She smiled, her eyes bright, shaking her head to move her blonde ponytail behind her shoulder. “You’re very welcome.”
Chase grinned. She and Jayson had been eying each other since he and Jay arrived. She didn’t seem interested in any other guy in the bar. He hadn’t seen Jayson so taken by a girl in a long time. Except for Sabrina. “Lia, this is Jayson.”
Jayson glared at Chase, then he gave Lia a nervous smile.
Her cheeks turned pink. She was pretty, with dark blue eyes and an endearing smile, though older than most of the waitresses here, which didn’t mean much, considering most of them were college age. But a bit of maturity would be good for his friend. “I should . . . uh,” she motioned toward the bar, “get back to work.” She turned and walked away.
Chase kicked Jayson under the table. His friend frowned. Chase laughed.
“You’re laughing at me?”
“She likes you.”
Jayson rolled his eyes. “She probably flirts with all the guys here.”
“I haven’t seen it.”
Jayson’s eyes narrowed. “You’ve been watching her?”
Chase rolled his eyes. “I’ve been watching both of you watch each other, dumbass.”
Jayson glanced back at the retreating woman. “Really?”
“Yeah. Really.”
Jayson chewed on his inner cheek. “Hmm.” He watched her for another moment and then turned to the basket of wings in front of him, looking thoughtful.
Chase’s mind wandered to the previous night when Sabrina had watched as Addie gave him a blow job. Having the slave sucking on his balls while Sabrina watched made him shiver even now. It definitely made him orgasm harder.
He took a bite of a hot wing and caught Jayson staring at him, head tilted and raised brows. “You okay?”
Chase cleared his throat. “Thinking about last night.”
Jayson grinned. “I bet.”
“She’s beautiful.”
“That she is.”
They returned their attention to their wings. Chase saw Jayson watching Lia surreptitiously as he chewed then looked down suddenly. Chase turned to see Lia approaching and grinned.
“How you guys doing?” she asked.
Jayson nodded; his mouth full of food.
“You’re new here, aren’t you?” Chase asked, wiping his hands on his napkin.
Lia nodded. “Been here about a week.”
“Where are you from?”
Her eyes widened, and she blinked several times but then smiled. “DC.”
Chase had suspected she was new to the area. Her accent was very different. He glanced at Jayson, raising his eyebrows. His friend needed to talk to the girl if he was going to get anywhere with her.
“Wh-what brought you to Boston?” Jayson asked.
She looked down then shrugged. “I wanted to get out on my own for a while. Needed to . . . spread my wings, I guess.” A dimple appeared in her cheek as she looked at Jayson, eyes bright.
“You like it here?”
She nodded. “It’s nice to be on my own.”
There was a sadness in her eyes Chase hadn’t noticed before, and something else he couldn’t quite pinpoint, but it made him feel sorry for her.
“I should get back to work.” She turned and walked away.
Jayson watched her and then looked at Chase. “That was weird.”
“She looks sad.” Jayson was a good guy and would treat her right. “You should ask her out.”
Jayson’s retort couldn’t be heard over the loud cheering from the crowd around them. Chase swung his gaze around to look at the television in time to see his little brother, Joel, run for a touchdown and score.
“Did you see those moves!” Chase exclaimed, pointing at the big screen on the wall. “That’s what I’m talking about! If the coach would let him run more, they’d be mopping the floor with those chumps. You can’t throw passes against Syracuse’s defense this year!”
Jayson rolled his eyes. “Whatever, Mr. Armchair Quarterback.”
The game ended with a hard-won 21-7 victory for Boston College, and Lia brought the check a few minutes later. “Get her number and ask her out.” Chase pulled out his wallet and jerked his head toward the bar where Lia stood waiting for a drink order.
Jayson made a face.
“Ask her out or you’re paying.”
Jayson peered over at the bill and stood. “Asshole.”
Chase chuckled as he watched Jayson stride, albeit not quite in a straight line, across the room to where Lia stood punching an order into the computer. Her face lit up when she saw him. Jayson took a deep breath and said something at which Lia laughed. He gave a sheepish grin. After talking for a few minutes, Lia pulled out her order pad and wrote on a piece of paper before handing it to Jayson.
Jayson returned to the table, a grin on his face.
“See? That wasn’t so bad.”
“We’re going out on Monday.”
“Good for you, Jay.”
“You better leave her a good tip or she’ll regret saying yes to me.”
“I always leave good tips.” He stood and shrugged into his jacket, then grabbed the table as he tipped sideways. “Whoa. Didn’t think I’d had so much to drink.”
“Probably the only way you convinced me to ask her out.” Jayson shook his head. “Don’t think I would have had the guts to ask her without the liquid courage.”
Chase laughed. “You never have issues asking girls out.”
“She’s older than most girls I go out with.”
“Maturity intimidate you?”
Jayson glared as he stood up and shrugged on his own jacket. He frowned as Chase walked away. “Don’t you need to pay?”
“I left cash.” And a hefty tip.
As they left the bar, Jayson glanced back and grinned. Chase turned and saw Lia beaming at his friend.
Chase smiled to himself. Maybe this girl would help Jayson get over Sabrina.
Sabrina curled up next to Ethan on the couch watching a television show she’d become addicted to. The crime/thriller scared her to death, but she couldn’t stop. Ethan laughed every time she jumped or squealed at something, but he let her stay right by his side.
“You know it always ends up okay at the end,” he reminded her for the hundredth time as she scooted closer.
“I know,” she whispered, not taking her eyes off the screen. “Still scares me.”
“Then stop watching it.”
Sabrina glared at Ethan, who burst out laughing then wrapped his arm around her.
She normally watched the show with both him and Chase, but Chase was out with Jayson, and she hadn’t wanted to wait. Besides, both men had seen the entire series.
In the middle of their fifth episode, Ethan stiffened as loud voices sounded from the hallway. Something scraped at the door and Ethan was on his feet and at the door in three seconds.
Men’s laughter came from beyond the door and Ethan relaxed. He laughed as he opened the door and Chase and Jayson both stumbled through the door. “Have a few beers?” Ethan caught Jayson as he nearly ran into the table. Chase was steadier on his feet.
“Jus’ a few,” Jayson slurred, leaning into Ethan.