?
“I guarantee that you’ll be the one dragging some woman home with you within an hour.”
“Then you won’t have to stay for long, will you?” Lexi said. “Just a few drinks. If you’re not having fun, you can go home.”
“All right,” April said. “Just a few drinks.”
April leaned back against the bar, sipping the mojito she’d been nursing since they arrived. It was loaded with sugar, probably to mask the taste of the cheap rum.
As soon as she’d walked through the door, April remembered why she hadn’t been to The Sapphire Room in years. The bar, which was decorated in an eclectic mix of shabby chic styles, was too loud, and much too crowded.
“Anyone catch your eye yet?” Lexi asked, scanning the crowd.
“Not really,” April replied.
They’d been here for almost an hour, drinking and chatting. Lexi was making a valiant effort to stay with April, but April could tell that her friend was losing her resolve with every woman who shot her a flirtatious glance. April didn’t understand why, but women practically threw themselves at Lexi. She seemed to be seeing a different woman every week. To her credit, Lexi was always upfront with the women she met about her casual approach when it came to dating. It didn’t deter them.
“You know, you’d have more luck if you didn’t glower at every woman who looks your way,” Lexi said.
“I am not glowering.” Nevertheless, April tried to look more relaxed. “It doesn’t matter. I’m not interested in anyone anyway.”
“It might help you get over Christie,” Lexi said.
“Is sex your solution to all of life’s problems?”
“Not all of them. Just most of them. Besides, I seem to remember you complaining about how boring your sex life was even when you were with Christie. When was the last time you actually had good sex?”
“God, I can’t even remember.” April’s last few relationships had lacked any excitement in bed. Pretty much every part of her life was lacking in excitement right now.
Lexi shook her head. “Life is too short for bad sex. Or worse—no sex.” She downed the rest of her beer. “I’m going to the ladies’ room, I’ll be right back.”
“Okay.”
April placed her drink on the bar and pulled down the hem of her dress. She didn’t know why she’d bothered to dress up. It wasn’t like she was trying to impress anyone.
Her mind wandered back to the library. There were ninety days until the library had to close its doors. Ninety days to come up with a way to save it. April spent the next few minutes brainstorming ideas but came up empty.
When Lexi returned, she had a guilty look on her face. “So, I know I kind of forced you to come here…”
“Seriously?” April said. “You’re going home with someone?”
“Someone is coming home with me. I hate sleeping in another woman’s bed.”
“How did you meet someone in the five minutes you were gone?”
Lexi shrugged. “There was a line for the bathroom. I started talking to the woman in front of me. We had a very interesting conversation.” Lexi cocked her head toward a gorgeous long-haired woman standing near the door, typing away on her phone. She was exactly Lexi’s type.
“I’m sure it was her conversation that won you over,” April said. “It’s okay, I was getting bored anyway. I’ll probably just go home. Have fun.”
“Have I ever told you that you’re an amazing friend?”
“Only every time something like this happens.”
Lexi grinned. “I’ll see you on Monday.”
April watched Lexi walk over to the woman, smoothly slide her arm around the woman’s waist, and lead her out the door. April finished off the last of her drink. If she left now, she could be in bed by eleven-thirty. Perhaps a good night’s sleep would help her tackle her problems in the morning.
As April turned to leave, she noticed a woman standing at the other end of the bar, waiting to order a drink. She looked older than April, but not by much. She was tall and slender, with high cheekbones, and short, feathery blonde hair that was swept back from her face. She was dressed in a way that seemed effortless and stylish at the same time. Dark skinny jeans. A black blazer with the sleeves rolled up. Heeled ankle boots. She possessed an androgynous air while still seeming utterly feminine.