15

Abbie…

I stumbled several steps before I found my footing. The instant I’d left the warm cocoon of Lex’s arms, I felt empty, and that scared me. And he wasn’t mine to hold onto.

Unable to find my friends with a quick scan, I sidled up to the bar, looking for a good viewing spot. I signaled the bartender and asked for water.

“Hello, Little Bird.”

I jumped as the voice whispered over my consciousness. I whirled around. Sure enough, Xander leaned against the wall. Clutching my hand to my chest, I asked, “What are you doing here?”

His smile was wry as the corners of his eyes crinkled. “I could ask you the same thing. Are you here to pilfer my photography gig?”

It was only then that I noticed the camera around his neck. “Oh, you’re working.” Who was Lex that he could afford a photographer of Xander’s caliber just for his birthday? “Not poaching, I swear. I’m here for the party.”

He chuckled softly. “You can relax. I’m only having a bit of fun with you.” He nodded toward Lex. “I saw you dancing with the birthday boy.”

I silently thanked God for the low light in the bar, because it meant that my sudden flush was hidden. “I, uh, yeah.”

“You know him well?” His question was almost too soft to be heard over the din of the rap song Jasper played.

I shook my head. “No. Not really. We just met recently.”

“Pretty saucy dance for two people who just met.”

I frowned. The dragon that was my temper woke from a long slumber and stretched its talons. Though cooler heads prevailed, and I remembered Xander was my teacher. I cleared my throat and searched the crowd for Max or Sophie. “No, not really.”

“Not from what I could see at this vantage point. As you know, the camera never lies.”

Had he photographed us dancing? What had my face looked like with Lex’s hips pressed into mine? If it reflected what I’d been feeling at the time, euphoric desire and a little giddiness, then I was in trouble. “You’ll need an artist release to use that.” I couldn’t put my finger on why, but Xander’s being there irked me. His butting in irked me even more. Something else about him bothered me too. Maybe it was his air of overconfidence, but something about him pushed my buttons, and I had to resist the urge to toss my drink at him. That would have been a waste of perfectly good water.

“That I would, if I intended to use it for anything.”

Through gritted teeth, I asked, “So how do you know Alexi?”

Xander grinned. “Alexi is it?” He smirked. “I used to throw away his dirty nappies.”

Confused, I blinked.