just friends. Maybe I do need to remind Luke of tha t too.
I don’t talk to Julian for the rest of the night, but I see him several more times. I’m sort of avoiding him because every time I do get a glimpse of him, he’s surrounded by beautiful women. I’ve convinced myself he was just messing with me earlier. I came out to have a good time with my friends, and hooking up with anyone, let alone someone like Julian Bauer, was not on my agenda. I do find it a little suspicious though that despite the fact the hotel has several different venues, he never seems to be too far away from where I am.
Time flies by as we all drink and dance and enjoy a beautiful night. I hate to admit it, but it really does feel good to be out again. Dancing makes me feel alive, and it’s something I miss doing. I run into a few old friends I haven’t seen in forever. They ask me how I’m doing, and it feels really good to be able to honestly answer that I’m doing well. None of these people know about Brady, so they really have no idea how bad things were for me for a while. That life is finally starting to feel like it’s in the past, and I grab another cocktail and toast with my friends to new begin nings.
So now I’m officially really buzzed. Okay. I’m drunk. I haven’t been out drinking in a while, and I’m basically a lightweight anyway. I look at my watch and realize it’s almost one o’clock in the morning. It’s time to call it a night.
Everyone agrees to leave, and I tell them to hang on a second while I go say goodnight to Luke. I know if I don’t he’ll start blowing up my phone the second he gets off work. Right now all I want to do is go home and go to sleep. I unsteadily walk up the stairs and head over to Luke’s bar. I wait there for a few minutes before I get his attention. He eventually spots me standing there and raises his finger, giving me the wait-a-minute sign. I turn and lean shakily against the bar as I wait for him. I need the support both because my feet are killing me and because I really am pretty dizzy. I think about Julian and our earlier conversation and wonder where he is. I’m drunkenly lost in my thoughts when I sense someone behind me. I can’t see Julian, but I swear I can feel his presence. I can also smell him. He smells so yummy. He slowly runs his thumb across the length of my shoulder in a way that is possessive, sweet, and sexual all at the same time. I’m not sure if he’s extending an invitation or just trying to get my attention. Who cares, right? Once again, I feel a jolt of electricity shoot through my body. I take a deep breath and slowly turn around. I’m met with Julian’s seductive smile. I try my best to hide the fact I’m drunk.
“So we meet again, corazón . This seems to be our spot. Maybe I should’ve hung out here more tonight so we could’ve talked. It would have been more fun than just watching you from across the club all night. You were never a lone.”
Um okay. Is this guy for real?
“Neither were you,” I say seriously, the alcohol making me brave.
Julian chuckles. “I would’ve been happy to make myself available to you tonight, Alexa. I told you to let me know.”
“Hmm. My bad. Does your offer have an expiration date, Ju lian?”
Seriously , I think to myself. Because if it does, I’m totally calling in that kiss right now! I stare at his lips and imagine them all over my body. If he can almost electrocute me with his fingers, I can only imagine what his lips and tongue will do to me.
Before Julian can answer, Luke walks over. Oh go away, I think to myself before I remember that the reason I came up here was to say good-bye to him. Luke stands in front of me and looks back and forth between Julian and me. This is the second time he’s caught us whispering in the corner, and he doesn’t look happy with me. I flash him the smile I know he loves and reach over the bar to give him a hug. I go on the offensive to deter him from saying
Damien Broderick, Paul di Filippo