“I finally understand why you fell in love with this city,” I say, slipping my arm around Jewels’s shoulders. “And I owe you for setting me up with the best tour guide out there. Seriously, Chloe was amazing.”
Jewels wraps her arm around my waist, hugging me for a brief moment. “I knew you two would get along. Can you join us for dinner, Chloe?”
“I wish, but I have to fill in for one of the guys at the shop tonight. Some shit about his wife having the stomach flu and no one to watch his baby. Sometimes I think they just like to take advantage of me because they know I have to get my time in. I swear they’re always calling me in on my rare days off. It’s like I have a fucking sign on my head that says gullible or something.” She jumps to her feet, slipping back into her sandals. I get the feeling she doesn’t sit still for much longer than that. “You guys should come down to The Sticks tomorrow night on 23rd Street. My band will be playing at nine.”
“We’ll be there,” Jewels assures her, grinning. If there’s one thing my bestie would never miss, it’s the chance to see a live band. She runs over to hug Chloe. “Thanks again, I owe you.”
“We had a good time.” Chloe shrugs, turning to smile my way. “I think she’ll do just fine in this city. I look forward to hanging again.” After throwing me a wink and exchanging goodbyes with Adam, she disappears down the stairs.
Jewels flashes me this ridiculously toothy smile until we hear the front door click. “Did she drive you crazy?”
“No,” I say with a shrug. “She’s a talker, but she’s also a lot of fun.”
“Good. I knew you’d like her.” She becomes preoccupied with her phone for a moment. “So I hope you won’t get mad over this, but we invited Theo to come with us tonight.”
“Jewels,” I whine, twisting my hair around my finger. “C’mon.”
“Kel, he really wants a chance to start over with you. He’s embarrassed that you thought he just wanted a one-time fling. That’s totally not what Theo’s about. He’s a flirt, and I know just exactly how blunt he is when he’s attracted to a woman, but he’s a total sweetheart once you get to know him.” She reaches out for my hands, batting her thick eyelashes. “Pretty please, will you give him another chance?”
“You’re like a pathetic puppy dog with those dopey eyes. Are they supposed to make me cave in or something?”
“Of course.” She flutters her lashes again like a cartoon character. “Say yes.”
I catch Adam throwing me a hopeful look, and remember what he said about Jewels being crushed over our spat the day before.
“Fine,” I cave, pushing her away. “If you’re going to make me go on an actual date, then I need to get ready. Put my sexy face on.”
“That’s the spirit!” she says in her old cheerleading voice. “Yay, Kel!”
“Can you say that again, exactly the same way?” Adam asks her, wiggling his eyebrows. “Although maybe jump around this time.”
“You two are like a bunch of newlyweds,” I moan. “I’m outta here.” As I slip away to the guest room, my gut pangs anxiously. Tonight I’ll have to tell Jewels and Adam that I’m going to move in with Erik. I can’t put it off any longer.
The restaurant, small and charming, reminds me far too much of the Italian bistro Erik took me to the day before. It makes me all the more nervous about breaking my news to them. I’m chewing on my straw and tapping my knee against the bottom of the table by the time Theo joins us, looking mighty fine. Jewels told me he looks amazing in a suit, which I have yet to see, but damn he can really rock the shit out of a casual button down and chinos shorts.
“Hey, big guy!” Jewels greets him eagerly.
His sincere gaze meets mine as he dips his chin. “Hey. You look beautiful tonight.” He stuffs his hands in his pockets and tilts his head toward the small bar. “Join me for a quick drink?”
“We’ll order some appetizers,” Adam suggests.
“Get the prosciutto crostata and pancetta focaccia twists,” Theo tells him as he helps me slide my chair away from the table. He gently touches my arm while we walk over to the small bar at the far end of the restaurant. We settle into the only free stools in the middle.
“What’s your drink of choice?” he asks, signaling the bartender.
“Jameson on the rocks,” I blurt, knowing I’m going to need some liquid courage to confront Jewels and Adam by the end of the night.
