Cooper opens my door and holds a hand out for me. “Thanks.”

We walk hand in hand up to the door where a bouncer sits just inside. “What’s up Manny?” Cooper greets the man that’s sitting on a stool, dressed all in black with the club’s logo on the front of his shirt.

“Nothing much,” Manny looks in my direction and gives me a smile. “Eli’s already here. He said to tell you he’s waiting for you in a booth near the club.”

Cooper shakes Manny’s hand in that guy hand shake way that they do.

We weave around the crowd and spot a drop dead gorgeous Eli sitting in the booth by himself, looking all mouthwatering. When he spots us he tips his beer towards Cooper and me, and then stands to greet us. He shakes hands with Cooper, “’Bout time you showed up.”

Cooper laughs and pulls me closer to him. “Waiting on this girl, you know how they are.”

I jab Cooper a little with my elbow and he chuckles. Eli looks in my direction and I know when he recognizes me. His lip pulls up in a half smile. I divert my eyes towards the stage, looking for a distraction and to keep the blush at bay. I swear I hear Cooper growl and Eli chuckles.

“What’s up Jaylinn?” Eli’s raspy voice wraps around me and it feels like I can’t breathe.

I look up to Cooper who’s trying his hardest not to let on that he hates the fact I think Eli’s hot. When you’re in the presence of the guy it’s like he’s got this confidence about him that just draws you in. He’s tall, handsome, with a beautifully proportioned body. His olive skin contrasts pleasingly with his white teeth and his compelling blue eyes, and he has the perfect smile. His short brown messy hair gleams in the dimly lit bar. There is not a damn thing wrong with this man.

I lick my lips and Cooper reaches over, gripping my hand tightly in his. I raise an eyebrow at Cooper and give him a pointed look. He wants to stake his claim on me in front of Eli but when I want him to commit to me I get the ‘I’m keeping you at arm’s length’ speech.

I focus my attention to Eli, “Nothing much. How are things with you?”

He shrugs, “Good. Cooper and I are working hard to get this new club up and running.”

I nod because I know they have been. Eli takes a seat and Cooper nudges me to slide into the booth and then he takes a seat next to me. The waitress stops over and Eli orders another drink while Cooper orders one for him and me. I send a silent prayer up that she doesn’t ask for I.D. but sitting with these two is a sure distraction, especially with Eli eye f**king her.

“So I spoke to that real estate agent when I stopped home to change.” Eli says to Cooper. “The building’s ours if we want.”

Cooper nods, “That’s great. It’s going to be a good location. It’s close enough for the college crowd and the summer crowds.”

Eli takes a swig of his beer and looks out over the crowd. “Yeah, man. You think we should jump on it?”

Cooper looks over at me and I give him a little smile. I have no idea where this place is that they were looking at, so I have no feedback.

“Let’s do it.”

Eli nods his agreement, “I’ll call her first thing in the morning.”

The waitress comes back over and places our drinks down at the same time the crowd starts cheering and the band walks out on stage. I watch as a confident Cole saddles up to the mic. “How’s everyone doing?”

The crowd all whoops and hollers.

“Well I hope you all enjoy the show tonight.” Cole scans the crowd and spots Cooper and I and he nods his head in greeting.

Cole sits on the stool and the crowd quiets. He strums his guitar, testing it out. “I’m going to start off with a popular cover song. Sound good?”

Everyone cheers and a girl screams that she loves Cole.

Cooper reaches over and pulls me a little closer to him. Eli catches him and winks at me. I bite down on my bottom lip and try to focus back on Cole singing.

After a few songs, Cooper excuses himself to use the bathroom, leaving me at the table with Eli. When Cooper disappears into the crowd Eli asks about our relationship. “So…you and Cooper?”

I shrug, not really sure how to answer that question so I answer it the best way I know how. “It’s complicated.”

Eli laughs bitterly, “Aren’t they all?”

I sense a bit of hostility in his tone. I wonder if Eli’s been burned, and then quickly dismiss that idea. There is no way that could happen. Who in their right mind would walk away from him?

“You guys were always close, huh?” Eli asks.

“Yeah, we’ve got a lot of history.”

Eli brings his beer to his lips but before he takes a sip he says, “And he hasn’t put a ring on that finger yet?”

I’m thrown off guard a little bit by his question. “Um, no.”

He mumbles something that sounds like ‘stupid move’.

I look towards the bathrooms, hoping Cooper would be coming back in our direction but no such luck. I feel slightly awkward sitting here with Eli, feeling like he wants to say more about my relationship with Cooper. With each song that Cole plays the beat picks up. The crowd is eating it up and really enjoying themselves.

Eli stands and holds a hand out, “Dance with me?”

My eyes go wide in surprise. I don’t think this is a good idea but for some reason I do it anyway. I place a hand in Eli’s and let him lead me off towards the dance floor and I pray Cooper doesn’t freak the f**k out when he finds us.

10

When I come back to the booth it’s empty. I scan the crowd and spot Eli and Jaylinn dancing. I can tell it’s friendly by the way Jaylinn is keeping a safe distance but it pisses me off anyway. Who the hell does Eli think he is asking my girl to dance? She’s not your girl Cooper.

As Jaylinn dances seductively around Eli’s body, her eyes connect with mine and it strikes something in me. My stomach clenches and my hands ball into fists. I stalk off towards them, ready to claim my girl back. Eli had asked me about Jaylinn earlier when I’d mentioned that I was going to bring her tonight and I told him that things were complicated but I really didn’t think he’d try and make a move on her. I know he was kidding around and shit when he said he bang her but maybe it wasn’t so much of a joke after all.

Jaylinn’s eyes follow my every movement, all the while keeping up with Eli’s dance moves. I’m just about to them when Jaylinn stops right in front of Eli and places a hand on his chest and sways her h*ps all the way down his body without sitting on the ground. Suddenly it feels like my body is scorching,pumping hot lava through my veins.