Page 2 of The Saviors: Part One

I should tell him no and walk away. But I do none of those things. I slide my ass back onto the barstool.

He slides it toward me with another smile, this one a little less potent. He probably senses I’m a defective freak. One that doesn’t know what to do with male attention. I didn’t use to be like that until…nope, not going there.I sip my drink this time instead of gulping it down like a frat boy at his first party.

“You are fucking gorgeous,” he says softly, much closer to my face than he was before I sat back down.

I shake my head with a smile, knowing he’s just running game on me. “Nice try,” I say with a laugh.

“What do you mean?”

“Nothing.” I finish my drink, holding up my end of the deal. “I really should go.”

I pull my phone from my pocket to get an Uber. We always use one because we don’t drink and drive. Plus, Amber usually leaves with someone else.

He takes it from my hand, laying it on the bar. “What’s the hurry?”

I frown. Why is he so insistent on me staying? There’s no way he’s truly interested. I look around the bar and see beautiful girls everywhere. The perfect girl for him. Why is he wasting his time talking to a fat girl hiding at the bar? My instincts are screaming. My fight or flight mode is kicking in.

“Hey, babe. You good?” Amber asks, walking up to us. She’s eyeing Sean like he’s a bug under her shoe. She’s gotten good at running off guys that don’t take the hint. It’s always funny to me, especially since she’s a nurse, and I have very particular skill sets. Some she doesn’t even know about.

I look at Sean and then back to her. “Yeah, I’m good. You heading out?” He hasn’t even looked her way; his eyes are locked on me. I have to give him credit since Amber’s boobs are on full display.

“Not unless you’re really good. You want me to call you an Uber?” she insists.

We’ve been best friends for two years. Accidentally. I don’t have any friends to speak of because I’m a self-inflicted hermit, content to run my business twenty-four-seven. I saw a group of guys harassing her in the street one night and kneed one of them in the nuts to run them off, and she’s been attached to me ever since. At first, I hated it. But now I don’t know what I’d do without her.

Sean raises a brow in question. “We’re good. Aren’t we, Gorgeous?”

Amber’s eyebrows hit her hairline. “I think she can speak for herself. Thanks.”

He finally looks at her, and I wait for the moment he realizes he’s hitting on the wrong friend. It’s always the classic when guys hit on me until they see her. It never comes. He gives her a polite smile, nothing like the panty-soaking ones he’s given me. He turns back to me, effectively dismissing her.What the ever loving fuck?

Am I wrong about him? Am I letting my own head mess with me? It wouldn’t be the first time. A therapist would have a field day in my head. I feel like I’m tripping over landmines in there, just waiting to blow up what little peace I’ve found for myself.

“Of course, she can,” Sean answers smoothly.

Amber turns to me with questions in her eyes. “I’m fine, Amber. I promise. Go have fun.”

She looks between us. “Can you give us a minute?” she says to Sean.

He slides off the stool. “Sure thing. I’ll be back,” he says like a promise. He walks away toward a group of guys, and I can’t help but watch his ass in those tight black jeans.

Amber slides onto the stool with a laugh. “Get it, girl.”

“Shut up,” I grouch.

“Come on, babe. He’s hot, and he’s eye fucking the shit out of you. I could see it from across the bar. Go have fun.”

“You know I can’t do that.”

“You can and you should. Look, I don’t know everything that’s happened to you in the past, but I get that it’s really bad. But you’re twenty-four, single, and fucking smoking hot. You have a literal Adonis hitting on you. Get out of your head, and don’t let whatever asshole fucked you up win.”

I shake my head. “He would just be disappointed when he got me naked.”

“Stop that,” she says harshly, causing me to jerk my head up in surprise. “You have a body guys love to sink into. I’d kill kittens for your tits. Your asshole ex made you believe that it’s anything but spectacular. You know how to erase those words?” I shake my head. “You let a guy like that remind you.”

I look over to where Sean is leaning against a pool table, talking to another guy, but he’s staring at me. He doesn’t even attempt to look away, just boldly letting me know he’s still interested.

“I don’t know if I can do this,” I whisper.