‘Parker.’ Sawyer throws out a saccharine smile. ‘I don’t usually see you around here. And I’m here a lot.Especiallyon Fridays.’
Incredulity laces his tone and it helps me confirm what I’d also figured—that Parker might’ve made up the story that the staff met for drinks. I did wonder why I hadn’t been invited before.
And as sweet as it might be that Parker wanted to spend time with me, I’m just not interested in him that way, even if he is a relatively attractive guy, all clean shaven with gelled-back brown hair. I’m not interested in dating full stop. Still, he’s a colleague and a nice guy, so I’ve been friendly, and it’s been nice making light conversation and listening to his jokes. I don’t really have a lot of friends yet …
Wait—isthatwhy Sawyer’s here?
Surely he’s not …jealous.
No, he literally brought a woman over. Practically paraded her through the bar for everyone to see. Formeto see.
I narrow my eyes at him. What is he playing at? He knew I’d be here. He’s been sat a few booths down for the past hour. So why is he only coming over now?
‘Um, well—’ Parker starts, sputtering. He scratches his head. ‘I occasionally come out for drinks with the other teachers. You must miss us when you’re on the road.’
‘Oh,’ Sawyer perks a brow, a hint of venom in his words as he asks, ‘are the rest of them joining you then?’
Parker’s eyes dart to me and his voice lacks substance as he says, ‘Should be.’
Sawyer clinks his beer bottle against Parker’s glass, trying to grab his attention. ‘Well, while we wait—you like games, Parker?’
Parker stares at the table for a beat, then shrugs, defeat washing over his face. ‘Sure, why not.’
‘Can we play Never Have I Ever?’ Tara suggests, sipping on the straw in her drink rather suggestively.
‘My favourite.’ Sawyer’s face lights up as Tara takes way too much of the straw into her mouth and I force my eyes away, just so no one can see how they roll. I hope she chokes.
‘I’m not drinking,’ I explain, holding up my glass of water.
‘That’s fine, Blue. You can still play,’ Sawyer says.
‘Blue?’ Parker asks, brow furrowed as his eyes dart between us.
‘Right,’ Sawyer presses on, ignoring Parker’s confusion. ‘Remember, it’s things youhaven’tdone, so this should be easy for you, Parker.’
That makes Parker sigh and I kick Sawyer’s leg under the table—he doesn’t need to be mean. He turns a roguish grin to me, challenge bright in his eyes. He even raises his brows teasingly, before suggesting, ‘How ’bout we let thelovelyTara go first seeing as she suggested the game?’
Tara bounces in her seat with joy, long, thick hair floating about. She worries her lip as she drops into deep thought,her mouth all shiny with lip gloss, then suddenly announces, ‘Never have I ever had sex in a bar.’
Expectedly, Sawyer is the only one that drinks, and I try to ignore the way my skin heats at the thought. For all I know it was in the restroom I used earlier, and now my skin crawls even more. I know he’s been with countless women. I know what he’s like. So, I don’t know why the idea that he’s touched anyone but me is suddenly so jarring.
Maybe it’s because the way he touched me so devotedly last weekend, played with me until I was trembling in his hands, made me feel like the only girl in the world.
Now my jaw is aching from how much I’m tensing when Sawyer winks at Tara and says, ‘No worries, darlin’. I’m sure we can right that.’
Tara giggles, sucking on that straw too much again.
Sawyer gestures his beer towards Parker. ‘Your turn.’
‘Okay, um …’ The light has dimmed in Parker’s eyes which makes me glad I’m not the only one waiting for this to end. Though, the way his gaze keeps dipping down to Tara’s low-cut neckline says he’s getting more out of it than I am. ‘Never have I ever been arrested.’
Both Sawyer and Tara drink this time, and Sawyer leans forward, arm brushing the back of my shoulders as he moves. Still, even as he gets closer to Tara, his fingers toy with the ends of my hair, like he needs to be touching me, and I’m reminded of how they raked through it earlier. How he called mebeautiful.
Ugh. This is a mindfuck and a half I don’t need.
‘What the hell did you get arrested for?’ he asks Tara.
She grins, all feline with batting lashes. ‘Public nudity.’