I almost jumped. I turned around and looked up at Connor. "Oh, hey, Connor."
"So I'm pretty sure it worked," said Connor.
"What worked?"
"Making Rory jealous." He handed me a bottle of beer.
"Wait, really?"
"Well he basically threw me out the other night."
"You really think he was jealous?"
"It sure seemed like it. But maybe we should continue where we left off, just to make sure."
"You know, Jackson gave you up. He told me that you're actually a nice guy."
"Do you want me to be a nice guy?"
I rolled my eyes at him. "Everyone likes a nice guy, Connor." I looked over at Rory. More people were coming in and he was already talking to some girl.
"Then why are you staring at Rory?"
"I've only ever dated nice guys. Maybe I need a change."
"Here's to being something that we aren't." Connor lifted up his beer bottle and tapped it against mine. "Good luck with Rory." Connor smiled at me and walked away.
"Was that him?" Emily grabbed my elbow and led me over to the kitchen.
"No that's Connor, Rory's friend that helped me try to make him jealous."
"He seems into you. And he's really good looking."
"I know. But I like Rory."
"Okay, which one is he?"
"He's the unbelievably gorgeous one over there." I pointed to where Rory was standing. He had ditched the girl and was now talking to a few guys near the couch. He smiled over at me.
"I can see the appeal," Emily said. "He's kind of dreamy."
"Dreamy and a total slut."
Emily laughed. "So, what did he tell you that you need to do?"
"Flirt with him by touching him a lot."
"Of course he did. How about you go try that out."
"Okay, come with me. I'll introduce you." The two of us walked over to Rory. "Hey, Rory."
Rory turned away from his guy friends.
"This is my friend, Emily." I gestured to Emily. "And Emily, this is my new roommate." I touched Rory on the arm. Geez, he's so muscular.
"Nice to meet you," Emily said and shook Rory's hand.
"Likewise. I was beginning to think that Keira was a weird loner."
I laughed and lightly pushed on his shoulder. "Oh, stop it."
Rory laughed and gave me a strange look. "So, where is that guy you're crushing on?"
"He is..." I looked around the room. "Not here yet apparently. Maybe he stood me up." I laughed and lightly pushed Rory's shoulder again. Shit. I'm only supposed to do that when he makes a joke.
"Okay. Nice meeting you, Emily," Rory said and turned back to his friends.
Emily grabbed my arm and guided me over to the couch. "That was probably the worst flirting I've ever seen," she said and started laughing. "What is wrong with you?"
"He makes me nervous!"
"That was so awkward." She laughed again.
"Help me, please."
"What else did he tell you to do?"
"To rub his leg. Upwards."
"Quite the innuendo. Okay, so we just need to wait until he sits down somewhere."
I glanced over at Rory. He was still standing in the same spot, but a few girls had gravitated toward him. Not good.
"Hey."
I looked up and saw the man I had purposely bumped into on the street earlier. "Oh, great, you came!" I stood up. "I forgot to get your name."
"Patrick," he said. "And you?"
"I'm Keira. And this is my friend, Emily."
Patrick nodded his head and looked around the room. "Nice place."
"Thanks. Help yourself to a drink." I pointed over to the kitchen counter that was acting as our bar. "And I'm sorry again about bumping into you."
Patrick laughed. "No problem at all, Keira." He smiled and walked over to the kitchen.
"You bumped into him?"
"That's what you told me to do."
Emily laughed. "That's not exactly what I meant. Oh, look!" She pointed over to Rory. He had just sat down at the poker table. There was one seat open next to his.
"I'll be right back," I said and walked as quickly as I could in my heels over to Rory. I touched his shoulder and said as seductively as possible, "Is this seat taken?"
Rory looked up at me and eyed me suspiciously. "It's all yours."
I sat down.
"Hey, Keira," Jackson said. "I heard you invited someone to the party. That must have broken Connor's heart."
I laughed. "Connor is fine. I'm not exactly what he's looking for. What are you guys up to?"
"Scoping out our options." Jackson laughed. I wasn't sure if he was just joking, but I needed to make my move.
"Oh, is that so?" I put my hand on Rory's knee and slowly moved it up his thigh. I could feel his body tense. "Have you found anyone enticing?"
"Keira."
Me?! "You find me enticing?"
Rory put his hand on top of mine, stopping it from going any higher. "Where's that guy from your work?"
"You know what, I'm not sure where he went. Maybe I should go find him." I leaned in close and whispered in Rory's ear. "Thanks for the advice, I think it's working." I winked at Rory, stood up, and walked back over to Emily.
"How did it go?" she asked.
"Pretty well I think." I sat down next to her. "He seemed flustered."
"Did he give you any other advice?"
"No, that was pretty much it."
"I guess we'll have to just wait and see then," Emily said.
***
A few hours later I didn't seem to be getting any closer to winning Rory over. He was flirting with some girl. "I'm going to go talk to him again," I said to Emily. I had made a point to go over to him about every half hour to flirt with him. I walked over and tapped on his shoulder.
"Keira."
"Rory. Can I talk to you?"
"I'm listening."
I grabbed his arm and pulled him to a corner. "Your advice sucks. It's not working at all. Is there anything else I can do?"
He smiled at me. "Hmm. That's quite the predicament. Are you sure you've tried everything? I haven't seen you talk to anyone all night except for Emily."
"That's not true." He's been watching me?!
"Keira, did you even invite him?"
"Of course I did." I pointed over to Patrick.
"You mean Patrick?" Rory laughed. "You guys don't exactly seem to be hitting it off."
"Yeah, well, I just met him on the street. I don't think he's interested in me."
"I thought he worked at your office?"
"Yes! Isn't that what I said?"
"No."
"Oh, right, of course you wouldn't know. The street is what we call our office. Like office nicknames. Working on the street? It's just an inside joke at my office. You wouldn't understand."