“Anytime.” He seemed pleased with himself.
“You said you’d be willing to help with…”
“Do you have something else fun on your list you want me to do for you?” he said, cutting me off.
“Yes actually. Will you dance with me?”
He smiled. “I’d love to.” He downed his drink and whispered something to his friends before walking with me toward where the DJ was set up in the back of the bar.
Unfortunately it was a slow song. He grabbed my hand and pulled me in close. I could smell the whiskey on his breath and it made me ridiculously uncomfortable. I tilted my head to the side so I was staring over his shoulder. Just one song.
“Whoever you’re marrying is a very lucky guy,” he whispered in my ear.
“Thanks.” Did James think he was lucky? I had thought so before yesterday. But I wasn’t sure anymore. Does he even love me? The alcohol and my friends’ laughter had momentarily distracted me from the notes he had written to Isabella. He loved her so much. I didn’t want to be here right now. I just wanted to go home.
“You’re beautiful, you know.”
For some reason his words made me want to cry. I didn’t say anything. I just turned my head away from him even more. The song would be over any second.
“What are you thinking about?” he asked.
I suddenly felt even more uncomfortable. “I miss him.” All I wanted was to be in James’ arms. I needed to hear him say that everything was okay. And that he loved me.
“You don’t have to go home alone tonight.” His hands slid down to my ass.
I pushed on his chest and stepped back. “I’m sorry, I’m not… I’m not looking to go home with anyone.”
“Let me buy you another drink.”
“No, I’ve already had too much to drink. I’m sorry.” I quickly walked away from him and ran directly into the guy I was supposed to be making googly eyes with.
“You okay?” he asked.
I looked over my shoulder. “Yeah, I’m fine. I just…” I shook my head.
“Bad night?”
“Honestly, I miss my fiance. His friends kidnapped him for his bachelor party this weekend. So my friends decided to throw me a bachelorette party. All I really wanted to do tonight was watch a movie.”
“Honestly, I’d rather be watching a movie too.”
I smiled. “I’m not interested in going home with anyone tonight. I’m just going to go back over to my table.”
“I’m not trying to sleep with you. I mean, you’re gorgeous. But I’m not an asshole.”
I looked up at him.
“You’re engaged.”
“I am.”
“I was merely going to try to get your number in case things went south.”
“Things aren’t going to go south.” I wasn’t able to admit that they had already started to. James and I were still fine. We had to be.
He shrugged. “I was engaged once. I didn’t think that would end either.”
It was like he knew what I was going through. “What happened?”
“I don’t think commitment really means the same thing today as it used to.”
I thought about the pictures of James with Rachel and Isabella. I thought about all the love notes. “You’re probably right. It still means something to me, though.”
“So how about I just buy you a drink and casually slip you my number?”
I laughed. “Actually, I could use your help.”
“And what do you need help with?”
“My friends have this list of stupid stuff they want me to do. Including getting someone to buy us a round of drinks.”
“Let’s go see what they’re drinking then.” He touched the small of my back for just a second to direct me back to the table. When we got there, he put his elbows down on the table and smiled. “Ladies.”
They all giggled.
“Can I offer you some refills?”
“That would be fantastic,” Kendra said.
“What were you drinking?” he asked and smiled down at me.
“If I could just get some water, that would be great.”
He nodded. “Probably a good choice. You seem a little drunk.”
I couldn’t even argue with him. My friends had been shoving drinks in my face since I had arrived at Bee’s. “Maybe you should just get a round of waters for the table.”
“Are you sure you don’t need more shots?” He smiled and looked down at the table covered with shot glasses. Half of them hadn’t been touched.
“I think we’re good there. Just water.”
“If that’s what the lady wants.” He winked at me and leaned in close. “Hopefully free drinks count,” he whispered into my ear. “If not, I’ll be by the bar. And here’s my number just in case your fiance takes commitment as loosely as my fiancee did.” He slid his business card into my hand.
I looked down at the card and then back up at him, knowing perfectly well that I would never call that number. “Thanks.”
“Really, water?” Melissa asked as soon as he walked away.
I laughed. “He was nice. I didn’t want to make him pay for a whole round of drinks. Plus, you guys are getting me wasted. I can barely walk in a straight line.” At this point, I probably couldn’t.
“That’s okay, it still counts,” Bee said. “Plus,” she grabbed the business card out of my hand. “Penny just scratched off number seven too.”
“You got his number?” Kendra clapped her hands together. “Oh my God, he’s like a walking sex ad.”
I laughed. “Did you want it?”
“Yes please.” She snatched the business card out of Bee’s hand. “I bet he’s amazing in bed.”
Marie rolled her eyes.
“Speaking about sex,” Kendra said. “On a scale of one to ten, how good is James in bed?”
“An eleven.”
They all laughed.
“I haven’t met an eleven in years,” Kendra said. “I think all the elevens are in relationships. And why wouldn’t they be? Their dicks are like fucking Gods.”