String Beans (The Girls of Beachmont #2) (18 page)

“Too bad,” she quipped. “We promised Dallas and
we’re going to be there. We’ll just make sure you’re good and liquored up.
Okay?”

“Aw, do you mean it, Jo?”

“Drunk Viola is crazy. Drunk Viola doesn’t give a
damn. On second thought…we’ll save that for Vegas.”

“What about tonight?” I groaned.

“I’m making you the designated driver,” she said.
Jolie stood up and began to leave my room, but paused and looked over her
shoulder. “Thanks for that, by the way.”

“You owe me,” I called out after her.

“We need to hurry up and eat so we can be ready
for tonight.”

When she left, I walked to look at my reflection
and rolled my eyes. I didn’t recognize the weak woman in front of me. She was
disappointing. I pointed at the mirror and gave the woman staring back a stern
look. “Get your shit together.”

Without the security of alcohol to take the edge
off seeing Wyatt and Emma, I found myself feeling overly uncomfortable. I changed
my outfit four different times before settling on a little black dress and
heels.

If I was to have the happy couple shoved in my
face, I wanted to look good seeing it.

Was it an immature strategy? Of course it was.

Did I care? Not at all. I, after all, was the one
being forced to eat a big slice of humble pie. Even if it was of my own
making…I just wanted some ice cream to go with it and make it a little easier
to digest.

“We need to go,” Dallas called out from my front
door.

“Coming.”

I checked my hair one last time and walked into
the living room where he, Callie, and Jolie were waiting.

“Who are you trying to impress?” Callie asked with
a giggle.

“We’re going to a club,” I said with a straight
face. “This is what people wear to clubs.”

“You don’t,” Dallas said quickly. “I don’t think
I’ve seen you in a dress in the whole time you’ve lived here.”

“He’s right,” Callie chimed in.

“We need to get going unless you two want to stand
in line all night,” Jolie said, sparing me any further scrutiny.

“I’m ready,” I said, and mouthed a silent
thank
you
.

Dallas held the door open and we filed outside to
my waiting car. Dallas sat in the front with me and tried to find something on
the radio while Jolie and Callie discussed something that I didn’t care to
catch.

After a short drive, we pulled up to Mood Swings
and noticed the long line. Jolie and Callie got out to hold a spot in line
while Dallas and I found a place to park. Unfortunately, the only place I found
was on the street a block away and I instantly regretted the damn heels. But
I’d survive. Dallas waited for me on the sidewalk and we made our way toward
the club, where we were dodging people from all sides as we got closer.

“Are you nervous?” I asked Dallas.

“No,” he answered quickly and then flashed his
sweet smile that gave him away.

“We don’t know his name, so what do we know about
this guy?”

“Not much, but that’s the point. In the few
minutes we talked, I wanted to know more.”

“Do you know if he’s even working tonight?”

“I asked a some people I know and they all seem to
think so.”

We kept walking and silence settled between us. It
was weighing heavy on my mind and it was on the tip of my tongue to ask about
Wyatt.

“In case you were wondering, Wyatt won’t be here
tonight. Said that he had something to take care of,” Dallas said, as if he
sensed my unease.

“Oh?”

“Yeah, probably for the best, considering the
weirdness between you two.”

“Sorry about that.”

“None of my business,” he said as we reached Jolie
and Callie.

“What’s none of your business?” Callie asked.

“Whatever’s going on with Vi and Wyatt.”

“Can we not talk about that again?” Jolie pleaded
and I smiled at her.

“Works for me,” I answered.

“Wait. What’s going on with you and Wyatt?” Callie
asked me. “I thought Dallas said he was seeing that Emma chick from the coffee
shop.”

Dallas nudged her arm and she clamped her mouth
shut.

Of course he’s seeing her…I did this. I shoved him into her arms and
now I have to suck it up and be happy for him. Tomorrow. I’ll be happy for him tomorrow.
Tonight, I’ll fake it as best I can.

