Part 1
Chapter 1
Conleigh
2 ½ years ago
“Shots! We need shots. We’re college girls now!” Bailey screams, slapping a ten-dollar bill down on the bar.
“You got ID?” The bartender questions. His blue eyes laugh at us as though he knows we aren’t old enough. His muscles flex as he pops the cap off a bottle of beer. His smile is warm, friendly—cute in that charming, I’ll take you home for a one-night stand kind of way. Pure trouble. The kind of man I need to steer clear of.
Before Bailey can sulk in defeat, the guy next to her says, “It’s cool, Tom. They’re with me.”
Turning her attention from the cute bartender, Bailey bellows, “Well, hello there tall, bearded, and sexy,” shooting him a flirty smile.
“You look barely legal,” he tells her.
“Legal enough,” she fires back.
He throws his head back with a chuckle. “I’ll give you that one.”
I look at his piercing grey eyes, so grey they almost appear silver. I can’t help but find this guy attractive. He’s tall with wide shoulders and his smile exudes confidence. Not over confident but bordering on cocky for sure. I am almost jealous of the attention he is paying to Bailey, but she’s a blonde bombshell and I would expect no less. She is always the center of attention anywhere we go. Curves in all the right places, knows exactly how to get her way, and uses it to her advantage and at times, mine too.
The bartender sits our shots in front of us and my eyes widen as he lights them on fire. I blow the flickering flame out and knock it back. My face twists, expecting a terrible aftertaste, but instead a sweet creamy taste coats my tongue.
“Better than you expected,” another handsome guy says, joining the guy talking to Bailey. His green eyes zero in on me. His sandy blond hair seeming as if he just came from the barber it’s styled so perfectly. “I’m Ezra.” He holds his hand out to me with a gentle smile on his face. He isn’t as tall as his friend, not quite so domineering; he has that boy next door vibe. The kind of guy who brought the teacher an apple every day and would carry your books for you vibe.
“Conleigh.” I smile back.
Bailey is busy chatting with the other guy leaving me on my own with Ezra.
“First time here?”
“Yeah, Bailey insisted.” I hook my thumb in her direction, and she is already making out with the guy she just met and right at the bar too. I don’t know whether to shake my head or laugh.
“Holden doesn’t waste any time,” Ezra tells me, seeming a bit embarrassed. He rocks back on the balls of his shoes and fidgets with his keys. He’s dressed as though he’s been at a business meeting, button down shirt pushed up at the sleeves, as though he is unwinding after a long day.
I shrug. “Bailey doesn’t either, apparently.”
“You want to dance or something?”
“I’m a terrible dancer,” I confide.
His eyes light up. “Me too, so we will be evenly matched.” He grins and for some reason, I follow him, and we proceed to make idiots of ourselves, both of us having two left feet.
“What year are you, freshmen?” He queries, his curious eyes holding a twinkle of amusement.
“Is it that obvious?” I laugh. Then I step on his foot and he howls. A dimple pops out in his right cheek. It’s cute.
“Step aside, E. Allow me to show her how it’s done,” Holden says, winking at me.
Ezra moves aside, and Holden grabs my hip bones and pulls me into his body. “Relax, let the beat of the music guide you.”
Easily, I get lost in the music and him. There is something about Holden. He has charisma, but he was just lip locked with my bestie. I feel her eyes on us as this guy holds me close.
“What are you doing? Are you trying to piss my friend off?”
“I’m dancing. If she gets upset about it, she has issues. We just met.”
“She’s staring a hole through me and you were just kissing her.” I push my palms against his chest which only results in him grabbing my hand with his and putting his other hand on my butt.
“Maybe I want to kiss you too,” he flirts, and I blush.
Looking away from him, I see Bailey talking to his friend, Ezra and by the speed her hands are gesturing she can’t be saying anything good.
“Listen, I’m sure you’re nice and all, but I don’t do leftovers.”
“You wound me, but I get it.” He steps back and takes a bow. “Let’s play pool. Me and your girlfriend against you and Ezra.”
I shrug and follow him to our friends.
Ezra grins at me and I find his boyish grin endearing.
“Was showing your girl here what it feels like to dance with a real man.” Holden punches Ezra and winks at me.
Bailey laughs but I can tell she is still upset.
I don’t know why she is so mad. We only met these guys like twenty minutes ago. It isn’t like I am trying to step in and steal him away from her. Sure, he’s twenty shades of sexy—all man with the beard that graces his face, while Ezra pales in comparison but he seems closer to my age.
Holden—based off our brief encounter reminds me of the sort of man