Hollywood Roommates

12

“What else are you going to do? Mope around in your pajamas and watch cheesy movies?”

“Pretty much, yeah,” she says, with a sad laugh.

“You’ve been doing that all day. Getting out will be good for you.”

“I don’t know…”

“Come to the bar and I’ll make you the best drink you’ve ever had. When the guys fall all over you, you’ll thank me. Trust me on this.”

“Okay. Maybe. I’ll think about it.”

“Good.” I head back to my room, but as I change my clothes all I can think about is Allie. She’s like those muffins she baked us this morning: warm, soft, and sweet. I bet she tastes just as delicious too. She’s normally not my type at all, but there’s something about her I can’t stop thinking about.

I blame Shane. By making Allie forbidden, she became ten times hotter. I want to f**k her to get her out of my system, but that isn’t going to happen. I probably just need to get laid. It has been a while. Like a week, maybe? Hey, that’s a long time for me. But it’s not a problem. I’m sure some girl at the bar tonight will be happy to take care of me.

Except the idea of sleeping with some random girl tonight no longer sounds appealing. There’s only one woman I want to get in bed, and she’s off-limits.

Chapter Nine

ALLIE

Why oh why did I let Matt convince me to go out tonight?

I’m so not ready to move on. I told myself I was, but damn, breakups are hard. I’m still going through all those stages of grief over Parker, like anger and denial, and I’m not even close to acceptance yet. Even though I shouldn’t waste a single minute thinking about him, he still finds his way back into my thoughts anyway. Being with someone for a year, living with them, and thinking you were going to get married will do that to you, I guess.

Going to the bar where Matt works seemed like a good way to stop the endless cycle of why, why, why? that was going through my head. Now I’m starting to think I made a big mistake.

The only saving grace is that this place is gorgeous. Sea Spray Lounge is an open-air bar resting right on the beach, up against the ocean. You can either sit at the covered bar, looking out at the water as the sun sets over it while the cool breeze brushes against your face, or walk out onto the patio where waves crash against the see-through barrier, which is lit with soft blue LED lights. More fairy lights dance along the top of the dark bar, giving the place a magical feel.

It’s definitely more upscale than I imagined when Matt said I should head to a bar with him to pick up guys. People in here have money or are hoping to land someone with money, which I probably should have realized since we’re in Malibu, after all.

The bar’s fairly empty tonight and I take a stool at the counter right in front of Matt. Brooke couldn’t make it and I feel awkward being here by myself. I’ve never been good at picking up guys in a bar, and despite what Matt said, guys don’t usually hit on me either. I’m cute, but a lot of guys in LA aren’t into women like me. Normally it doesn’t bother me—I tell myself they can’t handle these curves anyway—but now it reminds me that I’m alone and unwanted.

Geez, someone needs to slap the emo out of me already.

I distract myself by checking out Matt, who looks especially handsome in a black button-up shirt that’s open at the neck to show off a hint of skin, just enough to make my mouth water. His sleeves are rolled up too, revealing his masculine wrists and forearms.

He leans on the bar in front of me with a sultry smile. “What’ll it be, gorgeous?”

“Surprise me.”

“Hmm.” He tilts his head and a piece of wavy hair falls in front of his right eye. I have the strongest urge to tuck it back. “I’m guessing you’re the kind of girl who likes fruity cocktails. The girlier the better.”

I laugh. “Yep, that’s me.”

“Coming right up.”

He turns around to prepare my drink and I check out his very nice ass in his black jeans. Then I scold myself in my head. I should not be checking out my roommates, no matter how hot they are.

A guy in a gray suit slides onto the barstool next to me. “Hey there. Can I get you a drink?”

I freeze up. This is why I’m here, isn’t it? To forget Parker with some new guy. But all I can do is blink at this man while opening and closing my mouth like some kind of i***t.

He’s good-looking, though not nearly as drop dead sexy as any one of my three roommates, but on an equal level with Parker. Before meeting Matt, Shane, and Luke, I’d have been all over this guy. Now he seems…ordinary. That isn’t the problem though. The problem is the fear that stuns me into silence, that whispers in the back of my mind this guy will hurt you too.

I can’t do it. I can’t.

Suddenly there’s a large, comforting presence at my back. “She’s with me.”

The guy in the suit stares at the man behind me with wide eyes. Then he scrambles out of his seat, practically falling all over himself to move. “I’m so sorry, man. I didn’t realize. I loved your last movie by the way.”

“Thanks,” Luke says.

As the guy runs off with his tail between his legs, Luke takes his place. I gape at him, much the same way I did the last guy, except this time I find my voice. “What was that?”

He shrugs, his voice smooth as he says, “I could tell you were uncomfortable.”

“I would have handled it,” I say, even though I’m secretly grateful I didn’t have to.