Page 14 of Off Her Game

She pushed between bar couples engaged in the pre-hookup game to order some beers. She hoped he liked beer. While waiting she messaged Emma:What’s up with Noah’s brother Michael and his fiancée?

She tapped her foot.Come on, Emma. Check your phone.She watched Noah stiffly talk with Michael. Darcy didn’t engage in the conversation at all. The woman barely glanced at the guys.

Finally, her cell vibrated with Emma’s response:Michael is engaged to the woman Noah dated a time or two and then he found her naked with Michael. Happened three years ago. She used to be NJ Legacy’s CFO.

Her heart ached for Noah. She texted Emma,Thanks.

She sent Noah a text.

With a beer in each hand she marched back to Noah.

“Here.” In a show of juggling the two sweaty beer glasses she slid in next to him and handed him his beer. After he took his with a muttered thanks she wrapped her free hand around his waist and scooted in close. His startled gaze met hers.

Noah’s phone dinged.

She prompted, “Your phone dinged, didn’t it?”

He whipped out his phone with his free hand. His eyes widened as he processed the message from her:Hey, wanna ditch them? Just offering an excuse for you to tell them you have something you have to go take care of. :)

Michael leaned in to try to read, but Noah darkened the screen.

“We’ve got to get going, Michael. I heard the call for us.” Noah shoved his phone back into his pants pocket. He met Michael’s gaze. For a few silent moments something passed between them. Then he nodded a silent goodbye, put his hand lightly against Tori’s back, and directed her toward the entrance.

Once they were out of earshot she said, “Hope you were okay with that.”

“I could handle…” He halted halfway back to the hostess podium, his gaze fixed on the people waiting for tables. “Oh, shit.”

“What’s wrong?”

He grabbed her hand and pulled her down the dark, quiet hallway behind the bar. Restroom alley. A server closed a closet door and walked off. He tugged her into the small closet and flipped on the light.

“Why’re we in here?” She glanced around at the rolls of toilet paper, mop, and various cleaning aids. She set her untouched beer on a nearby shelf.

He glanced at his watch. “Let’s just stay in here for a few minutes.”

“Seriously, this is weird. What’s going on?”

He covered his face. “There must be a fuck-Noah convention going on tonight.”

“Noah, you’re freaking me out.”

“Of all nights, of course John fucking Willard would choose this restaurant. He works on Wall Street so I usually avoid clubs and restaurants on this side of town. God, the last time I bumped into him…” He ran a hand through his hair.

“I’ve never met John fucking Willard. Need a bit more info to understand why we’re in here.” She gave him a pointed glare.

“In high school, there was a thing that happened to me. He caught it on video.”

“High school? Everyone did embarrassing stuff in high school. Can’t be that bad.”

He grunted.

She glanced around. “Since I’m in a janitor’s closet on my fake date, I think I deserve the whole story.”

He gazed at her in silence. She was a staredown contest champion.Bring it on, Noah.

Finally, he blinked. “This doesn’t leave this room.”

“Promise. This stays in the janitorial closet.” She traced an X over her chest.