Beck smirked at us both, his eyes softening when they met mine. “Thanks, Charley.”
“Just don’t tell her we had this conversation.”
“Secret to the grave.”
Just like that he disappeared stealthily into the crowds like a love ninja.
Despite my own situation, I couldn’t help but laugh. “I’m finding this side of Beck incredibly endearing.”
Lowe snorted, guiding me farther into the room. “You don’t have to live with him.”
I raised an eyebrow.
“I love Claudia, I do, she’s a great girl, but brooding Beck is a pain in my ass. We already had Jake to put up with. Now there are two.”
“Did I hear my name?”
My shoulders tensed at the sound of Jake’s voice. My whole body tensed when I turned to find him standing before me. There was no redhead now, but the specter of her remained.
Lowe’s fingers flexed on my lower back and I had to admit it was easier to deal with this crapshoot of a situation with him supporting me.
“Hey.” Jake said. “It’s good to see you.”
“Let’s find more beer.” I ignored him, turning my whole body into Lowe. “I definitely need more.”
He shot Jake an unreadable look out of the corner of his eye. “Sure,” he said and we moved through the crowd, away from my ex and his stunned, hurt expression.
Over the subsequent hour or so, I had a couple more beers, chatted with Matt and Denver, watched Beck stare broodingly at Claudia, witnessed Claudia bestow a beyond murderous look his way when he intercepted a cute guy trying to give her a drink, and then I started dancing with a strange guy. His name was Toby or Tony or Troy or something and he liked my hair.
Something he told me a number of times before I said yes to a dance.
All I really wanted was to forget everything. I didn’t want to acknowledge that I was aware of Jake every single minute of the evening. Jake was popular and every time I turned around, he was hanging out with someone new. We didn’t make eye contact once.
It was like we were complete strangers.
I was barely even aware of the fact that a slow song had come on, or that I was dancing in Toby/Tony/Troy’s arms when I heard Lowe say in voice that brooked no argument, “I’m cutting in.”
Toby/Tony/Troy was forcefully removed from my vicinity and suddenly I was dancing with Lowe, except he’d pressed me back so I wasn’t smooshed up to him like I had been with my previous partner.
“Problem, officer?”
He laughed and shook his head at me. “Can you not be cute right now?”
The smirk died from my lips at his comment. Jake sometimes said that to me when I used humor as a deflection. If Lowe noticed the change in me, he didn’t say so.
“Why are you dancing with that guy, Charley? That’s not you.”
“Uh, do you not remember Halloween last year?”
He blinked. “Jesus, we’ve known each other a year. How did that happen?”
“I imagine it had something to do with the world turning for almost 365 days.”
Lowe’s lips twitched. “You really are a smart-ass.”
I saluted him. “Top of my class.”
“I’m being serious.” He gave me a little shake. “I don’t want you doing anything stupid because Jake hurt you tonight.”