Page 34 of Making It Up

She actually wants to see me again and is willing to come up with ways to make that happen.

The band launches into their first song of the night, and they’re smart—it’s “Don’t Stop Believin’” by Journey, the perfect sing-along song. Everyone cheers and Mia and her friends lift their drinks, clink them together over the table, then start singing and swaying.

Her definitely-not-in-a-bun hair sways against her back, her sweet ass wiggles on the stool, and I realize that just watching Mia in this environment could be a lot of fun. Maybe they’ll all get up and dance eventually.

I’m going to have a hot as fuck sex dream about her tonight anyway, I’m sure. Why not give my dirty subconscious some hair-swaying and ass-wiggling to work with too?

Plus, I now need to make sure she has a sober ride home.

And that the four guys at the table on the other side of the bar who are watching Mia’s group don’t get too friendly.

“Fine,” I say, re-claiming my seat. “Maybe I’ll stay for a little bit.”

I can’t take Mia somewhere and talk with her privately. God knows what would happen in that private space.

But I can stick around and see what she does now that she’s got me here.

Scott can’t blame me for this. I’m just a guy, sitting in a bar, having a beer with his brothers.

Whatever comes next is all his daughter’s fault.

That’s my story and I’m sticking to it.

CHAPTER 7

MIA

Now that I’ve got him here, what do I do with him?

David Bennett is not a flirt. He’s not chatty. He’s not outgoing.

And he’s not going to come over here.

I know that.

He doesn’t think we should even be friends. He’s not going to approach me in here in front of everyone.

What was I thinking?

I was thinking that maybe he would think this was safe. We just ran into one another here, it’s a social setting, it’s harmless if we spend time together here.

But he’s barely looked at me.

He’s sitting at the table with his brothers and friends. There are no women around. Carver has interacted with Kaelyn, of course, but for the most part they seem to be just enjoying a guys’ night.

I almost feel like I’m interrupting.

But he’s here because of my machinations. So I feel like I need to do something.

I lean in, grateful for the live music to cover my voice. “Now what?”

Whitney, Sloan, and Kaelyn all lean in too.

“Go ask him to dance,” Kaelyn says.

I shake my head. “I can’t.”

“Everyone at that table knows that you wanted him here and why,” Whitney says. “They’re probably wondering why you haven’t yet.”