AllFreeNovel
Share Us
A handmade signboard behind the counter labels it as a Love Bites cocktail. “It’s got vodka, pomegranate liqueur, and pink grapefruit juice. You want it?”
“Yeah, why not?”
She reaches in her pocket and pulls out cash, but I stop her. “I’ll get it.”
Her eyes widen. “Really? You don’t have to.”
“I want to.”
I turn to the bartender. “Can I get a Love Bites and a Stella Artois?”
“Tessa!”
I glance back, finding a head of wild, curly brown hair hugging Tessa, a smile on Mia’s face. “I didn’t know you’d be here.”
“Lexie invited me,” Tessa says.
“Right. I keep forgetting you work with her. Come sit with us, okay?”
“Yeah, we’re just grabbing drinks now.”
Mia finally seems to notice me. “Austin? Did Tyler invite you?”
“Ethan did.”
“Yeah, that sounds more like him.”
“Are you going to introduce me?” a blonde says from behind Mia.
“Sorry. Guys, this is Kelsey, my roommate. Tessa does research at the Stress Lab, too. And Austin goes to Tyler’s boxing gym.”
Kelsey points a finger between me and Tessa. “So you aren’t together?”
Tessa looks up at me and quickly away, but it’s Mia who answers. “No, they’re not.”
Kelsey smiles flirtatiously at me, giving me a once-over. “Dance with me later, okay?” She turns to Mia. “I’m going to find my friends.”
I glance down at Tessa, her lips in a thin line as she watches the girl saunter away.
“Don’t mind her,” Mia says. “She’s a big flirt.”
I turn back to the counter, unsure how to respond, and wait for the bartender to finish making Tessa’s cocktail. That was weird.
“What are you getting to drink?” Mia asks. “I got this cool pink cocktail when I came here last year.”
“Yeah, that’s what I got.” Is it my imagination or does Tessa sound noticeably less enthused about it now?
I pay for the drinks and hand her hers. She smiles up at me gratefully and takes a long gulp, emptying half the glass.
“You might want to pace yourself.” She weighs practically nothing. If she chugs it all in one go, how soon will it affect her?
She nods. “This is my only one of the night. I’m driving, remember?”
Tyler approaches us, startling Mia from behind as he wraps his arms around her waist.
“How’d you know I was here?” she asks him.
He smirks. “I could see your hair.”