“Listen, I’m the one that told him about Emma.
It’s fine. We’re here to have fun and that’s what I intend on doing.”

“Too bad you can’t drink,” Jolie mocked and I
bumped my hip into hers, laughing when she swayed.

“Yeah, but you’re paying me back in Vegas.”

“Vegas?” Callie asked. “Who’s going to Vegas?”

“Me and Vi. We’re meeting our friend Dani there.”
Jolie looked at me and then at our friends. “Any chance you two want to join?”

Callie bounced excitedly and hugged us both. “I’ve
never been to Vegas! Is it true that the drinks are free?”

I looked over at Jolie and pointed. “Now you get
to babysit two of us.”

She rolled her eyes and I could tell she was
regretting the invitation, but not sincerely. Jolie and I had been friends long
enough to know that we always looked after each other, and she’d easily add
Callie to the list of people she cared about.

After twenty minutes in line and nonstop chatter
about the Vegas trip, we finally walked into the club. It was as crowded as
every other time I’d been there, so we made a lap around to find a spot. I
noticed Dallas’s smile widen and I leaned in so he could hear me.

“Did you find him?”

“Yep.”

I followed his view and saw the bartender looking
at him wearing a similar smile. Dallas started walking toward the counter where
the nameless one was standing and I trailed behind, grabbing Jolie and Callie
along the way.

We found a table near the bar and Dallas offered
to buy the first round. Of course his motives weren’t exactly sincere, but
everyone gladly played along. I watched as he flirted with the attractive blond
behind the counter at the bar and paid for the drinks. He returned to our table
and handed drinks to everyone, including water for me.

“And his name?” I asked.

“James.”

“Number?”

“I’ll get it later.” He smiled.

Jolie and Callie finished their drinks quickly and
were ready to hit the dance floor.

“Let’s go,” Jolie said, giving my arm a gentle
pull.

“I’m good,” I said and then nodded my head at
Dallas. “I’m going to stay here.”

She knew better than to drag me out there, because
my feet lacked rhythm unless I was drinking. And even then, I was pretty sure
my dance moves were only good in my head.

“Don’t worry about me,” Dallas said as we watched
them disappear into the crowd.

“I’m not,” I laughed. “You’re my excuse.”

“Glad to help.”

He looked over at James and smiled. He didn’t have
many customers and it seemed as though Dallas was waiting for an invitation.

“Go talk to him,” I said.

“He’s busy.”

I looked over again and saw James wiping the
counter down.

“Clearly,” I said as I waved my hand in his
direction. James looked over and I smiled before looking at Dallas. “He’s
waiting. Go. I’ll be right here…waiting for details.”

Dallas threw back his drink and walked over the
bar to talk to James. I watched over my shoulder and thought they’d make a cute
couple. In the time I’d known Dallas, I hadn’t seen him so interested in
someone.

I was beginning to feel like a weirdo watching
him, so I pulled out my phone and checked my email while I waited for my
friends. There was nothing interesting, and being in a club completely sober
wasn’t much fun.

Me: Can’t wait for tomorrow!!

Dani: Me too!

Me: What time are you getting
there?

Dani: Flight lands at noon. You?

Me: 4 hour drive. We’ll leave
early enough to get you from the airport.

Dani: Sounds good. You better
get some sleep.

Me: Can’t. Club. DD.

Dani: Ouch!

Me: I know. And I’m bored
because everyone is doing something.

Dani: That’s why you’re texting
me at midnight.

Me: Yep! See you tomorrow.

Dani: K

I was so excited to see Dani; it’d been far too
long. The four of us used to go out all the time when we were in college, but
since going our own ways, we didn’t see each other as much as we’d like.

Jolie and Dani likely had the whole trip planned
out, which was fine with me. I loved Vegas, though I’d only been once, on my
twenty-first birthday. I went home a thousand dollars richer and chalked it up
to beginner’s luck. My theory was the city would take it back when I returned,
so I hadn’t been back, which was why Vegas was great to me.

