Abel (5th Street 4)

It was far more likely that there was some truth to this story—that he’d prefer a relationship with someone low key versus a high profile relationship with a celebrity—hence the confusion about his blatant reaction to Logan yesterday. Did he really have the nerve to be acting all territorial when he’d very possibly bagged this girl just earlier that week?

Feeling the same irritation she’d first felt when she read the story of him and juice girl all over again, Nellie glanced around looking for Logan, who’d brought her to the VIP lounge—the same lounge where band members would later be having drinks. Roni was going to die when she heard about this. Logan had walked out after buying her a drink to take a call. He said they’d be meeting a friend of his there but didn’t elaborate. Having the opportunity to sit and watch the band as they relaxed and possibly even jammed in the lounge this close and the fact that Logan had a friend coming were the only reasons she didn’t insist on him taking her home right after the concert. She hadn’t wanted to spend too much time alone with him, but she couldn’t pass this up, and his friend being there would take a little from the intimate feel this might have had otherwise.

Staring at her drink now as she stirred it, her thoughts were back on Abel and her body actually quivered. Their incredible time last night and this morning was the only hope she had that maybe he hadn’t been with that girl all week. She kept reminding herself that if she wanted to keep experiencing incredible nights like last night with Abel, what he did when she wasn’t around needed to remain a non-issue. After going nearly a week without him, her body had welcomed him back as if she were famished. There was nothing she could think of that would be worth ruining things and having his visits end.

After the incident in her office yesterday, there was no doubt he knew about her date tonight, but last night he’d made no mention of it at all. That and his trysts with Rachel that week were a clear reconfirmation of what she’d thought for a moment might be changing but hadn’t. Even knowing she’d be out with another guy tonight, he was as content with things as they were as he had been from the beginning, and so she would be too.

It didn’t matter that he’d held her a bit tighter all night and whispered in her ear how beautiful she was in such a sweet yet genuine way more than once during the night when he’d thought her asleep. Swallowing back any and all hope that it meant something, she took a big swig of her martini. He may’ve been doing that since day one, and she’d just missed it because she’d been so soundly asleep. He was just sweet that way, and there was nothing more to it.

“Are you Nellie?” she flinched, looking up into a pair of the clearest blue eyes she’d ever seen. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to startle you. I’m Sam . . . Smith, Logan’s friend.” He reached out and shook her hand before taking the seat across from her on the sofa.

“It’s okay,” she smiled, a bit taken with how uniquely light but very pretty his eyes were. “Yes, I’m Nellie. It’s nice to meet you, Sam.”

“Logan’s outside on the phone,” he explained. “I hope everything’s okay. Do you know who he’s talking to? He seemed worried.”

“No,” she said, glancing back toward the entrance where Logan had stepped out, feeling a little guilty that she’d been so caught up in thoughts of the concert, Roni, and Abel. She’d hardly noticed Logan’s extended absence. “But he did walk away kind of fast when he got the call.”

Sam glanced back at the entrance then stood up again. “I could be wrong, but I thought I heard him say the words “emergency room” as I walked away. Let me go check on him.”

Nellie decided that if neither of them were back within a couple of minutes she’d go check on Logan too. She felt terrible that she’d hardly given any thought to his taking a long time. Looking up again, she saw Sam walking toward her. He smiled as their eyes met, and her eyes traveled down to his impressive built. At this point, she knew nothing would ever compare to Abel’s body, but surprisingly this guy’s came pretty close. “Well, this is kind of awkward, Nellie, but he did say you two are just friends—co-workers. Right?”

She nodded, a bit confused. Yesterday as they worked on the mixer, she’d worked it into the conversation how she’d never get romantically involved with someone she worked with. In a way of reiterating what she’d already told him about her and Abel, she’d made mention that just as with her and Logan, things were strictly platonic. So she could say this with complete certainty. “Yes, we’re just friends.” She nodded with a smile, still not sure why this had anything to do with Logan not being back yet. “Co-workers.” She reaffirmed. “Why?”

“Well,” he said, taking a seat next to her this time. “It seems his ex-girlfriend’s been in an accident. She’s in the hospital and asking to see him.”

“Oh, no.” Nellie straightened out quickly. “Is it bad?”

Sam shook his head, rolling his eyes. “I know his ex. She’s kind of a drama queen, and she’s pulled this kind of stunt before, but he’s gonna go see her anyway.” He waved the waitress down and ordered Nellie another martini and a rum and Coke for himself, immediately bringing thoughts of Abel back to Nellie. “Anyway, I told him he was an idiot for leaving a beautiful woman like yourself hanging, and that’s when he mentioned that you’re just friends.” He smiled, those light eyes once again distracting her. “Since I’m no idiot, I told him there was no sense in wasting the night out and offered to keep you company then give you a ride home, if that’s okay with you?”