It can’t happen.
Scott, Noah, Nathan, and a few other guys arrive, and Scott introduces me to each of them. I glance at Sylvia who is a grinning fool. Marc’s arm is still around my shoulders. I look to Scott for help but he’s laughing over something Noah said.
“How’d you get included in this group?” Marc asks once he has a beer in his hand.
“I’m an old friend of Scott and Sylvia’s,” I reply stiffly. If I mention being their sister-in-law, there will be questions and I’m not going there. I lift my third drink and down half of it. This is insane. I shouldn’t be here, especially not with Baby Blue. God, why couldn’t he have just been a wonderful memory?
“Just in town visiting then?”
“No, I live here.”
“Then how come I’ve never seen your lovely face before?”
I level my gaze at him. Part of me wants to remind him that he’s seen my face, and other parts of me, but I don’t. “Lovely, really?” Clearly, I’m going to need more alcohol. I finish off my drink an
d before I can wave the waitress over, Marc has ordered me another.
“You are quite possibly the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen in my life, and I’ve seen a lot of beautiful women.”
Meredith giggles and Marc cuts her a playful glare.
“I’m guessing by her laugh, that’s another line.” I wonder if he counts me as Ivy as one of those beautiful women.
“Ignore Meredith. She doesn’t know anything,” he says as the waitress returns with my drink. “Tell me about yourself, Elizabeth.”
“Lizzy,” I correct. I’ve always disliked how formal my name sounds. Hell, at this point, I almost wish he’d call me Ivy. Almost. “I’m a bank teller.”
“That’s it?” He raises an eyebrow.
“That’s it.” What else am I supposed to say? Past relationships aren’t something you talk about to begin with and I am definitely not going there. What I like to do? Seriously? No. I’ve already decided I’m not going out with him.
“Did you go to the game tonight?”
“Yep.”
“Did you enjoy it?”
“Nope.”
Finally, his smile falters, and for some reason, I feel a little guilty. Marc doesn’t know what to do with me, not that I can fault him for that. Unfortunately, this means he’s trying a new technique. “Do you ever smile, Elizabeth?”
“Lizzy,” I correct again. “And of course.”
“Let me see it.”
I frown.
“That’s not a smile,” he laughs.
My eyes narrow. “Why do I need to smile?”
“I want to know you’re capable. And if you can be this beautiful frowning, then I can’t imagine what you’d be like smiling.”
“You’re full of shit. Anyone ever tell you that?”
“And you’re a piece of work.”
My jaw drops and my eyes widen. Why did Sylvia think we would hit it off? I ignore him and pick up my drink, steadily sipping. I like him better as Baby Blue when talking was not a priority. His thumb brushes my shoulder and I realize his arm is still around my shoulders. I pluck it off, but he moves it right back. He’s not even paying attention to me anymore because he’s talking to Meredith, making her laugh like he’s a comedian. He’s not that funny. I move his arm again. It’s useless, though.