Page 30 of Igniting Sparks

I watch Zane disappear down the hall before pivoting back to Braden.

“What party?” I ask, the uncertainty crawling into my voice.

See, I’m a friendly person, but my closest relationships, outside of my parents, were with my ballet slippers and dance barre. To say I’m socially stunted is an understatement, especially around Zane and Braden’s crowd.

I don’t know them personally, but the ones I’ve seen—women, mostly—are eroticism encased in leather and attitude. They’re always nice enough in passing, but I feel like a frumpy teenager next to them—completely out of my element.

Braden shoots me a sheepish smile as he grabs his shirt off the floor and pulls it over his head. “It’s not a party. Just a few friends getting together. A chill night. Sorry, I thought I had mentioned it.”

“You don’t have to clear it with me. It’syourhouse.” I laugh, but it’s tinged with nerves now. “Besides, I love spending time with Ori.”

“Ash and Ori aren’t coming tonight. They have some baby stuff to take care of. You know, couple shit.”

A sinking feeling descends into my stomach as I realize I won’t know a soul at this get together. The last time that happened, I begged off after thirty minutes.

Braden senses my discomfort. He walks over, gliding a finger along my jaw. “Hey, they’re cool people, I promise. It’ll be fun—some good booze, good food, maybe even a game of poker later.”

I fiddle with the hem of my shirt, trying desperately to will my anxiety back into its cage. “My mom taught me how to play Texas Hold ‘Em. I’m pretty good.”

A grin breaks across Braden’s face. “I bet you’re more than good. Did you know your mom taught me how to play, too?”

“When?”

“She watched Ash and me one weekend when we were kids. Small world, right?”

Incredibly tiny, actually.

Braden forces my face up with his hands. “They’re good people, Mina,” he says, as if reading my apprehension. “I promise I wouldn’t say that if it weren’t true. And I’d like you to get to know them. They’re important to me. You’re important to me, too. But if you don’t want to go?—”

When he says it like that, how can I possibly say no?

“I’ll be there,” I reply, trying to exude a confidence I don’t feel. “I’ll get changed and be down in a bit.”

“Thank you. I’m going to jump in the shower and let Zane do the heavy lifting.” He pauses at the doorway, his hand resting on the frame. “I’m glad you like this room. I wasn’t sure if I was doing it right. Never know if online videos are correct or total garbage.”

“You did it perfectly.”

“I loved watching you dance.” He bites his lip and clears his throat, a hint of color climbing his cheeks. “You’re so elegant and effortless.”

“Not really. I’ve tripped over air more than once.”

He’s stalling. What does that mean? What am I supposed to do?

Rush over and kiss him again? Offer to join him in the shower? Not that I’d know what to do once I got in there—aside from gawking at him.

Why do I have to be so damn inexperienced?

“Well,” he taps the doorframe. “I better go.”

“Braden,” I call out before my insecurities kick in.

“Yeah?”

“I owe you. Anything you want. Just let me know.”

His eyes widen, his tongue licking across his lower lip as a nervous chuckle rises from his chest. “I hope you don’t offer that up to every guy.”

My cheeks flame at his intimation. “What? No. Never, actually. I’m… Christ, I didn’t mean…”