Theo lifts his eyebrows, smirking. “Really?”
“Why does everyone expect me to order something with an umbrella?”
“No judgments.” He turns back to the young guy behind the bar. “Two double shots of Jameson, on the rocks.”
The bartender nods with a smirk. “You got it.”
Theo turns his stool so his knees press to the side of my legs, and casually drapes his large forearm against the bar. “I wanted to thank you for giving me a chance to apologize. I was an ass. I wasn’t trying to suggest that you were easy. Jewels made it sound like you might be interested in me, and I wanted to let you know that I was definitely into you. I knew the long distance thing wouldn’t be ideal, but I saw it work for a couple of my buddies when we were overseas. Now that I know you’re going to stick around, I’m especially interested in getting to know you better.”
“Yeah, well, if I hadn’t jumped to conclusions and run off like that, maybe there wouldn’t have been such a colossal misunderstanding.” I set my hand on his massive bicep, quivering a little with its firmness. “I’m the one who should apologize. I’ve been through a lot lately, so I guess I’m a bit more sensitive than usual.”
“Anything you want to talk about?”
“Not especially. I haven’t told Jewels all the sordid details yet. All you need to know is that I’m not interested in a casual hookup. I came to New York for a fresh start. Maybe to figure out who I am without my parents, or sisters, or anyone else defining me.”
“I can respect that.”
The bartender sets our drinks down. Theo quickly pays him and holds his glass up. “Here’s to fresh starts.”
I clink my glass with his. “Thanks. I hope I didn’t bruise your ego by turning you down. Don’t get me wrong—I really am interested in getting to know you better.”
His eyes widen. “Does that mean I can take you on a real date?”
“Sometime. I’m not quite ready to go there yet.”
With his eyes twinkling, he grins. “You know where to find me when you decide that you are.”
The mood between us turns light and playful as we join Jewels and Adam. I catch myself biting my bottom lip when watching Theo tell us work-related stories. As much as he appears to be the complete package and as much as I’m attracted to him, he doesn’t get me going the way Erik can. I curse myself out under my breath. Erik’s just a kid. Theo’s as manly as they get. He served our country and has a stellar job that could eventually lead to parties with celebrities. He earned his money instead of having it handed down to him like a spoiled rich boy. Why shouldn’t I want to jump his bones?
The night’s filled with amazing food, a ton of laughter, and enough drinks at the bar down the block from the restaurant that I feel tingly and loose-lipped by the time we agree to head back for the night.
As we near the brownstone, Theo slows his pace at my side, letting Adam and Jewels—who have their arms wrapped around each other—get a decent lead on us.
“Wanna come over to my place for a drink or two?” Theo asks in a low voice.
I reach out to touch his toned arm, because apparently I can’t keep my hands off his marvelous body. “And how’s that going to work with our agreement to take things slow, exactly?”
“I can be a gentleman,” he says with a rather devilish smirk.
I brush my fingertip across his forearm. “Maybe so, but I don’t know that I trust myself around you.”
“Then don’t,” he says, taking my arm to stop me in the middle of the sidewalk. “This can be about more than sex. If you let me kiss you, maybe w
e’d both make it through a few dates before we decide to cave in and take things further.”
I wag my finger at him, grinning. “Don’t you know kissing’s a gateway drug?”
“I have a high tolerance,” he says, leaning in closer. “I once had to tread water in the ocean for two hours straight. It takes a lot to break me.”
I shove him lightly, pretending to be offended. “Agh, do you have to make yourself even hotter? Seriously, Theo, let’s just stop this now.” My head spins from all the drinks I had, and I can’t help but feel incredibly guilty for even considering kissing Theo when I almost took things too far with Erik earlier. “I don’t want our friendship to be tainted by our alcohol-fueled hormones.”
“Okay, fair enough.” He backs away, hands held up at his sides. “But if I promise to keep my hands in my pockets, will you at least let me kiss your cheek before we say goodnight?”
It’s actually kind of sweet how he doesn’t want to part without having kissed me in some way. “Would you settle for a hug?”