“That’s a nice smile,” a voice said, dragging my
attention over my shoulder.

I looked around once I was sure he was talking to
me and smiled. A clean-shaven man with brown eyes and dark hair stood in front
of me, slightly taller than me in my heels. He didn’t look like most of the
guys who frequented clubs…tight pants and tighter shirts… This guy looked like
he’d just left the office.

“Thanks,” I said.

“Can I get you a drink?”

“That’s sweet, but I’m not drinking tonight.”

“Are you the designated driver?” he asked sweetly.

I kept my face neutral when I told him, “No. I’m a
recovering alcoholic.”

His smile faded and I started laughing. “I’m just
kidding. Sorry.”

He laughed too and sat down at one of the
barstools. “Owen,” he said as he extended his hand.

“Viola.”

“I’m pretty sure you aren’t here alone,” he said
as he looked around to see who might join me.

“You’d be right.” I looked at the bar and pointed
at Dallas. “That one and two others that are dancing.”

“Why aren’t you out there with them?”

“I don’t dance,” I said definitively.

“Why is that?” he asked as he leaned forward to
hear my answer.

“Have you seen
Napoleon
Dynamite
?”

He nodded, but his brows furrowed at the odd
question and I laughed. “He’s got better dance moves than me.”

“I think I’d like to see that.”

“You’ll be waiting a long time.”

Dallas, the good friend that he was, spotted my
new companion and walked over acting like a protective brother.

“Vi?” he asked, draping his arm over my shoulder.

“Dallas, this is Owen. Owen, this is Dallas.”

The two shook hands and Dallas raised a brow, but
I offered a wink to let him know I was okay before he went back to James.

“He’s always like that,” I explained.

“Good guy,” Owen said. “So what do you do?”

“Admin by day, badass by night.” I smirked and
then felt my cheeks heat. “I don’t know why I said that. It was stupid.”

“Nah, it was cute.”

“What about you? You don’t look like clubs are
your scene,” I told him as I blatantly looked him up and down.

“Don’t let the clothes deceive you. The life of a
realtor is quite glamorous.”

“Glamorous, huh?”

I instantly thought of Dani’s brother-in-law. Good
guy—super boring—and I tried not to laugh.

He started telling me about some of the homes he’d
listed in the area and dropped the names of a few celebrities, as if it might
impress me. As he continued talking, I caught sight of Wyatt walking toward our
table and interrupted Owen.

“Can you do me a favor?”

“Sure. What’s that?”

“Just…play along?”

“Okay.” He looked around and watched, but it was
clear the poor guy was confused by my request.

Wyatt got closer and I saw Emma walking behind
him. She was smiling at people as they passed them, but Wyatt was looking at me
and I felt like I had to sell it.

“Emma!” I called out when they were closer.

She stepped around Wyatt and walked over wearing a
sweet smile. She hugged me briefly before Wyatt joined us.

“Owen, these are my friends Wyatt and Emma. Guys,
this is Owen.”

“Nice to meet you both,” he said. “Viola’s told me
a lot about you.”

I realized he was truly helping me out and playing
along, but thought these were the friends on the dance floor.

“Dallas said you weren’t coming tonight,” I said
to both of them, though it was directed at Wyatt.

“Change of plans,” he said. He bent down and
whispered something to Emma, who nodded and walked over to Dallas, leaving me
with Owen and Wyatt, who looked at me with accusation in his eyes. “Can I talk
to you for a second?”

“I’ll be right back,” I said to Owen, who simply
nodded as the two of us stepped away.

I glanced back at Emma, who was talking to Dallas
and James happily. I had never seen her so bubbly and full of smiles, though I
attributed it to her new relationship with Wyatt.

“Looks like it’s going well,” I said as I turned
to face him.

He looked at her and then back to me. “I could say
the same about you and Owen.”