Am I interested? Babe, I want to say, I’d lick you up and down like you’re a soft serve ice cream cone and I’m standing under a heat lamp.

“Well, yeah,” I say instead, heat rising in my cheeks.

“I didn’t…” Lou checks me out, dark eyes flicking over my little black dress.

“Didn’t realize it because I don’t know how to flirt and am dressed like a Kinsey One. I know. I’m not really bringing my A-game tonight.”

They give me a devastating half-smile.

My brain is sluggish. Somewhere deep down, it dawns on me that I’ve solved my earlier problem: Lou now knows I’m interested because I flat-out just said it.

Hm. There’s something to be said for being direct.

I sway, grabbing the stall door for support. Well, Michelle succeeded at getting me drunk tonight. I’m feeling pretty good, even if I’m not getting laid.

The impatient woman with the clicky nails clears her throat. “Hey, are you gonna pee or just stand there?”

“Sorry,” Lou and I both murmur.

Lou drops their arm but doesn’t move, still staring at me. What are they thinking that has them looking at me like this?

If they weren’t interested, they would have backed away awkwardly by now, right?

Before the impatient woman can snap at us again, I grab Lou by the tie and pull them into the stall with me.

Their breath hitches, and when I reach around to lock the door, we’re nose-to-nose. They’re a couple of inches taller than me. I meet their blazing hot gaze through my lashes.

“What do you think?” I whisper.

I really hope I’m not misreading their expression.

“I think…” Lou gives me a charming smile. “I’m blown away that the most beautiful girl in the bar is into me. And I think this bachelorette party just got a lot more interesting.”

My heart flips. Lou thinks I’m beautiful? Before I can say anything more, their arms wrap around me, and I incline my head to meet their lips.

They push me against the wall of the bathroom stall, kissing me hard. The wall is cold on my back, but the heat of their body warms me through our clothes, making my insides tingle.

I kiss them back, playing with their tongue, biting their lip. I’m melting in their arms, sliding my fingers around the back of their neck. Their taste, body, lips, hands, the haze from the alcohol… all of it mingles in a dizzying rush of pleasure.

“You taste like a pastry,” I say, aware as the words come out that I’m ridiculously drunk.

Lou lets out a breathy laugh that tickles my lips. “What kind of pastry?”

I kiss them again, then hold their face in my hands as I run my tongue over their lips.

They let out a soft moan, gripping my hair.

“Apple strudel, I think. Sweet, cinnamony—”

Lou claims my mouth before I can finish, moving their tongue in a way that leaves me weak-kneed. Our bodies arch together. I’m dying to get closer. I want to feel their weight on top of me.

“I don’t want to—keep you from your friends,” I say between kisses, some semblance of guilt winding through me.

“Shh. They’re too drunk to notice I’m gone.”

“Okay. Good.” Maybe it’s selfish, but an excited swoop overtakes the guilt.

Lou traces a finger along my cleavage and pulls my dress down. The material moves easily, and I suddenly like my outfit a lot more than I did a few minutes ago.

They tease my nipple and I gasp, the sensation crackling through me like electricity.

Lou gives me a wicked smile before dipping their head and flicking my nipple with their tongue. I bite my lip to stop from making a sound that would give us away. Though if anyone peeks at our shoes, there’s no questioning what’s going on in here.

I run my hands down their chest, stomach, and around their waist, relishing the feel of their toned body. They definitely work out. God, I want to see them naked.

I’m breathing hard, aching between my legs. I reach down and fumble with their belt.

Lou puts their hands on my shoulders and pulls back, stopping me gently, expression pained. “Wait.”

“Sorry,” I whisper, heart sinking. “I didn’t—”

They kiss me quickly, silencing me.

“Claire, I like you,” Lou whispers. “At the bar, I thought… You’re really cute. And I think there could be something between us. Which is why I think we should stop here. Can I… um, can I take you on a proper date?”

I blink. A date? With Lou? “You want to go on a date with me?”

“Yeah. I know you just had a breakup and wanted a rebound, but… I’d like to be more than this.” Lou motions to the decrepit bathroom stall. “I want to buy you dinner and drinks, and after a couple of dates we can, you know, see about picking up where we left off here. But maybe, like, in a bed instead.”

I smile. For the first time tonight, my sadness dissipates. I might be a mess, but I guess I’m still lovable. “I would like that. A lot.”

Lou lets out a breath, casting a contagious smile. “Okay. Good.”

We kiss again, and oh, I could do this for hours.

We exchange numbers, then take turns doing what we actually came into the bathroom for.

On the way back to the bar, Lou kisses my cheek. We’re still tipsy, and now giggly as well.

“Ah, that’ll be the girls,” Lou says, pulling out their phone and looking at the screen. “One more stop for pizza and then it’s time for my favorite part of clubbing.”

“Yeah? What’s that?”

“Going home and—”

“Ooh, taking off your makeup and sliding into bed in blissful silence?” I say.

They laugh. “You know it.”

“I think I’m going to do that right now.” I catch sight of Michelle and touch Lou’s back in farewell. “Text me?”

They nod, and damn, I’m a lucky girl. I came here a mess, reluctantly deciding to try and get laid to redeem some self-confidence—and I found something so much better. I found exactly who I needed.

I hope I was exactly the person Lou needed tonight.

Lou straightens their tie and puts their hands in their pockets, easily the most stunning person in this whole club. “See you on our date.”