Mixed Emotions - Mia Heintzelman Page 0,4

a lower power. Mike’s hands betrayed him as he set his drink down again and let his hands wander down the thin fabric of her black mini dress.

He sighed.

Sadly, and far too cliché for his liking, if there was one thing that he was a sucker for, it was a tight dress.

Kate ran her fingers through his hair and waited for him to meet her gaze.

“I told you,” Mike began. “With the high-risk pregnancy, Everett and Sophia didn’t want to be out. Plus, Zora got a book agent and everyone is going to be here to celebrate. She’s like a sister to me. I’ve known her forever.” He exhaled and began again slow and measured. “You wanted to come. I could’ve just as easily dropped in by myself. I just want to tell her congratulations, so we only have to be here for a little while.”

Mike laid two twenties on the bar, picked up his drink, and stood. “Tell you what. Why don’t we put these headphones on and enjoy ourselves—have a good time while we wait for them?”

Kate shrugged and forced a tight smile. Her eyes were a frigid shade of iced marble.

“Drink up. Let’s dance. I want to see you how you move in this dress.” Mike winked, ignoring her attitude, and polished off his cocktail. As he waited for Kate to finish hers, he checked his phone one more time and pulled his headphones over his ears.

Before long, he and Kate were vibing to the hard beat of a rap mix, courtesy of the deejay on the right. Their headsets illuminated with blue lights, and bass pounded in their ears. Mike preferred the green station, but Kate kept urging him toward the upbeat sounds of some new mumble rapper.

Beat for beat, she matched Mike’s moves, their bodies molded together as they grinded up against one another, groping and kissing.

Inarguably, Kate was fine. Physically, she could make any red-blooded, heterosexual male drool. She had wild, curly, blonde hair, cool ivory skin, and, usually, a pair of sunny blue eyes. Her face was Cosmo, her body was Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition, and if that weren’t enough, she was a Trailblazers cheerleader, to boot.

For the life of him, he couldn’t understand how a woman with all the goods could be so insecure.

Zora wasn’t his girlfriend. She was his bounce-ideas-off-her, call-when-you-need-a-friend, gets-me-on-a-different-level person, but that was just because they’d known each other for almost two decades. Kate should understand that. The fact that Zora had grown up from a scrawny, ashy-kneed kid into a woman was beside the point. It was bound to happen.

Mike lifted his chin and his eyes darted into the dark corners of the club, searching for Zora.

Still nothing.

“Turn to the green,” Kate moaned, closing her eyes. Her hips were winding as she threw her hands up in the air.

“Gotcha.” He forced a smile as he pushed the button.

As far as Mike was concerned, awkward introductions like the one about to happen tonight were further reason he kept his romantic life separate from his friends and family, especially Zora. It just seemed cleaner and neater that way.

Which was why he hadn’t mentioned Zora’s party to Kate.

When Olivia called out of the blue the week before, he’d only answered because he thought it might have been an emergency—that, and sheer curiosity since she never called him. During the few interactions they did have during game nights, he got the distinct impression Olivia hated him. So, he couldn’t imagine why she was calling.

Unfortunately, once he was on the phone and Olivia got to talking about a celebration for Zora’s book deal, he had a hell of a time trying to get her to pump the brakes. Not only was he busy working on the building purchase proposal that could tip the scales toward making him partner, but Kate was only a few feet away in the shower. Still, Olivia pressed on, insisting he take the details, and by the time he’d jotted them down, it was too late. Kate was already out of the shower, wondering where “we” were going.

“I can’t wait to finally meet your friends.”

For three days, the party was all Kate talked about until she found out the celebration was for Zora. So, Mike had been both looking forward to this day and dreading it.

Mike kept the drinks and the music flowing, and soon he’d loosened up and lost track of the time.

A flush crept over Kate’s skin and she peeled her hair off her neck and