Page 14 of From the Embers

five

Denver

I tense, then spin on my heel at the feel of someone’s arms sliding around my waist, a warm body pressing against my back.

“Denver, baby,” a familiar voice whispers.

Oh, no.

“Hannah?” I’m dumbfounded as I stare at her. My ex is standing before me, catching me off guard as she smiles, her eyes softening.

I’m holding the buzzer for our meals, which I almost drop as quickly as my smile. And here I was having a great evening with the guys and seeing Adi let her hair down a little. Hence the was part.

I step back from her embrace and move out of the way of the others in the queue.

“Don’t look so surprised,” she purrs, walking her fingers up my chest as I glance down at the motion. It makes me uncomfortable, especially after months of not seeing her. Yes, we split almost a year ago, and I run into her from time to time, but we’ve never gotten cozy again. She messages me every couple of months, usually when on a night out with the girls to see if I want to re-kindle things. The fact is, I don’t.

Hannah is still very much a party girl, something I didn’t really realize until I was a few months in. I saw fairly quickly she is all about herself and what her friends are doing to worry about me and having a real relationship. She also quite openly flirted with other guys a couple of times when we were out together, and that just didn’t wash with me. I suspected her of cheating because sometimes things just didn’t add up. She’d sneak off to take phone calls and purposely arrange nights out when I was on shift. I didn’t trust her because I’ve been told she was unfaithful to her last boyfriend.

Bodhi didn’t like her either, so there’s that.

“I am surprised. It’s been a while,” I say, while thinking simultaneously, Not long enough.

There’s no denying that Hannah is gorgeous. She’s tall with long legs up to the sky. Her platinum blonde hair hangs in loose waves down her back. Her inflated breasts are on almost full display in the skimpy dress she’s wearing. Hannah captures attention wherever she goes because of the way she looks and the way she holds herself. That’s what I liked about her at first—her confidence—but then I saw the real Hannah.

Tonight I can tell straight away she’s tipsy. Her gray-blue eyes flutter up at me with long, fake lashes, and she presses her full red lips together. My eyes stay on her face, but without scanning her over, the barely-there tight black dress with slits cut out all over it is getting her attention. Great. I hope someone comes quickly to take her off my hands. There’s no doubt she turns heads, but that doesn’t interest me anymore, or what she has to offer.

Hannah started off seemingly sweet and down to earth, but I quickly learned for a girl in her mid-twenties, she still had a lot of growing up to do. I’m no stick in the mud by any means of a stretch, I like to have fun and a good time, there’s nothing wrong with that. But I work such long hours, the party lifestyle left me a long time ago. And I got the distinct feeling she just liked having a fit firefighter on her arm wherever she went, more than who was attached to that arm.

“You look good, Denver. I’ve missed you.”

“Look, Han, this really isn’t a good time.”

She flicks her hair over her shoulder with her long hot pink manicured nails. “Don’t be a spoil sport.”

“I’m with the guys,” I explain.

She rolls her eyes. “Not that nerd Daryl and his sidekick Eric.”

The heckles on my back rise at hearing her criticize my friends. That’s another thing she was good at. They did nothing to make her say shit like that. My friends tried with her but she wouldn’t give them the time of day. “Excuse me?”

She laughs it off with a waft of her hand. “Don’t mind me, you know how I get around you.” She scans me from head to toe. I shift my stance uncomfortably.

I run a hand over my hair feeling rattled. For some reason my eyes flick over to the bar in search of Adi, and they find her in an instant because she’s looking right at me. The second our eyes meet though, she quickly looks away and starts cleaning the bar top. “So, if you don’t mind I’d best be getting back.” I thumb sideways, which could mean anywhere. I don’t want her following me like a lost puppy. I’d prefer to wait with my friends and chat to Adi in between customers than stand here having Hannah paw over me.

“What if I do mind?” Her eyes twinkle up at me as she purses her lips.

I blow out a breath. “Well, that’s kind of a problem, Hannah. I’m here with someone.” Why the fuck I say that, I don’t know, but the words are flying out of my mouth before I can stop it.

“Huh?” Her brow furrows. “You’re dating?” The words spew out of her mouth like poison.

I don’t see how it’s her business, or why she’s acting so surprised, but I answer anyway. “Is that so hard to believe?”

“No,” she laughs a little haughtily. “But the last time I saw you wasn’t that long ago… anyway, I’m sure she will understand you having a drink with your ex for old time’s sake. Where is she anyway?” She cranes her neck to look over toward the very crowded bar area and I use it as my chance to get away.

“I think it’s better for everyone if you go your way and I go mine. Enjoy the rest of your night.”

She pouts just as one of her friends, thankfully, comes tottering up behind her waving a cocktail glass which distracts her for a moment.