About Last Night...

I watched the man approach from behind. I said a stern, “No,” as he tapped her shoulder.

Without turning, she shook her head. “Beat it, buddy,” then whined, “I’ve been here long enough, Mia. Please, let me leave.”

I almost stomped my foot, but kept my cool. “Someone wants your attention.”

She rolled her eyes. “I didn’t come here to dance.” As the fingers tapped her shoulder again, she repeated louder, “I said I didn’t come here to dance.”

I fought my smile and said softly, “Maybe you should turn around.”

Her shoulders bunched as the fingers lightly tapped her once more. I watched her silently fume. Steeling her shoulders, she turned to face her secret admirer. “Can’t you take a hint?”

Laughter bubbled into my throat, but I stopped it by clamping my hand over my mouth tightly. Ella’s face turned confused as she looked up, then up, then up some more until she looked into his eyes. “Hey. Hi. Hey. Um…”

“Mike,” the bartender from the bar we’d gone to spoke gently, his voice rough. He held out his hand and took Ella’s without permission, not shaking it, just holding it, cradling it, as though she were the most precious thing he’d ever seen.

“Mike,” she repeated dumbly. Snapping out of her stupor, she responded softly, “I’m Ella.”

He smiled then, and it beamed. “I know, sweetheart.” He winked at me and I waved, smiling. “A little bird told me that if I made it tonight, you’d dance with me.”

Ella turned to face me, never pulling her hand from Mike’s tattooed hand. “Oh, is that right?”

My eyes widened and I shook my head at the same time Mike nodded. “Yep.” He must’ve seen the hesitation in her eyes, because his smile gentled. “You’re not go

But still, she hesitated. And I knew exactly what she was thinking. I stepped forward and gripped her arm. “Can I speak to Ella alone, Mike? We’ll be just a second.”

He released her, albeit reluctantly, and I pulled her a short distance away. She shook her head, clearly distressed. “No. No, Mia. Why?”

“Because he likes you! And you can hide all you like behind that crazy hair and attitude, but this is me, El. I know you like him.”

She turned her sad eyes up to me. Blinking away tears, she choked out, “He thinks I’m easy. He was there. He saw what happened; that’s the only reason he wants me. Just for a bathroom fuck.”

Then I turned mama bear on her. “Hey!” I nearly yelled. “Do you think I’d let a man hurt you again? I was there too, honey. I saw what happened. I held you in my arms after it happened. Do you think I want to see that again?” She didn’t respond. “Mike is good people. He’s our people. He’s sweet, and fu

I saw jealously flash in her eyes. “How do you know how he is?”

I gri

Her face softened. “He did?”

I nodded. “Yes. And he was a little overly concerned about whether I gave you his note too. I asked why he didn’t put his number on it, and you know what he said?”

She shook her head, eyes wide. “What did he say?”

My heart melted at the memory. “He said…” I fought a dreamy sigh. “He said, ‘It wasn’t the gentlemanly thing to do.’”

Ella’s hesitation disappeared. She smoothed her hands down her dress and turned on her heel. I followed at a quick jog. For a little woman, she was quick. She stopped toe-to-toe with Mike, reached out, and took his hand. “Would you like to dance with me?”

He looked down at her like she was the only person in the room. His lip lifted in the corners and he entwined his fingers with hers. “Thought you’d never ask.”

They walked onto the dance floor and slow danced to “Mickey” by Toni Basil. In fact, they slow danced all night long, getting closer and closer until I couldn’t tell them apart. And just like that, my night had gone from good to great.

I wasn’t to know it wouldn’t stay that way for very long.

Not until I saw him.

I glanced around the room, mouthing the words to OutKast’s “Hey Ya!” when I spotted him. He was dancing with a pretty, short, petite redhead with thick-rimmed glasses and a killer smile.

He was laughing at something she said then he turned to face me. And he did something horrible. He smiled.

Matt Qui

The very thought turned my insides. He knew all of this, and he had the nerve to smile at me? My stomach clenched painfully as my heart thundered in my chest. I felt faint. Blood roared through my ears and my palms began to sweat. Was this payback for my going on a date?

I didn’t ever remember telling Qui

My heart hammered in my chest as I watched him dance with his ward. He leaned down to whisper something into her ear, placing a familiar hand at her shoulder.

I couldn’t watch. It was too painful. I spun on my heels, begging my feet to take me away. They took me away at a fast pace, not stopping until I reached the women’s bathroom.

Unshed tears stung my eyes, and just as I reached out to push the ladies’ room door open, a large hand came down on my shoulder. “Mia, wait.” He spun me around, brought his face down to mine, and searched my miserable expression and bright eyes. His voice softened. “Oh, baby. What’s wrong?” He reached down, caressing my wrists gently in a comforting gesture that only made my blood boil.

“What’s wrong?” I repeated on a whisper. I straightened a little and my voice cracked. “What’s wrong?” I leaned forward an inch and hissed, “You’re here. That’s what’s wrong, Matt.”

His brows furrowed at my tone. He rose to his full height and shrugged lightly, weakly. “I didn’t know this was your event until the emcee a

I barked a laugh, pulling my wrist from his light grip. “You think I give a shit about professionalism right now?”

Qui

I cut him off, voice heavy with sarcasm. “You thought it would be cool to bring your work right under my goddamn nose? You thought I’d want to see you with some floozy you’re going to take home at the end of the night and f—”

Something changed in Qui

Qui

My stomach lurched violently. I was a horrible person. My jealousy had turned me into a shrieking banshee. A spoiled brat. A mean girl.

I hated those girls.

Placing his hands in his pockets, he rocked back on his heels. “She actually reminds me a little of you.”