Never Have You Ever (The Love Game #1)- Elizabeth Hayley Page 0,51
glass. “And then whatever they’re drinking.”
I didn’t want to order something that was a hassle to make so I asked for a Malibu and Sprite.
“I’ll have the same,” Taylor said.
Wyatt nodded and set off to make our drinks.
TJ turned his attention back to us. Well, to me.
“You guys from around here?”
I always hated questions like that, because while it could be harmless small talk, it was also exactly the kind of thing a creep would want to know.
“Not originally,” I replied, being intentionally vague.
“Me neither. But I came here for college, stayed for a Master’s, and now I work downtown, so I guess I’m here to stay.” TJ’s smile was charming and endearing—the kind of smile I couldn’t help but return.
Wyatt returned with our drinks, and TJ said, “Add them to my tab.”
“Oh, you don’t need to do that,” Taylor said.
TJ waved her off. “No worries. It’ll save Wyatt time if he doesn’t have to open a new tab.”
That was likely bullshit, but there wasn’t much point in arguing.
“Thank you,” I said.
“So, what do you two do for a living?” he asked.
“We’re students,” Taylor replied before I had a chance to.
“Oh, what are you studying?”
“Criminal Justice,” Taylor said, the words thrown out almost like they were a warning. Though I couldn’t decide if it was because she usually had to deal with dudes who expected her to say something like Supermodel Training or because she was warning him that she wouldn’t hesitate to turn the law against him if he stepped out of line.
“Nice. Going to go into law enforcement?”
“Law School.”
TJ nodded before turning his attention to me.
“I’m a little more boring,” I said. “Marketing, with a minor in psychology.” I felt dumb after I added the last bit, but marketing wasn’t the most interesting field, while psychology was. Not that I was trying to impress this guy. Even if he was movie-star handsome and bought me drinks and looked at me like he wanted to devour me.
Shit, I’m trying to impress him.
Though, what was so wrong with that? I was single and therefore totally available to mingle. Sure, there was the awkward attraction to my pseudo–gay brother niggling in the back of my mind, like an annoying student raising her hand despite the teacher obviously ignoring her.
But his eyes brightened, and he stood up a bit straighter. “Marketing, huh? I’m in advertising.”
“Oh, wow,” I replied, because what else did one say to something that wasn’t at all fascinating while trying to pretend it was?
“Yeah,” he said as he swayed a bit closer to me.
I could feel Taylor burning a hole in the side of my head with her eyes, but I didn’t look back at her. This could be good. TJ had nothing to do with any of the drama in my life. He could be an uncomplicated side note in an otherwise chaotic narrative.
“Do you want to dance?” he asked me, his voice as low as it could be while still allowing me to hear him.
“Sure,” I replied, though I kind of didn’t want to join him. I felt like I should want to, but…I wasn’t sure. The connection was missing. That desire to actually get to know a person wasn’t there, but it could get there. After all, it was only a dance. And maybe spending more time with him would make me feel…something.
“Hey, TJ!” We all turned to see Wyatt motioning TJ over.
“I’ll be right back,” TJ said with a vehemence that made me think he was worried I was going to pull a Cinderella on him.
“I’ll be here,” I replied with a smile.
As soon as he walked away, Taylor rounded on me. “He’s cute. Oh, and, what the fuck are you doing?”
I felt my brow furrow in confusion. “What do you mean?”
“Why are you dancing with him?”
“Because he asked,” I responded slowly.
“What about Drew?”
“What about him?” My voice sounded too casual and dismissive, even to my own ears.
She glared at me, an effective strategy that always made me cave and fill the silence.
“There’s nothing going on between Drew and me. You know that.”
I’d spilled all the details regarding Drew, even about the almost-kiss. I had maybe skimmed over my feelings surrounding the kiss, allowing it to be written off as a drunken mistake, but did that really matter? I couldn’t act on my attraction to Drew, so acknowledging my feelings out loud wouldn’t change anything.
“Nothing physical is going on, but…” Taylor trailed off, casting a glance to where TJ was still talking to Wyatt.