This Changes Everything by Jennifer Ashley

Author:Jennifer Ashley [Ashley, Jennifer]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: JA / AG Publishing

Chapter Seven

Zach

I nearly fall off my stool turning around to scan the restaurant. It is Abby, sitting in a corner table in the shadows … with another guy.

I’m half on, half off my barstool, beer glass slack in my hand. I’m staring like a fool, giving myself away to Austin, the bartender, and everyone in Mason’s.

For the moment, I see nothing but Abby. She’s radiant. Her dark hair is pulled into a style that frames her face, her brown eyes sparkle as she leans into the guy and smiles at him. Abby’s wearing a dress of black or gray or dark blue—hard to tell in this light—topped with a thin jacket, as though she’s come directly from work. The skirt bares her legs and draws my gaze straight to them.

“Who’s that with her?” Austin’s next to me, his voice in my ear.

I shrug as though I don’t care, but I’m burning with curiosity and uneasiness. Is this her old boyfriend? The idiot she told me about and Brooke said she was done with? Or is it a new one?

“Want to leave?” Austin asks it casually, but I hear in his tone that he’s got my back. Whether I stay or go, he’ll be right beside me.

I shrug again. “Why?”

“Because the woman you slept with Saturday night is with another guy.” Austin likes stating the obvious. “Because it’s weird.”

“It’s not weird. We’re not together.” If I say it adamantly enough, I’ll believe it.

“Okay.” Austin sets his beer on the counter. “We stay. Probably you should watch the game.”

Sounds like exciting things are happening on the screen. Fans are screaming, or booing. The Suns center is setting up a free throw. He’s a great shooter, and he’ll put them ahead again.

I can’t be bothered to watch. He’ll do it with me or without me. I hear the guys at the bar shouting, Yes! and know the throw is good.

At the same time I realize Austin is right. I can’t hover on my stool and stare across the restaurant. Worried. Also drooling a little. I lift a napkin and wipe my mouth.

Abby glances up from her conversation and sees me.

I wait for her to show dismay, mortification, to turn away quickly and pretend I don’t exist.

Instead, she flashes a huge smile, one that smacks me right in my heart. She waves, says something to her date, and now she’s getting up, she’s walking over. What the hell?

Play it cool. Play it cool. Austin’s whispering the same thing, like I don’t know I should.

I drop my crumpled napkin and move to meet her. We intersect halfway between the bar and the tables, far enough from the television to cut its noise, and far enough from the tables that our conversation won’t be overheard.

Not that Abby keeps her voice down. While I desperately try to think of what to say, she cries, “Zach. How great to see you. I remembered you mentioning this place.”

It had been in both our heads, I guess. Me for a place to mope, her for somewhere to bring her next conquest.

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