in my life for only a matter of days, but we share such an intense connection, it’s hard to ignore it.

“By the dreamy look on your face, I’m going to guess this guy must be pretty special.” Jen nudges me. “You can tell me all about him tomorrow night.”

“Yeah,” I agree with a laugh but I doubt I will.

What I share with Drew is still a little too special to blab about with my new friend.

Drew

I watch Fable exit the restaurant. She’s with the same girl who worked with her the night of Logan’s party. Tall with dark hair and olive skin, she’s the complete opposite of Fable in every way. It’s sort of funny, watching them talk animatedly with each other. A yin to each other’s yang.

My heart squeezes in my chest when I see Fable laugh and shake her head. She looks happy. The happiest I’ve ever seen her. I’d like to think I’m responsible for some of that happiness.

I know she’s made me the happiest I’ve ever been.

She waves goodbye to her friend and walks across the parking lot toward my truck. I’m struck anew with how beautiful she is, the smile I see growing on her face as she comes closer. She’s wearing those damn shorts again, the ones that are way too short, and this time she’s added black tights to the mix. They make her legs look incredibly long.

And incredibly hot.

Pushing away from the side of the truck, I meet her halfway, slipping my arms around her and pulling her in for a quick kiss. She’s warm to my cold since I’ve been standing outside for the last ten minutes and she brushes her nose against mine before she pulls away. “You’re freezing,” she murmurs.

Her voice alone warms me up and I open the truck door for her without a word, pushing her inside by cupping her backside, making her squeal. I slam the door and round the truck, eager to take her back to my place though I have no idea where she wants me to take her. She probably has to get home. She has responsibilities, after all.

And I have none, as my shrink so kindly reminded me.

“Where to?” I ask casually once I slip behind the wheel.

“I should probably go home.” She won’t meet my gaze and I wonder why.

“No problem.” I throw the truck into gear and pull out of the parking lot, turning onto the street. “Busy night?”

“Exhausting. Thank God I’m off tomorrow.”

“We should do something.” I don’t have school and she doesn’t work. We could stay in bed all day and I’d be perfectly content.

“Um, about tomorrow.” She sounds hesitant. Even a little nervous. “My friend Jen, the girl I work with? She asked if we could hang out together tomorrow night. Go to dinner and have drinks. Stuff like that. You don’t care, do you?”

I care a lot. I’d rather she never left my side, but I’m being completely unrealistic. And also thinking like a jealous ass. “I don’t care. I mean, I’m not your keeper.”

She’s watching me. I can feel her eyes on me though I face straight ahead. “It’ll only be for a few hours. I get the sense Jen doesn’t have many friends. I don’t either. It’s nice to find one who doesn’t think I’m out to f**k her boyfriend behind her back.”

I have to look at her now, shocked at the harsh way she just spoke. “Did you used to do that? Fuck other girls’ boyfriends behind their backs?”

She shoots me an icy stare. “No.” A sigh escapes her. “Fine. I made one mistake. Only because he lied to me and said he didn’t have a girlfriend. I was a sophomore in high school and he was a senior. Gorgeous. Popular. Played on the football team, sort of like a weak copy of you. We went out on a few dates. He was always sneaking me around, never taking me out in public or with his friends, but I didn’t care. I was too far gone over him.”