With an ear-splitting grin, he leans into gather me in his arms, bringing me close with his arm hooked around my neck. I feel like a little girl with my face pressed to his chest. I feel his nose skim against the top of my head.
“Are you sniffing my hair?”
He pulls away, slowly letting go. “Can’t help myself. You smell like sunscreen. It’s driving me wild.”
“It’s coca butter scented shampoo.”
“I like it.” His eyes light up, and he reaches down for my hand, bringing it to his lips for a soft kiss. “Goodnight, Cavenaugh. I look forward to seeing you again tomorrow.”
I agreed to let him take me to see Chloe’s band, figuring it would be safe to double with Adam and Jewels again. But as he strolls away, whistling, I can’t decide if canceling would’ve been a better idea. My head’s such a mess. Is there something morally wrong with simply being attracted to two guys at once?
I find Jewels by herself in the kitchen, drinking from a bottled water. “Adam said to tell you goodnight. He’s wiped.”
“I never got a chance to ask him how it went. Are they going to install the pump thingie?”
“Yeah, it’s all good. He’s set up for the procedure next week. You and Theo have a good time?”
I grin happily with the memory of his hug. “Yeah, we did.”
She offers me the bottle with her eyebrows raised. “You want to hang out in the backyard and chat, or are you ready for bed too?”
I take a swig of the water before handing it back, and hook my arm through hers. “I’m up for a girl session. We haven’t had much time alone since I got here.”
She grabs a bottle of wine from the fridge before we head out.
The night has taken on a significantly colder feel, although there’s still a heavy humidity that settles around us like a dense fog. Jewels flicks the switch to bring the twinkle lights to life beneath the canopy. The beautiful sight of the white lights shining against the dark night brings on the feel of a mix between a fairytale and a stunning wedding reception.
Jewels crosses her legs once she’s on the couch and settles against my side the way she always did in our dorm room as she works on twisting the top off the wine bottle. “So! What’d you think of Central Park? We’ll have to go running through there some time. I’ve only been on the edge of it a couple of times with Adam, but Theo keeps inviting me to run the trails with him. I guess the park is huge.” She hands me the bottle. “Speaking of, how’d it go with Theo just now?”
“We didn’t kiss, if that’s what you’re hinting at.”
“So you’re not interested?”
“Are you kidding? Of course I am. He’s one of the hottest guys I’ve ever met. He’s really funny and kinda sweet, too. I’d be stupid not to give him a chance. He’s the total package.”
“You don’t seem convinced.”
“I’m just really not ready to start a relationship when I have other things to worry about, like finding a job, and figuring out what I’m going to do here, if I can find a way to finish college. What if I don’t find an affordable place to stay, or a job that pays enough for me to live here?”
Jewels begins playing with strands of my hair, something she only does when completely inebriated. I didn’t realize she had so many drinks tonight. “It’ll all work out, Kel.”
“And if it doesn’t?”
“Then you move back to La Crosse. Or somewhere else in Wisconsin. But you should stop worrying about it so much right this minute.” After taking another slug of the wine, she sets in the bottle in my lap and snuggles into my side, wrapping her arms around herself and closing here eyes. “You’ve got all the time in the world to figure this out. Just enjoy life while you’re here.”
“Jewels?” I ask softly, wondering if she’s sleeping. She hums with her eyes still closed. “Have you ever wanted something that you knew wouldn’t be good for you?”
“Does falling in love with a guy who wanted to give up on life count?”
I look down at my sweet friend, reminding myself she’s been through hell and back with Adam. My drama is like a stroll through the park compared to all she’s been though.
I stroke her head gently. “Yeah, that counts,” I whisper, listening to her breathing slow into soft snores.
I’m going to have to sort out my living situation and feelings for Erik on my own.
FIVE
Jewels, Adam, and I spend the entire next day unpacking. Yeah, the two of them are a bit sickening to be around at times, but they’re so in sync with each other’s emotions and every move that it warms my heart. They’re the first couple I’ve been around where it’s obvious they’re meant to spend the rest of their lives together.
