The Lover’s Game (No Exceptions #2)(17)
Author: J.C. Reed

As we crossed the open-plan space at a snail’s pace and pushed through the crowd, I began to see why the place was so popular. Everywhere I looked, people were dancing, talking, and having the time of their lives, just like I was. They seemed so carefree, which made me realize that in just a few months, I would no longer be like them. Soon I’d be a mother—bound to responsibilities and facing yet more bills. It might very well be my first and last time at HUSH HUSH or any other club, for that matter, and the thought scared me.

“See that?” Gina pointed to a circular area with dozens of black wicker chairs. I nodded and she yelled in my ear, “It’s the speed-dating area for singles…or those pretending to be.”

The area was secluded, in the far corner, away from the dancing rooms and the foam party. Each booth had two wicker chairs facing one another, closed off by a string curtain that I assumed could be drawn, allowing for more privacy. The entire dating space was bathed in a violet glow, and was even darker than the rest of the club. I craned my neck to get a better view. A table was set up between each set of chairs. It was the perfect place to get to know someone without leaving the club.

“It works like this: you chat with somebody, and if you like what you see, you close the curtains.” Gina took a sip of her cocktail, her eyes shining unnaturally bright as her eyes scanned the dating area.

I expected her to want to move closer, if only so she could show me around, but strangely, she remained glued to the spot, staring ahead as though she was waiting for something to happen. I had no idea how she could see in the darkness. While I could see the shape and movement of figures all around us, my vision wasn’t sharp enough to make out faces. Eventually, Gina whispered in Thalia’s ear, and they both turned to me.

I frowned. “What?”

What now?

Almost sensing their intentions, my skin prickled at the thought of what was to come. Gina pulled me closer to her, her eyes shimmering with pride as she spoke. She pointed her glass toward the northwest side of the dating area. “That one will do.”

I followed her line of vision through the crowd and shook my head.

“Eleven o’clock,” she said impatiently, “the booth closest to the wall.”

Scanning the people around us, I narrowed my eyes.

Apart from two booths, all those close to the wall were empty. In the first one, a couple was engaged in deep conversation, the woman playing with her hair and laughing at everything the man said. In the second booth, a man was sitting alone—the only person close to the wall. From that distance, I could only see his profile, but even that was a blurry mess. With the dim and colored lights dancing above our heads, my vision was so impaired that I wasn’t even sure the person was male at all.

“You mean the guy next to the couple?” I asked, just to be sure.

When no reply came, I turned to Gina, then to Thalia, who gave me an approving look.

“This is your chance, Jenna. That’s him, your guy of the night,” Gina said with enough determination to make me flinch. “I just know it.”

I regarded him again. He looked unnervingly still. Unlike everyone else around us, he was just sitting there, motionless, not once turning his head to skim his surroundings.

My heart started to pound.

I couldn’t just go over and talk to him when he didn’t look like he was there for company. As I stared at him, pondering what to do, a woman approached the booth and sat down, leaving the curtain undrawn.

For some reason, I felt happy and relieved that it didn’t have to be me. I almost squealed in delight that he wasn’t alone and I was off the hook after all. I bit my lip hard to stop myself from smiling.

So, maybe I wasn’t ready to date again. While my heart was still hurting in places, my mind craving distraction, and my brain screaming for revenge, I lacked the courage to approach a total stranger and start a relationship all over again.

“Such a shame he’s found a date,” I said, not meaning a word of it. I took a step forward, ready to leave the dating area behind, when Thalia’s hand on my elbow stopped me.

“Look again,” she said, pleased.

I turned back to regard him, just in time to see the woman stomp off. As she passed us, I noticed that her face was a mask of anger. Obviously, whatever he had said hadn’t pleased her.

Nor me.

Shit.

Now I was out of excuses.

“Oh, come on.” I remained glued to the spot, unsure of what to do, when a hand shoved me forward.

“What are you waiting for? Go talk to him before someone else spies him,” Gina hissed in my ear.

She made it sound as if he was the last man on Earth, as if women were ready to fight over him. I wanted to point out that he was a human being, not a fish or an object to grab and pin to the wall. The thought of him being the last fish made me giggle. My nerves were making me irrational again, or maybe it was a physical reaction to stress and anxiety or the alcohol talking and letting me imagine all kinds of things in my mind. Whatever it was, my giggle turned into hysterical laughter, and before I could stop myself, I had taken a few more nervous gulps of my drink.

“I don’t even know what to say,” I said. “I’m not really experienced in approaching guys.”

Actually, I was putting it lightly. Talk about having zero experience.

Swallowing down the rest of my drink, I composed myself. This was such a bad idea. But so had been drinking Gina’s cocktail because, while I knew I was standing, I could barely feel my feet. Whatever had been in that cute little glass had sent the room spinning and my pulse racing. It didn’t send a rush of adrenaline through me, but it sure made me feel happy.

Gina rolled her eyes. “Just say, ‘Hi. You look great. Want to hook up with me?’ It really doesn’t matter what you say. If he digs you, he’ll be all over you anyway. Time to be slutty, bitch.”

There was no way I would say any such thing, even if I risked being single for the rest of my life.

Shaking her head, Thalia turned to me and put her arm around my shoulders. “Don’t listen to her. Just be yourself, Jenna. If it works, that’s great. If it doesn’t, you’ve lost nothing, and he’s probably not the right one anyway. Remember, it’s just for a few hours. Give it a try. You never know.”

I took a deep breath. “All right.” I handed Thalia my empty glass and stumbled forward, uncertain of whether I could fool my friends by hiding behind one of the curtains and then pretending the whole thing had been a major flop. As I spun around to find a flight route, I spied them in the distance, watching me like hawks, their hands waving at me, gesturing me to move ahead.