Total pages in book: 86
Estimated words: 81182 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 406(@200wpm)___ 325(@250wpm)___ 271(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 81182 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 406(@200wpm)___ 325(@250wpm)___ 271(@300wpm)
“Thank you.” We walk behind her, and I look around. In the center of the room, there is a round bar with a penguin floating above a blue-lit glass showcase. The entire space is filled with dim lighting and navy-blue velvet chairs sitting around tables covered with white cloths and stemmed glassware. “This place is very cool.”
“Have you been here before?” The brunette asks.
“No.” I take off my jacket and rest it over the back of the chair Walker pulls out for me when we reach our table.
“Then you are in for an experience. Park Row is based off the DC Comic Batman, so everything, including the menu, is themed.”
“Awesome.” I smile, now understanding the weird marble bust of Shakespeare sitting close to the table with what looks like red lipstick smudged across its mouth and neon-green spray-painted hair.
“Would you like anything to drink while you wait for your friends?”
“I’ll have a glass of Merlot.”
She nods at me, then looks at Walker, who answers, “Scotch on the rocks.”
“Sure.” She walks away, and Walker waits until my ass is in my chair before taking the seat next to me and resting his palm on my thigh.
I look over at him. “Are you disappointed this isn’t a sex club?”
“No, the idea of sharing you isn’t even a little appealing to me.”
“That’s very caveman of you.”
“Do you want to be shared?” He raises a brow, and I pretend to ponder the question as I rest my elbow on the table.
“Well, I haven’t really thought about it, but it could be interesting.” I grin when his eyes narrow. “Just kidding.” I pat his hand. “That all seems very complicated.”
“What’s complicated?” I look back over my shoulder at Star when she asks that question, then get up out of my chair to greet her.
“Nothing,” I assure her, air-kissing her cheek, and then I step back into Walker, who has moved to stand behind me. Her eyes widen as she takes him in.
“Walker, Star. Star, meet Walker.”
“Bloody hell, Hanna. You are being an idiot.” She reaches for his hand, and I roll my eyes. Of course she’d think that off his looks alone.
“Where is Mark and everyone?” I glance around.
“He’s waiting with his brother upstairs for my sister to arrive, since she took a car. I had to use the ladies’, so I came inside. Have you been here long?”
“No, just a few minutes. Also, you could have warned me that we were coming to a secret restaurant.”
“Where would be the fun in that?” She grins. “The first time Mark brought me here, I thought he was bringing me to some kind of sex dungeon.”
I laugh, and Walker’s hand that has found its way to my hip squeezes.
“Do you want to come to the ladies’ with me?” she asks, and since I know it’s not an actual question but a demand, I look up at Walker.
“Go. I’ll be here when you get back.” He touches his lips to mine, and I hear Star make a noise.
“Be back.” I smile as he takes his seat while Star links her arm with mine and begins tugging me with her across the room. When we reach the restroom that has spray-paint on the mirrors and wonky art, she spins around to face me, pointing at the closed door.
“That man out there is the one you’re confused about?”
“Star, you spoke to him for less than a minute.”
“Is he going to turn into a wanker this evening or do something to embarrass you?”
“Probably not.”
“Then what the hell is wrong with you?”
“I’m figuring things out.”
“You need to figure out how to get your head examined.” She hurries into one of the stalls and closes herself in, and I turn on the tap to drown out the sound of her peeing. When she comes back out, she walks to the sink, shaking her head at me.
“What?”
“Don’t mess this up for yourself, Hanna.”
“I’m not messing anything up. I told you I’m being cautious.” Okay, so having sex with him without a condom, even when I’m on birth control, wasn’t very cautious. But she doesn’t need to know I did that.
She turns to face me after washing her hands and grabs a paper towel. “You know what?”
“What?”
“I hope he does act like a dick and that I hate him before the night is over.”
“Why?”
“So that when you mess things up, I can say ‘well done’ instead of ‘you’re a fool.’”
“You’re so dramatic.”
“Ben was an arse, Hanna. He didn’t deserve you back when you were dating him, and he doesn’t deserve you now.”
“He doesn’t have me now. He doesn’t even factor into my life.”
“Maybe not physically, but he’s still in your head, dictating how you move forward in any relationship you’re in. He’s the reason you decided to stop dating for a year and why you don’t want to give that guy out there a fair shot without all the baggage you’ve stacked around yourself.”