Kat and I danced a few times while Georgie stayed with Raven. I was on my fifth cosmopolitan by the time the band came on, and I was feeling it. I mean really feeling it as I danced to the music, letting myself get lost in the beat.
The band rocked. The lead singer was a thirty something blond with piercing blue eyes and a deep voice that gripped the music like he was part of it. We danced, drank, and laughed until my sides were hurting.
The band finished, and we were on our last drink as Matt had cut us off—to which we all laughed hysterically. He rolled his eyes and walked off giving Brett the cut sign over the throat. Brett and I met eyes then we both laughed. I nearly toppled off my chair and suspected I would’ve if it hadn’t been for the hand grabbing my arm and holding me upright.
I glanced up. “Hey, thanks.” Then I smiled when I recognized him. “Oh, you’re the singer.” Shit, I was slurring, and he had two noses.
He chuckled. “Yeah, Princess.” He nodded to Kat, Georgie, and Raven. I noticed the other three band members had already sat at the table. Raven was looking uneasy as one of the guys, I think the lead guitarist, started quietly talking to her.
Lead singer guy pulled up a chair beside me and sat on it backward, leaning his crossed arms on the back of it. “That last song was for you ...”
I held out my hand. “Emily.”
He took my hand and kissed the back of it then smiled. My blurred vision took in the dimples on his cheeks. “Ethan.”
“Yep, I know you.” I found myself leaning too far forward in my seat. I remembered his face; Kat showed me his picture in the Toronto Now magazine a few months ago.
“Not yet, but you will.” He took my hands, and his thumb stroked back and forth across the backs of them. “No boyfriend tonight?”
Nope. No Logan. He was extinguished from my mind. Numerous cosmos could do that to a girl. “Nope.”
“Good to hear, Emily. You want to give me your number?”
Number? That was fast. “Um, well ...”
“It’s just a number, Princess. Been watching you all night and know I’d like to talk to you some more, but looks like Matt is shutting down soon, so your number would be nice.”
“What the hell ... Why not?” After all, I’d given it to Logan. Who cares if this guy had it too? I was on a roll. Didn’t seem to matter much tonight. Actually nothing mattered except finishing off my drink. I gulped back more of it before reaching into my purse and pulling out my phone. I typed in the password, well it took me three tries, then passed it to Ethan. “Might as well give me yours so I know who’s calling when you call.”
“Hey, you know you have twenty missed calls? Popular girl.” He was typing in both our phones then passed mine back.
Twenty missed calls? I squinted as I glanced at the number. Logan. Shit. My phone lit up again, and his number flashed. Fuck. I quickly clicked it to silent and put it in my purse.
Ethan’s brows rose. “Not into talking, I take it.”
“Nope. Not ... to him.” I leaned closer and bit my lower lip. I felt daring, bolder now. I was pissed, both in the angered way and in the drunk way. What is he doing calling twenty times? I’d normally be in bed sleeping by now. Why the hell was he calling so late? Why hadn’t he called me earlier?
Kat pushed back her chair and came to her feet, swaying a little. She had her phone to her ear and was yelling at someone. When her eyes darted to me I knew who it was.
“God, Sculpt, she’s fine. What’s the big deal? And if she doesn’t answer her phone, she doesn’t have to. How the hell did you get my number anyway?” Silence. “Fuckin’ Ream.” Kat shook her head, pulled the phone away from her ear, and pressed End. “You get that, Emily?”
I nodded.
Kat glanced at Ethan then back to me. “Think we should go. Washroom first.” Kat snagged Georgie’s hand. None of them ever went to the washroom alone—ever.
“What was that about?” Ethan shifted his chair closer. He reached forward and ran his finger across my chin. A soft, feathery touch that should’ve sent goose bumps waltzing across my skin ... instead, the caress sent nothing.
Ethan was rock star hot—tattoos, lean, tall, sexy as hell on stage with his raspy voice and sweet roll of his hips. Exactly what I promised to stay away from, and yet, tonight I felt like taking chances. I needed to prove to myself that I had control.
I leaned closer into his touch as did he. His finger stopped caressing my chin, and he cupped the nape of my neck, pulling me closer. We were a breath away and I wanted him to kiss me. I wanted him to erase the stamp of Logan.
“You’re sweet, Emily. Real sweet, I’m guessing. And I’d like you to come back to my place tonight.” Ethan’s hand tightened, and I suddenly felt a tremor run through me, and it wasn’t a good tremor.
“Emily.”
I jolted back as Matt came up beside me holding his phone. “It’s Sculpt.” Then he turned to Ethan. “Hands off, Ethan.”
Tonight was Forget Logan night, and I was doing a fine good job of it. Cosmos and Ethan.
“He’s worried about you. I told him you’re good, but he wants to hear your voice. What do you want me to tell him?”
“Give me the phone.” Logan had no right calling Kat and now Matt trying to get to me. God, what was his problem? Why was he being like this?
“I don’t think—”
“Matt. It’s fine.”