What He Wants (Second Chances #1.5)(6)

She was going to be mine.





“DO YOU GIRLS want anything from the bar?” I asked. A man and woman had left one of the high top tables, so I pulled up a vacant chair so we’d have three seats.

April and Lia both sat down and placed their small purses on the tabletop, gazing around at the crowd of people filing in. April had shoulder-length dark brown hair with chocolate colored eyes, and was wearing a strapless midnight blue dress. It was funny because we all decided to wear strapless dresses tonight.

The three of us were different as far as looks and personality; it was what made our friendship unique. Lia was about a foot shorter than me with blonde, pixie styled hair and blue eyes. She was the only one who got carded when we went out to bars since she looked sixteen.

“I’ll take a glass of wine since I’m driving,” Lia replied. “After that, I’ll just enjoy watching you two get wasted and doing foolish things.”

“There won’t be anything like that with me,” I told her. “Now April, on the other hand might, be a different story.”

April rolled her eyes and grinned. “Please, I know how to behave myself.”

She turned her gaze toward the bar and stared mesmerizingly at the gentleman in the gray suit. When it came to guys, she could definitely find the good looking ones. Even I couldn’t help but stare at him. There was something about the way he moved his hand over his glass and brought it to his lips; so smooth.

His dark hair was gelled in messy spikes, but I couldn’t really see his face. Secretly, I wished he would turn his head so that I could see what he looked like. You could tell a lot by a person by the look in their eyes, which was why I turned down every single douche bag that tried to talk to me at these clubs. They were all like my husband: arrogant, self-centered, and selfish.

I had to stay away from those types.

“Mel, are you okay?” April asked, snapping her fingers in my face. A sly smile spread across her lips when she glanced over at the stranger at the bar and then back to me. “So I see the hottie at the bar caught not just my attention, but yours as well. Why don’t you go up and talk to him? He’s by himself, and I don’t see a ring on his finger.”

I scoffed. “I don’t think so. My luck with men has been disastrous.”

“Yeah, well, it’s not always going to be like that,” Lia cut in. “You need to get yourself out there and actually give people a chance.”

“Starting with that one,” April agreed, pointing to the guy at the bar. “Unless you’re too scared. If you don’t want to partake, do you mind if I go up there? I’m pretty sure I’d have a good time with him.”

She started to get up, but I put my hands on her shoulders, halting her. I couldn’t stop the odd sense of jealousy that swept over my body. It was strange, but I didn’t want to see her with him.

“Sorry, babe, but you guys kind of challenged me. I have to go through with it now.”

Taking a deep breath, I turned around and started toward the bar. My heart dropped when I glanced at the empty seat where the guy had sat just a few seconds ago. Where did he go?

When I got up to the bar, I sat down in the seat beside the vacant one my guy just left and waited on Ryan to come to me. “Good evening, Melissa,” he greeted warmly. “Do you want your usual?”

“Yes, please. I’ll also take a glass of Riesling and a glass of Chardonnay please.”

Ryan nodded. “Coming right up.”

Biting my lip, I wanted to ask him where the gentleman in the suit went, but I didn’t want to sound desperate. “So how’s it going?” I asked.

Noncommittally, he shrugged. “It’s going okay. We’ve been really busy the past few weeks. I was just telling my friend about it a few seconds ago.”

“Oh yeah? Which friend would that be?”

He fixed my tequila sunrise and handed it to me before nodding toward the seat beside mine. “It was the guy sitting right there. Why do you ask?”

“Oh, no reason. I was just trying to make conversation,” I lied.

Smirking, he passed me the glass of Riesling and the Chardonnay. “He’s a pretty good guy,” he added. “Just to give you a heads up.”

Mouth gaping open, I could feel the heat rise to my cheeks. Ryan winked at me and sauntered off to fill more orders while I stood there, waiting. Waiting on what I didn’t know. My heart pounded out of control, and instead of looking like an idiot with three drinks in my hands, I strolled back over to my table and gave them to the girls.

“Where did he go?” April asked. “He was just there a minute ago.”

“Yeah, well, he’s not now. Maybe it just wasn’t meant to be.” April looked bummed, so I bumped her in the shoulder and nodded toward her wine. “Okay, ladies, bottom’s up!”

We tapped our glasses together and in one huge gulp I tossed back my drink. The burn slid down my throat and warmed me instantly; I wanted another one. It just so happened that my phone started buzzing in my purse, distracting me from my haze. When I reached in to grab it, I actually had seven missed calls and four messages. What the hell?

“Girls, I’ll be right back. I need to see what’s going on?”

April stopped me with a hand on my arm. “If that’s your ex, you better tell him to leave you alone or I’m going to rip off his balls,” she demanded. “He needs to leave you alone.”