River and Dean have been dating several months now, and I’ve yet to meet the best friend River never shuts up about. I’ve met her kid already during a game of pickup with Dean, but not her. Our schedules haven’t lined up yet.
I’m curious as hell to meet the woman who has been able to deal with River for the last twenty years. The girl is a handful on a good day.
River bobs her head. “Yep. I managed to coax her out of her crappy little apartment. She needs to spend the night away from all the moving stress.”
“She’s moving? Away from here?”
“No, just apartments. Her—” Her phone buzzes in her hand, drawing her attention. “Ah, she was in the bathroom. Oooh, this is interesting.”
“What is?”
River holds her phone against her chest, hiding it from me like I’m going to peer down and read the screen. “Nothing.”
“Look who I found coming out of the shitters,” Dean says, sliding back up to us.
River pins him with a glare. “Did you leave your manners at home?”
“Stop acting like you hate my dirty mouth. I have fresh scratches on my back to prove otherwise.”
Her back snaps straight, eyes widening in horror. “Dean Evans!”
“I’m just saying…” He shrugs. “Anyway, Nolan, this is Maya. Maya, meet the second most handsome man in the bar tonight.”
He moves out of the way, and my stomach drops.
It’s her.
Her eyes widen. Jaw drops.
I can’t believe my fucking luck today.
“Hi.”
The single word comes out a whisper, and all I manage to do is stare at her like a dolt.
It’s a different stare than earlier.
This one is full of disbelief.
It wouldn’t have mattered if I’d asked her out or what her answer would have been. It never mattered.
She’s completely off limits.
Not because she’s River’s best friend.
No.
Maya comes with attachments, and I don’t do attachments.
She’s the first to break eye contact, and fuck am I thankful for it.
I clear my throat, rising to my feet. I hold my hand out to her. “Sorry, I guess Dean’s not the only one with bad manners tonight. It’s nice to finally meet you, Maya.”
Her brows rise at the inflection, and she pastes on a fake smile.
“Yeah, good to meet you too, Nolan.”
You lied is what she’s really saying with her eyes as she slides her hand into mine.
I didn’t lie, you assumed is what mine say back, working hard as fuck to ignore the way her hand feels against mine. It’s soft and tiny compared to my mitt. I hold on a beat longer than I should, hoping no one notices.
“I spotted a table over that way.” Dean points behind him. “How about you ladies go grab it and Nolan and I can handle the drinks?”
They practically run away from us, probably wanting some girl time together.
“So, uh, that’s Maya,” he says once they’re out of earshot.
“Yeah, man, kinda gathered that.”
He trains his eyes on me, studying me hard.
I hate the way he’s looking at me. Staring at me like I’m not telling him something.
Which, to be fair, I’m not. But he doesn’t know that.
I ignore him, lifting my hand for Donny. Man, I’m going to owe him one hell of a tip tonight.
Fortunately, Donny isn’t busy, so he rushes right over, not allowing any time for Dean to start peppering me with questions.
“Another round?” Donny points at my beer.
I nod, paying no attention to the stare Dean’s still burning into me.
“For you, Dean? Your usual beer?”
“Please, and whatever rye-heavy bourbon you have, too. Neat.”
“Didn’t take either of your ladies as bourbon girls.” He taps the counter once. “Coming right up.”
I hold my breath as Donny walks away, knowing what’s coming from Dean before he says it.
“What the hell was that?” he demands.
I play it cool, picking at the label on my beer bottle. “What was what?” I ask, as if I have no idea what he’s talking about.
He pins me with a Don’t bullshit me stare.
I sigh.
“It was nothing.”
“Right. Very convincing, Brooks.”
He says my last name like a cuss word. He only calls me Brooks when he’s annoyed with me.
I don’t have the mental capacity to deal with it right now.
“Here you go.” Donny slides River’s and Maya’s drinks toward us. “Let me grab your beers.”
Dean’s eyes are trained on the two drinks sitting in front of us.
“Sure fucking looks like nothing,” Dean mutters.
He’s well aware I only ordered one.
He’s wondering how Donny knows what Maya was drinking.