I’m caught up in the excitement of my best friend settling into her very first place off campus with the guy she’s head over heels in love with, and completely forget about my meeting up with Theo later. Erik sends me a text while I’m getting ready, asking when he can expect me to move in. The reminder that I still have to tell Jewels something, even if it isn’t the truth, weighs down the excitement of going to see Chloe’s band perform. I quickly type:
Come 2 The Sticks on 23rd St tonight after 9. I’ll fill u in.
The city’s alive with locals and tourists as Adam, Jewels, Theo, and I wander down to the hip bar just before nightfall. You’d think it was the weekend rather than a random weeknight the way an excited vivacity buzzes through the crowd on the sidewalks. For the most part it’s easy to pick out the visitors from the residents the way some stop to take pictures frequently while others carry along at a steady pace, filled with laughter and conversation. I find myself wondering if I’ll ever fit in with the locals, or if I’ll always be overwhelmed by the constant movement of the massive city.
As we wait in line to enter the bar, I occasionally feel Theo’s warm breath on my neck as if he’s staring down on me. My body tingles in anticipation despite my resolve to take things slow. As much as I want to change my ways, it still feels good to be wanted. And I can’t deny a part of me wants him just as much. The fire rippling between our connected hands has the feel of holding on to a live wire.
Once inside The Sticks, I let out a sharp laugh. The interior is eerily similar to the rural bars back home, complete with log-lined walls covered in tin signs, only there’s just a touch of modern added with stainless steel lights and bar stools, and it’s filled with fashionably dressed patrons rather than flannels. A decent crowd gathers around a small stage at the far end where a three-person band plays a punked-out cover of some 90s song, their guitars ripping through the bar with a boisterous charge that vibrates against my chest. The four of us join the cluster of people waiting to put in their order at the bar.
“Holy shit, they’re playing Blind Melon!” Jewels squeals, jumping up and down. No one is surprised to hear that the musical genius knows the song playing. She tugs on my arm. “I freaking love this song, but I’ve never heard it played like this before
! C’mon, let’s dance! The guys can join us after they buy our drinks!”
“Yeah?” I confer with Theo, raising my eyebrows in question.
“Go ahead. She’s not going to let you say no to her anyway.” He winks, flashing me one of his million dollar smiles. “Besides, I know what to order.”
“Thank you!” I yell, allowing my friend to drag me away.
The intensity on the designated dance floor matches the thrum of the power cords blasted over the speakers. I dip and grind with Jewels as we’ve done a hundred times before, letting the excitement of the music lift my worries off my shoulders.
When the song ends, Jewels jumps up and down, sticking her fingers in her mouth to let out an ear-shattering whistle. The band switches to an even more energetic song with an undeniably sexy beat. Jewels squeals excitedly with the sound of the new tune, jumping around with such force that her long blond curls sway over her face. She closes her eyes, losing herself in the music as always. She doesn’t even notice when a wall of dancers barge their way between us, jumping and clashing into each other.
Giggling, I shift my hips along to the electric beat, letting myself also get lost in the notes. Each strum of the bass guitar makes me feel more sexy, confident. I close my eyes, feeling the deep staccato of the drums thrum down to my core.
A pair of hands slip around my stomach, cradling me. I spin around, expecting Theo, but I’m met with Erik’s seductive blue gaze. Incredibly turned on by the intense way he’s looking at me and still holding on to my waist, I let out a low gasp between my parted lips. His mouth slowly curls with a pleased smile as he presses up against me, sliding his hands along my sides as he dances, slow, tantalizing.
I’m too focused on the pulsating swell between my legs to remember that I’m supposed to play it cool with Erik, that I’m not going to become involved with him, no matter how insanely sexy it feels to be dancing in his arms. I rest my hands against his lean chest, locking my eyes with his as I slide up and down him like a feral animal. Not only do his eyes shine in approval, but I can feel him growing against my leg when I straighten back up.
Kelly's Quest (NYC LOVE Book 2) Page 6