First Dance (Strip in the City, Book 3)

15 • One Step Forward

Kennedy

I glance around the crowd, looking for where Flynn might be comin' from, and I catch a glimpse of him. He's tall enough to stand out amongst everyone else.

My heart beats in my throat, and for some strange reason, I feel like I'm about to get in trouble for being with Lucas. I worry this plan to make him jealous isn't gonna work. I think it's gonna blow up in my face and make everything worse.

"Don't look at him," Lucas says as he eases his hand around my waist. "Look at me."

I hold Lucas's gaze even though I can feel Flynn's eyes on me as he cuts through the crowd.

"It's okay. Everything is going to be okay. I promise. Just take some slow, deep breaths."

I force myself to do what he says, to breathe slowly until Flynn is standin' right beside us, and I'm forced to greet him.

"Oh, hi, sugar!" I say like nothing is wrong at all.

Flynn doesn't look like his usual self—all casually cool and unaffected—he looks bothered—very bothered.

I got what I wanted, didn't I? To make my fiance jealous. Only, now that our plan has worked, I'm feeling a mix of emotions I wasn't expecting.

There are officially nineteen days until our wedding.

Nineteen.

Mamaw is breathin' down my neck because the bakery needs a commitment from us by this Friday, or we'll be getting our wedding cake from the grocery store.

I know all of this, but there's a tug-of-war going on in my stomach. I don't have time to understand that better because Flynn's dark eyes are fixed on me.

"What are you doing here?" he asks, not bothering to introduce himself to Lucas. In fact, I think he's pretending Lucas doesn't exist.

"Same as you," I reply, glancing at Lucas and grinning. "We came out to have a drink and get some dinner," I say with a bright smile.

"You hate this place."

I shrug. "It's growin' on me."

I'm tryin' to act tough, but this whole exchange is killin' me. This ain't how it's supposed to be between two people who are gettin' married. We shouldn't have to play games, but at this point, I'm desperate enough to try anything.

"You want to join us?" Lucas asks graciously. His arm is wrapped around my waist, holding me against him, like he knows how hard I'm strugglin'. "We can make room for one more."

Flynn's only acknowledgment of Lucas is a slight turn in his direction and a sneer, then his dark eyes dart back to me.

It feels like he's seeing me in a new light, and I think that's a good thing. His eyes dip down to Lucas's hand, which is casually resting on my hip, then back up again.

I've never once seen Flynn jealous because, truthfully, I'd never done anything to make him jealous. But I see it now, flashing across his face.

As safe and wanted as Lucas is making me feel, having Flynn's attention like this is like being on a rollercoaster, taking me clink by clink up to the top. It's the opposite of safe. It's that stomach-dropping feelin' that comes with the anticipation of a lot of ups and downs.

"When you're done with dinner," he says, "call me. We should talk."

To say I'm surprised by his offer is an understatement. I can't remember the last time he wanted to call me just to talk. Maybe this is a good sign.