Page 65 of Hot As Ice

I laugh. “It’s not you. You’re cute. It’s just bad timing.”

Derek grins. “Thank you. I was hoping you’d say that.”

“You’ve only struck out twice. Third time might be the charm.”

“So you’re saying I shouldn’t give up, huh?”

I point at him. “Exactly. Do you want me to be your wing woman tonight?”

He throws his head back and laughs. “I don’t think any girl has ever offered to be my wing woman before.”

“I think I’d be good at it.”

He sticks his hand out. “You have yourself a deal.” We shake on it.

I scan the bar, trying to find a cute girl for him to go flirt with. There are plenty here tonight. I notice a brunette with tan skin by the jukebox in baggy black pants and a cropped red tank. I point her out to Derek. “She’s definitely a contender,” I say. Next, I notice a Black girl with a cute blonde afro and small diamond nose ring a few tables from the jukebox. “She’s super cute.” And my third pick is a preppy-looking girl with a short black bob and a gold heart necklace. “And she’s also super cute,” I say after pointing her out.

Derek nods approvingly at all my choices. “You have good taste, Stevie.”

I shrug and sip my lemonade. “I know.”

Becca, who’s sitting on the stool next to mine, leans in and whispers, “Having fun with your guy?”

“I’m trying to make him go flirt with someone else,” I whisper back.

Becca laughs, covering her mouth. “Oh, you’re bad.” She stirs her cocktail. “By the way, that guy over there has been staring at you nonstop since we got here. Maybe you should go flirt with him instead. He’s not bad looking.”

I follow her gaze. It’s a second before I spot who she’s talking about, but when I do, my heart drops to my stomach. It’s Joe, and he’s glaring at me as he sips a beer. My hand tightens around my glass and I quickly look away.

My first instinct is to leave, but we’re in a crowded place and I don’t think he would try anything with so many witnesses. But my last encounter with him, which I’d pushed out of my brain, roars back into the forefront of my mind. My stomach clenches.

What does he want from me?

I should report him. I should’ve reported him when he first attacked me. I feel very cowardly. It’s just terrifying to do anything sometimes, because a part of me thinks I will only make things worse somehow. I have this habit of hoping that ignoring bad things will just make them go away, which is a ridiculous mindset. And yet.

Becca notices my sudden change in mood and demeanor.

“You okay?” she asks, nudging me with her elbow.

I blink. “Yup, totally fine.”

Turning my attention back to Derek, I ask him if he’s ready to go flirt with one of the girls.

He grins. “I think I’d rather hang out with you.” He raises his beer and takes a long pull. “You’re fun.”

Derek is pretty tall and muscular. It’s probably smart to stick with him, in case Joe tries to approach me. I hate feeling so vulnerable, and I wish Hunter were here. I feel safer with him than anyone else in the world.

Derek points to the hockey game playing on mute on the TV above the bar. “You like hockey?”

“I do. I only started getting into it this year though.”

“Oh yeah? It’s pretty fun to watch, right? Have you been to watch the Ravens at the arena?”

“Yes, she has,” Becca chimes in from my other side. “She even went to a game alone last week.”

Derek raises his eyebrows. “Really? Call me next time. I’ll come with you.” He smiles and it’s cute. He really seems completely harmless. I wonder how Hunter would react to me showing up to a game with a man.

Feeling mischievous, I say, “Maybe I will.”