Daniel’s jaw is tight and I watch as the tension between the two starts to build again.

“Isn’t medical marijuana legal in DC now?” Mandy asks.

Jared nods. “It is. However, this case is across the Potomac in Northern Virginia.”

Thankfully, that starts a conversation about how everyone feels on the subject. Views strongly vary one way or another and it relieves some of the strain. I’m half listening, but I pull out my phone hoping for a text from Andy. It’s still early and I have nothing.

Scott makes a move and asks to switch seats with Daniel. I sigh knowing I’m going to have to give him the brush off. I hate doing that. It’s insulting to him and it’s embarrassing for me. I know how hard the dating scene is.

Just as Scott plants himself next to me, Mandy shoves an elbow in my side. I glare at her until she shifts her eyes somewhere off in the distance. I slowly turn and see what it means. Andy’s friend, the Thor look alike, has just walked in with Mitch tagging behind him. Andy isn’t with them as they sit around one of the only free tables left.

I glance at my phone and try not to let jealous and crazy thoughts muck up my head. There are a number of reasons Andy might not be with them like he said he would be. And I don’t think in a million years he’s cheating on me. So I finish my wine and Scott graciously pours me some more. Points scored for being a gentlemen. It’s too bad I am not on the hunt for someone.

Scott asks some questions and I oblige him by answering. I even ask him questions to be polite as the legality of marijuana debate continues with the rest of our group.

“You keep checking your phone. Are you waiting for someone to call?”

It couldn’t have been a better segue if I had said it myself. Scott’s given me the opening I need to tell him I have a boyfriend without looking like a complete bitch. Only right then, the screen on my phone flashes.

Andy: You look like you’re having fun. Should I be jealous?

I glance up and over to Andy’s friends’ table. He’s there smiling in my direction and I feel a grin fill my face as I type.

Me: No, but if I’m in need of a rescue will you come and save me?

I glance up intending to look at Andy again but Scott is there waiting patiently for my response.

“Yes, I am,” I say, just as my phone vibrates again.

Andy: IDK. I think it’s interesting to watch some guy try and fail to pick up my girl.

I frantically type another message ignoring Scott completely.

Me: I’m a nice girl. I may give him a shot on principle. In fact it’s rude of me to text to you while I’m talking to him.

I make a show of turning off my phone and putting it in my purse.

“I’m sorry,” I say sweetly to Scott. “That was rude of me.”

It’s so wrong and unfair to Scott, but it makes me giddy to tease Andy. I’m curious to see what his next move will be.

“Was it someone important?” Scott asks.

I opened my mouth and words come out except I’m not saying them.

“Yeah, sorry man.” His sexy voice makes my spine tingle.

Andy leans over and snags my hand. He draws me to my feet and up against him. Then he plants the hottest kiss on my lips. People around us start to make lewd comments.

He draws back, letting his hands slide down my back and over my ass before dropping away.

“You have to know it’s not nice to tease,” he says in my ear.

Grinning, I say, “We know the importance your mother places on good manners.”

He shakes his head. “We can discuss when I get to your place.”

“Promises, promises.”

Mandy clears her throat. I turn to the group. “Sorry. Everyone, this is my boyfriend Drew.” I purposefully don’t call him Andy because I know everyone calls him Drew. Then I rattle off everyone’s name and end with Scott who doesn’t seem angry, but maybe a little confused.

“Are you going to join us?” Mandy asks.

“I would, but I’m here with friends and Cate’s here with you. She and I will see each other later.” His eyes are dark on mine and I feel the heat smolder between us. I’m sure everyone else feels it too. “However, I am going to borrow her for a second.”

He glances at Mandy and she nods. Taking my hand, he walks me over to his friends and I get a sober view of Dave.

“Mitch, you know Cate,” Andy begins. Mitch tips a glass in my direction. “You haven’t yet met Dave. Dave, this is Cate.”

Dave stands in all his California dreaming glory. His hair is that pale blonde people call sun bleached or the luck of the gene pool. His eyes are a midnight blue or so they look in the dim light of the bar. His chiseled face could easily grace the cover of any magazine.

His bear hug is brotherly and he looks over my face and pronounces, “I can see why Drew is so smitten with you. I think I could settle down if I found a woman who has your beauty.”

“You’re too sweet,” I say.

“So they say,” he says and chuckles.

His smile is sly and sexy as hell. If I’d been single, I would have drooled all over him.

“And he’s lying. Dave will never settle—at least not with a chick,” Mitch says offhandedly. Dave glares at him. “Don’t worry. I already told her all about you and your antics.”

Dave shrugs and sits casually back in his chair.

Andy shakes his head before kissing me again for good measure. “I should send you back to Scott. He looks like he wants an explanation.”

A quick glance over and I see Scott’s eyes glance away. I sigh. “I never led him on.”

“Sure you didn’t,” Mitch says, dragging out the words in a flippant manner.

“Maybe if you’d get laid you wouldn’t be so grumpy,” I retort.

Dave snorts and Andy laughs. Mitch only glares at me, so I stick my tongue out at him. Somehow I know I can get away with this, considering what he said to me during our first meeting.

“She obviously knows you well, my friend,” Dave banters.

“Oh, yeah. We’re BFF’s. Isn’t that right, princess?” Mitch asks, a smile playing on his lips.

“You wish, hot shot,” I call back to him.

Andy taps my butt. “Go get ’em tiger.”

I shake my head, chuckling, but turn in the direction of my table.

As the night wears on, Scott is gracious and we end up talking politics, of all things. Daniel and Mandy trade unfriendly stares to the point they don’t notice when Jared starts talking to another girl from our office who has showed up with a few other people. Daniel’s redhead and Scott get in a heated debate about the upcoming election when things start to wind down. I finally stand as our group begins to break apart.

“Are you ready to go?” I ask Mandy.

She nods. We wave our goodbyes as Mandy takes a hold of my arm. “You have to introduce me to Thor first,” she says close to my ear.

I sigh because I know Mandy’s into Daniel and he’s into her. I wave Daniel goodbye as he watches us make our way over to Andy’s table. A few girls are standing there basking in the guys’ hotness. One of them leaves Dave’s side to make her way over to Andy and flutters her eyelashes. It reminds me of my college days when I would sit and watch the hot guys I was with, friend or more, get hit on by waitresses. I tamp those memories down, and bring myself back to the here and now. Before I move to introduce Mandy, she grabs my arm and shakes her head. Now I understand. Considering the PDA display Andy did to me earlier, I assume he’ll forgive me for what I’m about to do next.

Casually, I step over and turn to conveniently trip and fall into Andy’s lap. I flutter my own lashes and end up blinking a little too hard and start to laugh. “Sorry. I’m such a klutz.”