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She leads us to the bar that’s in the middle of the open-air space. “What do you want to drink?”

I glance between her, the bar, and the direction we came from, a little frazzled by the quick succession of events. “I have to buy drinks for myself and my friends,” I manage to say.

“Okay.” Completely unbothered, she sidles up beside me, shoulder to shoulder, closing any distance between us. “Tell me what you’re all having.”

I drag Nina’s credit card out of my pocket and bring it between us. “It’s okay, I got it.”

She plucks it from my fingers and slides it back into place. It’s a light graze against my backside, nothing indecent, but it’s enough to change the air around us.

“Sweetheart.” Her tongue peeks out to wet her bottom lip, and my eyes don’t miss the movement. “I can’t buy you a drink if you pay.”

The endearment makes my cheeks fill with heat, and I almost turn my face to hide it. I’m not necessarily shy by nature, but I’m also not someone who ever finds herself disorientated in the presence of other people. Truth be told, people outside my friends and family barely ever hold my attention; my mind is too full, my days too busy.

But this nameless woman has more than just my attention. She has me captivated; the damsel in distress completely in awe of her knight in shining armor.

“I think I should be buying you a drink,” I tell her. “To say thank you for whatever it is you said to the sleazeball back there.”

She waves me off. “You have nothing to thank me for. If anything, I should be thanking him for giving me an excuse to talk to you.”

I purse my lips together and try to hide my smile, the heat from earlier now permanently staining my cheeks. It’s obvious she’s flirting, and it’s not that nobody ever flirts with me, I just don’t usually like it.

Feeling courageous, I nudge her. “Are you hitting on me?”

Her smile is confident, completely unfazed by my question or even the possibility of rejection.

Holding my gaze, she shrugs nonchalantly. “I’m seeing where the night takes me.”

My skin pebbles with goosebumps as I lock my eyes on hers. I like that answer. I like that there’s no pressure or awkwardness, and no expectations.

It is the very antithesis of what the man from earlier expected of me, and is in complete synchronicity with this woman seated beside me.

Her presence feels safe and calming, despite the loud music, sweaty bodies, and the free-flowing alcohol.

My phone buzzes in my pocket, and I’m quick to retrieve it, remembering I’m no longer where Nina left me, and she’s probably looking for me.

Declining her call, I offer my new friend an apologetic smile and quickly type out a text.

I’m upstairs at the rooftop bar.

“Sorry about that,” I say, letting my cell rest on the bar. “My friend was looking for me.”

The words are barely out of my mouth when I feel arms over my shoulders. I turn to find Nina’s face inches away from mine.

“I’m back,” she sing-songs. “Thank goodness you haven’t bought the drinks yet.”

“Long line in the bathroom?” I joke.

“You have no idea.”

“Let me guess,” I say. “You don’t feel well and you’re going to head home early.”

The smile on her face doesn’t even falter as she carries on with the lie. “Seriously. It must’ve been all the food we ate for dinner.”

“And Nick is going to take you to his place and make you feel better?”

She winks at me. “You know it.”

We both laugh, and it’s only then she must notice the woman beside me. Her eyes curiously dart between us. “Do you want to ride share?”