Did I ever truly have feelings for Karen? She was a great listener. She knew how to party and have fun. And she taught me how to please a woman in more ways than I would have thought. It was almost as if I was a little project for her. Someone she could play with and teach.
Walking up, I stopped in front of her. The huge bastard who had his arms around her must have been her boyfriend. “Hey there, cowboy! How have you been?” The guy dropped his hold on Karen and she walked up and kissed me on the cheek.
“I’ve been good. How have you been?” I asked as I extended my hand to the guy. “Hi, Luke Johnson.”
Smiling he took my hand and shook it. “Mark Overton. It’s a pleasure to meet you. Karen has mentioned you a few times.”
I pulled my head back and looked at Karen. “Really?”
Mark smiled and nodded his head. “Yep, Karen mentioned y’all dated for a few months when you were a freshman? Is that right?”
I was surprised Karen would have shared that with him. We hadn’t dated that long and most of time I was drunk. “Well, Karen didn’t really see the better side of me I’m afraid. I was pretty much either in class or drunk.”
Mark laughed. “Dude, wasn’t that freshman year for all of us? I can’t wait to get out of school.” Mark looked down at Karen and smiled sweetly. Karen glanced back at me and held up her hand. The giant oval diamond sparkled in the lights of the bar.
“I heard from Roy. You’re getting married huh?”
She nodded her head enthusiastically. “I am. I finally found one who could tame my wild ways.” Reaching my hand out, I shook Mark’s hand again. I turned and gave Karen a hug. “Congratulations, sweetheart. You deserve to be happy.”
“Thank you, Luke.” She squeezed me tighter and then said, “There is a girl shooting me daggers. I’m gonna guess it’s your girlfriend.”
Karen pulled back and leaned into Mark. I knew she was doing that to show she was with another man. Turning, I saw Libby standing there. I smiled and she gave me a weak smile in return. I waved her over. Why is she here? Shit. She was either really pissed at me or she was going to tell me we were over. Either option had my heart slamming in my chest.
She walked up to me and smiled politely at Karen and Mark. I leaned down and softly kissed her lips.
“Libby, this is Karen and Mark.” I knew Libby knew who Karen was, and I was prepared for her to lay into me. Here I jumped all over her for talking to her ex and she walks in and sees me hugging mine.
“Karen was telling me that her and Mark are engaged.” Libby looked at me and then back at Karen. Smiling, she extended her hand.
“Congratulations on your engagement,” Libby said with a smile.
I knew Libby must have really wanted to talk to me if she had come here. I reached my hand out to Mark again. “I’m going to take off, but congratulations again. I’m happy for you both.”
Karen smiled and hugged Libby. She whispered something into Libby’s ear and then pulled back. “I’ll see ya around.” Lifting my hand in a good-bye wave I said, “See y’all.”
I took Libby’s hand in mine and led her over to Roy’s table. “Let me say good-bye to Roy and them.” Libby pulled me to a stop.
“Luke, I don’t want to interrupt your time with your friends. I didn’t like how we left things and I don’t want us fighting over Zach of all things.”
I searched her eyes. “You’re not breaking up with me then?”
Libby’s mouth dropped open. “What? No! Why in the world would you think that, Luke?”
Pushing my hand through my hair, I let out the breath I was holding. “The stupid hurtful thing I said to you. God, Libby I swear I didn’t mean it. I don’t know what came over me. I acted like such a dick and I turned around and did the same thing. I saw Karen and said hello to her.”
“And hugged her,” Libby said.
“Lib, it meant nothing.”
Libby placed her finger over my lips. “Luke? Will you do something for me?”
My eyes searched her face. “Anything.”
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Libby looked into my eyes. “Dance with me?”
Slipping my hand around the base of her neck, I brought her lips to mine. I kissed her with as much passion as I could. Everyone started yelling out and Libby giggled. The blush covering her cheeks was sexy as hell.