Camera Shy (Lessons in Love, #1)(119)

I assure him I will as I duck under the VIP rope, grateful for my flowy skirt that allows me to maneuver with ease. Heading to the bathroom first just for something to do, I retreat when I see the line to the ladies’ room wraps around the hallway. Geez. I settle for the packed bar instead, making sure I’m on the end, tucked away from Finn’s view.

And for a while, I’m okay. I nod along to the club beats and try to ignore my view of the VIP section where I can see woman after woman making their move on Finn. He smiles but turns them all away. I even see him firmly shake his head and hold up his palm when one of the strippers, dressed in confetti-themed lingerie, offers him a dance. It’s like watching vultures flock and even though he is a textbook gentleman, I still don’t like the jealousy that’s bubbling up in my chest. I compare myself to every single one of the women who are smaller and fitter than me, throwing themselves shamelessly at his feet.

This is what life as Finn’s girlfriend would be like. Watching from the shadows as everyone tries to take what’s mine.

“Water for the mermaid?”

The low voice next to me startles me from my thoughts. I whip my head to the right as the tingle of shock in my chest subsides. A blond man with a purposefully shaggy haircut that matches his scruff, slides a blue cocktail toward me. His eyes are green, like mine—but so much darker. Where mine are light, his are a deep emerald. Hm, pretty. He chuckles as he studies my perplexed expression.

Tapping his temple, he says, “I planned that better in my head.”

“What?”

He points to the drink. “I thought it’d be a cute way to break the ice. The drink—it’s called Mermaid Water. You’re dressed as a mermaid.” He laughs again as he covers his eyes. “I did not play that off well.”

I can’t help but return his smile. He looks as uncomfortable here as I am, so I immediately feel a friendly bond. “Hey now, it wasn’t bad after a little context.”

“Don’t lie.”

The song switches and it’s low enough that I can actually carry a conversation. “I’m just impressed you were able to get a drink.”

“Me too,” he says, widening his eyes at the bartender, who has his back turned. “Cass’s birthday is always ridiculous, but tonight I have to admit…it’s a shit show. Of course, that has nothing to do with the party.”

“Something wrong?” I ask.

“I just got into a big fight with my girlfriend,” he mutters. “I wish I were enough of an asshole to leave her here, but I wouldn’t forgive myself if something happened to her.”

He’s saying all the magic words for me to continue this conversation. He has a girlfriend. He’s not an asshole.

I point to the cocktail. “Can I pay you for this if I drink it? I don’t think my date will like it if I let another man buy me a drink.”

He smirks. “Yeah, Finn’s got a temper on him sometimes. But don’t worry, I didn’t technically buy this for you.” He holds up his arm and shows me a wristband. “It’s an open bar for those who paid the cover.”

“You’re friends with Finn?” I feel a little safer looking at the tempting blue cocktail, but at the same time, this is still a stranger in a bar.

“Uh, friends might be a stretch. He hates me. He snaked my girl, and yet I’m the one to blame.” The blond man lets out a huff of frustration before he extends his hand. When I offer him mine, he shakes it delicately. “I’m Morgan.”

“Avery.” I can’t help my curiosity. “What do you mean Finn snaked your girl?”

Morgan shrugs. “A few years ago, I fucked up. Bad. I got piss drunk with some buddies and woke up in some other girl’s bed. I know how that makes me sound.” He buries his head in his hands. “But I don’t even remember it. I just partied too hard that night.”

“Yikes.”

“Yeah, I came clean to my girlfriend right away and she said she forgave me, but”—he throws his thumb down and vibrates his tongue off his bottom lip—“it was all downhill from there. We were never the same.”

“What does that have to do with Finn?”

“She started needing space. She stopped returning my calls right away. The text messages were few and far between. I’d only see her every other weekend. As far as I knew, we were a couple going through a tough time and I accepted the fact I’d be in the doghouse for a while, but then it came out that she was living with Finn. She was dating both of us for a while and neither of us knew.”

Oh my God. And this story suddenly makes sense. “Nora was your girlfriend?”

He nods. “Is my girlfriend.”

“Oh… So you guys eventually got back together and worked it out?”

Morgan snorts. “Depends on what you consider working it out.” He points to the drink. “I promise you that’s not poisoned.”

I take a small sip as a friendly gesture. It’s delicious, so I take a bigger sip. “Thank you. I’m a sucker for anything with blue curacao in it.”

“I have never known how to pronounce that. Thank you. Mystery solved.”

I laugh. “Who knows if I’m pronouncing it correctly? I could be leading you astray.”

“It sounds good your way. I’ll roll with it.” There’s a lull as the song changes again.