The Promises We Keep (Made for Love Book 1) (84 page)

Before I can put up any more of an argument, Roman is back.

“
Here you go, ladies.
”

“
Thanks,
”
they say in unison.

There
’
s an awkward silence between the four of us and I don
’
t know how to break it. I
’
m still floored by the fact that my friends
—
my
best
friend included
—
think that the guy standing next to me wants to be more than my friend; when, in reality, he
’
s spent the last four months being nothing but a wonderful person for me to talk to and hang out with. I just can
’
t believe that he wants more. As I rack my brain trying to figure out if there is any ounce of truth to what Sarah and Claire have said, I
’
m far too distracted to carry on a conversation.

“
Birthday shot!
”

That voice
catches my attention and pulls me away from my thoughts.
Great. Logan is here.

If
anyone
is going to accuse
anyone
of having feelings for the emotionally unavailable, it should be
her
. I
know
she likes Beckham and yet, no one believes me. Not even Avery, who is not even particularly fond of Logan, will take my side. Everyone is under the impression that she just likes to flirt
—
but I see the way she flirts with Beckham. It
’
s different than the way she throws herself at other guys.
Besides
—
nobody saw the way she was with him the night they were here having dinner together
. I haven
’
t seen them alone together since, for which I am
so
grateful, but it would be even better if she just kept her distance altogether. She
’
s not very nice. In fact, the only people who seem to be able to get along with her are Beckham, Trevor, and Daphne.

“
Roman!
”
calls out Grayson, pointing in our direction.

Double great. Now she
’
s headed over here. Thanks, Gray
.

Even though she must have just arrived a few minutes ago, she
’
s apparently been brought up to speed on the
birthday shot
game, and she saunters her way over to us. She
’
s wearing a red halter-top dress that
’
s so tight and so short, it should be illegal. I
’
m annoyed at how good it looks on her. Her blonde hair is pulled back into a low bun and a few strands hang loose around her face. The smirk that she flashes Roman implies that she
’
d like to rip all of his clothes off and I can hardly stand to watch it; then again, I also can
’
t take my eyes off of her.

“
Drink up, babe,
”
she says once she
’
s at Roman
’
s side. She rests her hand on his shoulder as she hands him the shot and then kisses his cheek. He doesn
’
t even flinch, apparently immune to her advances, and throws back the drink.
“
That was hot,
”
she purrs with a wicked grin, reclaiming the glass.
“
I think I need one now.
”
She winks at him before she disappears into the crowd, heading toward the bar.

I like him better when he
’
s behind the bar.

I don
’
t know Roman very well; he seems nice enough and he
’
s never done anything to warrant any hard feelings from me, but he
’
s not my favorite person.
I like him a lot more when he
’
s behind the bar
. It
’
s obvious to everyone that he and Addie have become familiar with one another. They
’
re friends. I might not have the right to be jealous, especially considering I
’
m friends with Logan
—
whom I know Addie doesn
’
t like
—
but I can
’
t help it. I
am
jealous. I
’
m jealous of his proximity to her right now. I
’
m jealous of the way he leans toward her so she can hear what he
’
s saying. I
’
m jealous of the way he makes her laugh and the way she nudges him with her shoulder. I can
’
t deny my jealousy or pretend it doesn
’
t exist. It
’
s just too
all encompassing
.

But it
’
s not my jealousy that fuels my dislike for the guy. I don
’
t like him because I
know
he has feelings for Addie. At the beginning of the summer, it was just a possibility
—
but
now?
There
’
s no doubt in my mind. I can
’
t blame him. She
’
s amazing and beautiful and currently single so
…
it
’
s practically impossible for him
not
to like her. Every time I see them together, I feel like the idiot who let her go
—
but then I remind myself that I haven
’
t let her go. I did what felt right at the time; what feels right even now.

I
’
m not asking
why
. I
’
m only concerned with
when
.

But it kills me that I
’
m in no position to claim her as mine. Only she can do that.
Talk about trusting her feelings for me
. This feels like the biggest test
—
each of us having to trust each other and the promises we
’
ve made; her to wait, and me to find my way back.

“
Hey.
”
I
’
m pulled from my thoughts at the sound of her voice and the feel of her hand squeezing my shoulder. I look beside me at Avery, who
’
s sitting in Gray
’
s lap, and meet her pretty brown eyes
—
identical to the eyes of the woman I love.
“
She
’
s yours. Regardless of what that looks like. Don
’
t forget it.
”

I offer her a small smile, slightly comforted by her words.
“
Thanks.
”

“
Okay, birthday Gray, are you planning on sharing your girl or do you have her on lock down all night?
”
Daphne asks as she wraps her arms around Avery from behind, resting her chin on Avery
’
s shoulder.

“
Depends, where are you taking her?
”

“
No
depends!
”
calls out Logan as she joins in, wrapping her arms around Daphne
’
s middle. She showed up to the pub about an hour ago with her co-workers, who were all anxious to join in on our fun. At this point, everyone who walks into the bar ends up being a part of the party and Gray has been doling out birthday shots from strangers all night. It
’
s actually been pretty great.
“
She
’
s coming! There will be dancing.
”
I can tell that Logan
’
s had a few drinks by the way she
’
s draped over her best friend. She gets more friendly the more alcohol she has.

“
Dancing?
”
asks Avery, seemingly intrigued.

“
Daph says I
’
m not allowed to gift the man of the evening with a lap dance,
”
Logan giggles. Avery
’
s back stiffens as she casts a glare over her shoulder. Daphne rolls her eyes and Logan ignores them both.
“
So, I
’
ve had to settle for the next best thing. Daph
also
told me I can
’
t dance for the birthday boy without his girlfriend. So, you
’
re coming! She
’
s coming,
”
she instructs Gray with a playful scowl.

I chuckle, because it
’
s amusing to watch Logan be
Logan
. I
’
m also surprised that she
’
s in a
listening
mood tonight
—
surprised and grateful.
Avery
’
s claws might come out if Logan got anywhere
near
Gray
’
s lap.

“
Come on. This is our song,
”
Daphne says, pulling Avery to her feet. I don
’
t notice that the song has changed until they manage to get Avery to join them.

Within seconds, the crowd parts for them.
Or should I say, the crowd parts for Logan in that red dress
…
if it can be called that.
It isn
’
t long until a few more girls gather along with them, swaying to the beat that fills the room. I cast a sideways glance at Gray and watch him watch his girl with a lazy smile. I follow his gaze and see that Ave is dancing with Daphne. I can
’
t help but smile, myself. Avery
’
s different, these days. More outgoing and more confident than I
’
ve ever seen her. I know part of it has to do with Gray
—
but I also think part of it has to do with her stepping out of her shell and learning to take what she wants, which is something I think she
’
s learned from Daphne.

I watch them only for a moment and then I
’
m distracted by the woman in red. Her moves are a lot more seductive than Avery
’
s, and I
’
m not the only one to notice. A couple guys squeeze their way into the crowd and one of them pulls her toward him. She goes willingly, wrapping her arms around his neck as he brings her body so close, it
’
s as if they are two pieces of a jigsaw puzzle fitted together. I feel uncomfortable watching them
—
watching
her
allow him to run his hands up and down her back. I think of the story she told me the night before, about the guy from the bar, and I suddenly feel protective. When she giggles, I
’
m up before I know what I
’
m doing.