Page 11 of A Win-Win Situation
"Thank you, handsome." She smirks and grabs the shots, handing them to me and Sophie with two lemon slices and of course, salt.
"Here's to unforgettable nights, the bonds of sisterhood, and new beginnings!" Adeline exclaims, looking at me and raising her shot glass. The rest of us follow suit, clinking our glasses together. I slowly lick the salt off the back of my hand before downing the tequila shot. I wince at the sharp burn and quickly suck on the lemon wedge to ease the taste.
Immediately upon finishing our first shot, Sophie hands out the second round of shots before saying, "Here's to chasing our dreams, conquering our fears, and to the endless possibilities that lie ahead." We smile and clink our glasses with hers. This time, the tequila doesn't burn as much.
I take the last round of shots and hand them to the girls, saying, "Here's to the laughter we share, the moments thattake our breath away, and the adventures waiting around every corner."
Adeline and Sophie grin and shout, "Cheers to that," before we down the shots together.
The sour drinks the bartender concocted are strong and a tad bitter, but they help soothe my nerves as I take in the scene around me.
"Let’s dance!" Adeline yells louder than she needs to.
"You go. I’ll be there in a minute," I answer her. So she grabs Sophie's hand and walks to the middle of the dance floor as I take a moment to people watch, savoring my drink before joining them on the dance floor.
And that's when I spothim.
The Greek God from the hotel.Adonis.
The man I embarrassed myself in front of.
He’s standing on the other side of the club with a drink in his hand. His dark hair is ruffled, his eyes intense as he surveys the room. My hands go clammy, and I quickly turn to the bartender, my voice slightly shaky as I speak, "One more tequila shot . . . No, make it two, please." I hope he won't see me tonight, and if he does, I pray he’s forgotten about my humiliating staring display from the day before.
The alcohol settles, and I feel the buzz in my veins lead me toward the girls. The pulsating beat of the music vibrates through my body as I sway on the crowded dance floor with Adeline and Sophie. It's easy to let loose, and as the tempo of the music increases, so do our movements. Adeline is swaying her hips in front of me while Sophie stands behind, her hand gently tracing my body. The thumping beat of the music pulses through us, and the warm, sultry air envelops our group. Sophie twirls, her pink skirt flaring up with each spin, the vibrant colors of the fabric catching the dim, hazy lights. We laugh, our bodies moving in sync with the rhythm, lost in the musicand the electric atmosphere. The room feels like it's on fire, and I can sense the eyes of others on us, their gazes lingering with admiration and desire. It’s intoxicating and hot, leaving me feeling alive and liberated, as if the world revolves around us for these electrifying minutes.
As the music hits its peak, Adeline leans in close, whispering something in my ear, but the noise drowns out her words. I just shake my head and laugh, but she leans in even closer and speaks louder, "I choosehim." Her finger is pointing in the direction of the bar.
My whole body tingles. I have a feeling I know exactly which "him" she's referring to, and when I turn my gaze and spot him, I curse.
I shake my head. "No," I say firmly. "I can't do it. Not him."
But she's relentless, her finger still pointing to the bar where he's standing. "I choose him," she repeats, her voice teasing and full of mischief. "Don't be acoward, Leora."
I can feel my cheeks flushing with embarrassment and frustration. She knows I can't back down from a challenge, and that word is making me want to prove them wrong.
"Do you want to decline this easy, flirting mission and try another one?" Her wicked grin grows wider. "It will probably be worse."
Is it frowned upon to tackle your friend in a busy club? What’s the worst that could happen—we'll be thrown out? I have no issue with that.
"Or do you want to take a chance and see what happens?"
I weigh my options, knowing that whatever I choose it won't be easy. But I can't let her win. "Fine," I say, finally. "I'll do it, you asshole."
I take a deep breath and start making my way towards the bar, trying to look confident and in control, even though I may have had one too many tequilas.
This is going to be a long, embarrassing night.
He’s leaning against the bar, wearing a pair of chinos and a button-down shirt with a few buttons undone and rolled-up sleeves, which accentuate his broad shoulders and toned arms. The tattoos that had previously been hidden underneath his long sleeves are on display. I can’t exactly see what kind of art it is in the dim light, but just the idea of them makes him even hotter. A wave of heat floods through me, and I suddenly feel even more self-conscious in my own skin. He looks like he belongs here, like he knows he’s attractive but doesn’t feel the need to show it off.
Every inch of my body is hyper-aware of his presence as I draw closer to him, and I have to take another deep breath to steady myself.
When I reach him, I raise my hand and greet him with a loud, "Hi."
His expression quickly shifts to confusion, and I can’t help but feel like this encounter is about to become awkward. He leans down and murmurs a hesitant, "Hi," into my ear so I can hear him better over the blaring music. The warmth of his breath against my ear sends an electric thrill through my body.
"Do I know you?" he asks, catching me off guard. When he pulls away, I find myself longing for more.
More words, more physical closeness, more ofhim.
