Page 2 of Can't Have Him
I glance over at him again. Is this guy hitting on me? Because I’m not a girl he should hit on right now. When my eyes lock onto his, though, I immediately feel my guard go down. He’s not looking at me with even the slightest trace of lust. His eyes are genuine, kind, and sincere.
“Um, thanks,” I mumble.
“No pressure, though,” he says, smiling. “Just putting the offer out there.”
I nod. I take another sip of my rum and coke. And then before I realize it, I’m telling this stranger what just happened. I’m telling him about how good things were between me and Liam, and how him dumping me came out of nowhere, and how I feel like I wasted the last three years of my life.
“I know the feeling,” he says. “I’ve been there, too. It’s fucking irritating, isn’t it?”
I nod. And it makes me feel good that he’s being empathetic instead of trying to convince me that everything will be fine. Because I already know everything will be fine—what I need right now is just to be heard.
“Thanks for listening,” I say.
“You’re welcome,” he says.
“Can I…repay the favor?”
He laughs. He has agreatlaugh. “No. That’s okay. Thanks for the offer, though.”
Suddenly, the bartender accidentally knocks over a pint that he just poured, and beer splashes all over the bar. Instinctively, I move from my seat to the empty one next to me, just barely avoiding the beer spilling over the edge.
“Shit,” the bartender says, grabbing a handful of rags. “Really sorry about that. I didn’t get you, did I?”
“Nope, I’m good,” I say.
“Your drink’s on the house,” he says, looking embarrassed.
“Oh, it’s fine,” I say, feeling bad for the guy—even though it’s kind of his job to not spill drinks.
“Nice reflexes,” says the stranger. And it occurs to me that I’m sitting right next to him now. In fact, I can suddenly feel the heat of his body next to mine.
“Thanks,” I say, glancing at him. And when I look at him, my heart does a little flip. The guy isn’t just hot. He’s steaming hot. Those sexy eyes…that strong jaw…those kissable lips…
“You okay?” he asks.
“Oh,” I stammer. “Yeah. I’m—yes.”
Our eyes hold for a little longer than they should. Something vibrates deep in my chest. I’ve never felt like this around a guy before—not with Liam, not with anyone—and it’s an overwhelming sensation.
“I can’t believe anyone wouldn’t want to be with you,” the stranger says.
I feel my cheeks heat up. I don’t even know what to say. Is he saying thathewants to be with me? I mean, I’m not going to hook up with a guy the same day I got dumped, and I’m also not going to hook up with a guy whose name I don’t even know, but…
“I think I should get going,” I say. I need to get myself home before I do something I regret. “It was really nice talking to you, though.”
“It was really nice talking to you, too.” He smiles, and a sexy little dimple shows up that I didn’t notice before. “Actually…I’d like to talk to you more sometime. I know you just got out of a relationship, but could I give you my number? You don’t have to call me. Ever. But in the future, if you’re interested…”
“I’d like that,” I say.
I hand him my phone so he can type his number in.James From The Bar, he types into the contact info, and I grin at him and tell him I’mOlivia From The Bar. He laughs, and says, “Well, it was lovely to meet you, Olivia,” and holds out my phone for me. And when he hands it back, our fingers brush, and some serious sparks burst inside of me.
Maybe it isn’t such a bad day after all.
* * *
Emma callsme back on my way home that night, and we meet up halfway between where we are to catch up. She can’t get over what a crazy day I’ve had—and what an asshole Liam is.
“Well, at least you have a rebound already lined up,” she says. “He sounds super hot.”