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“Read.” Kara passes the phone back to me.
“Out with grlz at Shameless. Have fun 2night. XO,” I read out loud. “He'll know it's not from me.”
I'm always careful to keep my text messages in proper English – it's a habit.
“Or maybe he'll think you're drunk and having a good time, which you are. Admit it. You haven't been thinking about Dylan, have you?”
“No.”
Not much.
I am missing him, but I suppose I shouldn't get used to spending every Saturday night with him. That would be a painful habit to break when he leaves.
“Then forget him and let's get back to it,” Kara says. “Okay?”
I drop my phone into my handbag. It's good to spend time with my girls. It's good to keep boundaries between me and Dylan. In the end, that's what will keep me sane in seven weeks' time when he's gone and I go back to looking for men who fit my list.
21
Dylan
I'm exhausted as I enter Shameless. The last thing I want to be doing tonight is clubbing. It's one in the morning and I'm wrecked. I called in a favour from Mike, asking him to close Brody's. Mike looked kind of surprised but didn't say anything. Thank goodness. I don't know what I would have said if Mike had called me on my decision to leave work early so I could hang out with Claire.
It almost makes me laugh to think about how I worried Claire wouldn't be able to keep things in perspective. She seems to be doing a better job of it than I am. I missed her tonight and it wasn't a pleasant experience. I kept searching the bar for Claire even though I knew she wasn't there. We have such limited time together and I'll never admit it, but I look forward to the two nights a week we spend together. In fact, it's all I think about.
Even though she refuses to go out with me during the day – something I've given up on suggesting – we're getting to know each other better as we hang out at the bar on Saturday nights and whenever Claire can make it down during the week. I thought I knew her pretty well before, but I never realised Claire could be so much fun. I didn't know she'd get along so well with the guys at the bar or enjoy helping me out so much.
Now she's broken our unofficial agreement to spend every Saturday night together and I'm in pursuit. I want to see her and I need more of the incredible sex I'm quickly becoming addicted to. I've always enjoyed sex, but with Claire the pleasure is out of this world. And the intensity between us still scares me, but I'm starting to wonder how I went so long without experiencing that kind of spark with someone.
I search the club, looking for Claire. The club is popular and it's crowded. Technically, I probably would have had to wait in line to get in, but the bouncer is a regular at Brody's. R&B music assails my eardrums. Not the kind of music I'd choose for the bar. The people in the club are clearly enjoying it, though, dancing together so closely it's difficult to force my way through the crowd.
I spot Kara first, her vibrant red hair catching my attention under the lights. Where's Claire? It takes me a moment to realise I can't see her because a guy is dancing behind her, blocking her from my view. I watch for a moment while some guy with black hair and white skin that glows under the lights puts his hands on Claire. She turns around and smiles at the guy before moving away from him.
When the guy follows her and puts his hands on her again, I see red. Before we started sleeping together, I would have stepped in in a heartbeat, but now that we're bed mates, I'm ready to knock the guy's block off.
I'm across the dance floor in seconds, pulling the other man's hands off Claire and putting my own on her, pulling her to me. Spinning around, Claire opens her mouth to yell at me, thinking I'm the other guy, and then stops, looking surprised.
And then pleased.
A smile curves her lips and her eyes light up with pleasure. “What are you doing here? Shouldn't you be closing?”
“I asked Mike to close for me.”
“Really?”
In that moment, I worry I've revealed more than I'd like – more than even I know.
Not willing to give her time to overthink, I grab her around the waist, finally taking in what she's wearing. I notice her lips first – painted a light berry-blue – one that matches her dress. Her dress is short and gives every man in here a view ofher perfect legs. Her hair is up, exposing her neck, with curls hanging over her forehead. She looks...capable of seducing every man in the club.
I've never really thought of Claire as a siren before. She's always been the gorgeous girl next door that drove me crazy. But the Claire I'm holding in my arms is dressed to drive every man around crazy.
“You look fucking hot,” I tell her, pulling her against me even tighter.
“Hey,” someone says, tapping me on the arm.
I turn to see Kara standing there, glaring at me. “It's girl's night. What are you doing here, Dylan?”
“Ahh, crashing? Is that a problem?”
