“What are you having?” Ana asks, pulling out a black credit card.
“I’ll have a lime and soda.”
“No fucking way, Lucy. We have tomorrow morning off, we’re going to drink, dammit.”
“Fine. But only one,” I warn, upping my order to a vodka, lime, and soda. She nods, content for the moment, but I can tell I’m going to be fighting her on the next drink too.
We take our drinks over to the edge of the dance floor and find ourselves a table. Even though it’s early, the place is packed. I laugh as Ana’s gaze goes from table to table, her eyes narrowed in concentration. I can just tell she’s celebrity hunting.
“Well, well, look who it is.”
I look up and recognize the owner of the voice as one of the guys in our training group. Jacob, I think his name is. Th
e other guy I haven’t met, but he smiles at me in such a friendly manner that I can’t help but smile back.
“Hey, great minds, huh?” Ana exclaims. She points at the two empty chairs. “Join us if you like.”
“Sure,” Jacob says. They sit down. He introduces his friend as Dallas. Right away, I’m sure his friend is gay, judging by the way he keeps checking out the same guys Ana is. Jacob, I’m not too sure about.
We order more drinks, and Ana convinces me into ordering another vodka, which I know I’m going to regret. After my second, it becomes easier to say yes, and pretty soon I’ve lost count of how many I’ve had.
Kicking back my chair, I sway as I stand. Jacob laughs, and stands to catch me.
“Let’s dance.” I grin, dragging him onto the dance floor while Ana cheers her approval. She and Dallas also get up to join us in the middle of the room.
“I gotta admit, this is fun.” I laugh, twirling my arms around over my head. Jacob’s hands close around my waist as I grind my body against his. The guy has moves.
We dance the next few songs, until the alcohol begins to wear off and I feel sick. I know I’m going to pay for this tomorrow.
“I think I’m done,” I say. I give Ana a hug. “Thanks for making me do this.”
“Oh, we’ll be doing it again.” She laughs, slapping me on the ass.
Chapter 11
Pietro
It’s two a.m. and she just got home. I know I shouldn’t be, but I’m annoyed that she’d stay out so late when she has to be up so damn early. Who am I kidding? I’m annoyed she went out at all. I try to rein in my jealousy, but I can’t focus on anything but her and how I wish it were me she was out with.
I got the shock of my fucking life when she walked into my coffee shop today. Thank God she didn’t see me, or I’d have a lot of explaining to do. I spent nearly an hour hiding out in the bathroom until she was gone. When I finally came back out, Stefanni had thought I’d left and forgotten to pay, so she’d covered my bill for me. I played along and made it sound like I’d come back for that reason.
My phone rings as I sit at my desk. I’m trying to work on my thesis, but I can’t fucking concentrate. I glance at the screen and see that it’s Lucy. My heart races as I press ANSWER. We’ve been getting closer over the past few weeks, and I feel awful lying to her. I can only imagine how she would feel if she knew I was in New York and not back home in Chicago with her father.
“Hey,” I say. I can’t keep the smile off my face. That’s what talking to her does to me. I kick back my chair and walk over to the window that overlooks her apartment building. I can see the faint outline of her body as she walks past the closed drapes.
“I feel like I’m taking up all of your time,” she teases, her voice light and flirty—probably a side effect of alcohol. If only she knew her calls were the highlight of my days.
“Never feel bad about that. You know I love hearing all about your adventures.” I chuckle. “How’s the training going?”
She sighs. “Good, I guess. No, actually I honestly don’t know. I’m stressed because they’re cutting half the pack by the end of this week.” She hesitates. “What if I don’t make it? I don’t think I can just go back to my life after this—”
“Then don’t think of that as an option. You are amazing at what you do, Luce. The only thing that can stop you getting what you want is yourself.”
“You sound like Bella,” she grumbles, and I laugh. “Hey, would you tell me if my father had a tail on me?”
“What?” I ask, my throat tightening.
Where the hell had that come from?