He laughs again. He’s easy to talk to, I’ll give him that. Most guys double down on the fan stuff or get weird when they realize they’ve fumbled. He read the room, called himself out, and redirected without making it awkward.
“So, are you going to let me buy you a drink, or is this still the polite phase?” he asks.
“It’s an open bar. The drinks are free.”
“Would you mind if I ordered us more drinks then?”
I bite my lip to stop the grin. “I suppose that’s acceptable.”
“I’ll take it.” He signals the bartender for two more glasses and leans against the bar beside me, close enough that I can smell his cologne. Something clean and warm. Not like the one I normally smell.
“So, Fish can’t stop talking during shoots?” I ask because, apparently, even when I’m talking to another man, I can’t stop bringing him up.Pathetic.
“Relentless. We were supposed to do a silent, moody shot, and he spent ten minutes trying to convince the photographer that his left side was funnier than his right. The whole crew was in stitches, and we were an hour behind schedule.”
“That sounds exactly like him.” I smile, and something about the fondness in my voice catches me off-guard.
“You two are close?” he asks casually, but there’s a flicker of something behind it. The same question everyone asks and never believes the answer to.
“We work together.”
“Cool.” He doesn’t push it. Doesn’t do the knowing smile or the raised eyebrow. Just accepts it and moves on. “Would youwant to grab a seat somewhere? It’s hard to have a conversation when people keep reaching between us for drinks.”Say yes. He’s nice. He’s normal. He’s exactly what you should be interested in.Should be.
“That would be nice.” I glance over my shoulder without meaning to. Fish is with the boys near one of the display boards. Nelly is gesturing wildly about something. Bouch is cracking up. Fish is smiling, but his eyes aren’t on them. They flick to me, to Alton standing close beside me, and then away.Quick.Like he caught himself looking and course corrected.He was probably just checking whether Alton was a creep.I turn back to Alton with his easy green eyes, warm smile, and his complete absence of complications.“Sure. Lead the way.”
15
COLLETTE
My phone buzzes while I’m on the couch in my underwear, eating cereal out of the box because I had one too many glasses of champagne last night, and I no longer live with my brothers, so freedom is reigning supreme in my apartment.
Fish: Thanks for coming last night.
Collette: Congrats again. It was a great party. You should be proud.
Three dots appear. Disappear. Appear again.
Fish: Did you have fun?
Collette: I did.
Fish: Good. What about after? Saw you talking to one of the guys from the campaign.
Collette: Alton? He was a nice distraction for the night.
Fish: Just the night?
Collette: Are you fishing for something?
Fish: Clever and yes.
Collette: I went home alone, unlike you. I saw you leave with that model.
Fish: You did?
Collette: I’m surprised you are messaging me, thought you would be preoccupied.
Fish: She didn’t stay.