She flinches, quickly trying to hide it with a smile.
“What were you just thinking?” I ask, needing to know what’s going through her head. She’s the most soft-spoken person I know. Aside from getting upset about the women I used to bring home, she never complains about anything.
“Robert hated the way I dressed.”
“Fuck Robert.”
Robert was her short-term boyfriend. He thought he was fucking special because he worked for Daddy’s law firm, and he treated Georgia like shit. A few times I considered letting him in on a little secret: Georgia was way too fucking good for him. But I didn’t want to start shit that wasn’t my business. Luckily, she’s smart and dumped his ass.
“You ready to go?”
She takes a deep breath, then exhales harshly. “Yeah.”
We take an Uber to the club because I’m planning to drink, and when we arrive, since I’m friends with the guy at the door, we get right in without having to wait in line.
“What do you want to drink?” I ask her when we reach the bar.
Her brows furrow in thought. “A lemon drop, I guess.” She shrugs and squints, and I can tell she’s uncomfortable. But this will be good for her. She’s a young, single woman. She should be out having a good time, not cooped up in her room.
I shout our order to the bartender, and a minute later, he returns with my beer and her lemon drop. “Let’s go find the guys,” I tell her, handing her her drink.
As we make our way through the throng of people, several of them stop me to talk. Since my divorce last year, I’ve been making up for all the years I was home, trying to be a good husband. At first I was worried I’d run into Victoria at the clubs, but I’ve yet to see her since the day I picked up my shit. Given I agreed to what she wanted in the divorce, I had my attorney stand in my place to have it all finalized, and from what he told me, she had hers do the same.
I spot Carter and Luke, and grab Georgia’s hand to guide her over to them, so she doesn’t get lost in the crowd. Her hand is small inside mine, and I think about how long it’s been since I’ve held a woman’s hand. Victoria was never really the touchy-feely type, unless she wanted something, and the women I hook up with are just that—a hookup.
When I glance back at Georgia, she smiles weakly, looking completely out of her element, and I vow to show her a good time tonight, to make her see there’s more to life outside of her four safe walls.
“What’s up!” Carter yells over the music. He extends his hand and reluctantly I drop Georgia’s.
“Georgia, you remember Carter?” Carter works with me on the same shift at the fire station.
“Yes,” she says shyly, making him grin wide. In LA, we’re used to women who are coy or have an agenda. Almost all of them are here to be the next big model or actress, and they’ll soak up attention anywhere they can get it. A woman who is genuinely sweet and innocent like Georgia is rare.
“Nice to see you again,” Carter says with that look in his eye he gets when he’s interested in a woman. “Would you like to dance?”
At his bluntness, Georgia’s eyes comically bug out. “Oh…umm…”
“We just got here,” I cut in. “We’re going to have a seat for a few minutes.”
Georgia smiles up at me, liking that idea, and the way she looks at me like I’m some sort of white knight has me chugging my beer. Georgia is off-limits. For one, she’s Alec’s best friend, and he would kill me for going there. But also, I have no desire to settle down. I was tied down for twelve years, and look how that worked out for me. I just don’t think I have it in me to give myself over to another woman. And Georgia is the kind of woman who deserves it all.
We slide into the booth, just as Luke and Scott walk over, each with a beer in their hands and a woman tucked under their arms. Both of them work the same shift as Alec, Carter, and me. Since we all have the same days off, we’ve gotten close. There’s one other guy, Thomas, who works with us as well, but he’s married with kids.
“Georgia… Luke and Scott,” I tell her, ignoring the women. They won’t be with them tomorrow, so there’s no point in introducing them.
“Nice to see you again,” she tells both of them, taking a sip of her drink.
“You too,” they both shout over the music. Luke’s eyes meet mine, and his brows go up in a silent question. I shake my head, and he nods with a laugh.