AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Eleven o’clock from where you’re facing, or where I’m facing?” His joke trails off as he turns and sees her. She’s wearing a white crossover dress with big red flowers that accentuates her hourglass figure. Alex stares at her, his eyes widening. He inhales deeply, puffs out his cheeks, then blows out the breath, which morphs into a laugh as he turns back and sees us all watching him.
Frowning a little, she walks up and says, “Hello.”
“Hey.” He kisses her cheek. I know him well enough to see the look of relief that passes quickly over his face. He doesn’t show emotion very often. I think he’s really keen on this girl. “Glad you came,” he says. “Can I get you a drink?”
“Um, I’ll have a glass of Sav, please.”
He nods and walks over to the bar.
Juliette grins at her. “Hello.”
Missie gives her a curious look. “What did Alex say when I walked up that made you all laugh?”
“He didn’t say anything. This is what he did when he saw you.” She copies what he did, widening her eyes in the same way.
Missie jaw drops in alarm. “Oh no. I’m showing too much boob!”
“No, sweetheart, I think you’re showing exactly the right amount,” Juliette says as we all chuckle. “Come on, let me introduce you to everyone. You know James, and this is his girlfriend, Cassie.”
“Hey, James, and hello, Cassie, nice to meet you.” Missie holds out her hand and gives her characteristic sunshine smile.
Cassie shakes her hand, then knocks back what’s left in her glass. Jesus, she’s drunk the whole lot in a few mouthfuls. “James,” she says, holding the glass out.
“Alex is at the bar,” I say, irritated by her rude manner and the fact that she’s obviously decided to get drunk. She doesn’t hold her alcohol well, and I’m not in the mood to be cleaning up behind her.
She meets my gaze, then saunters off to Alex.
“You two all right?” Juliette asks with concern.
“Nope.” Already regretting coming, I huff a sigh and wave a hand, and she moves on.
Juliette introduces Missie to her partner, Cam, and to Gaby and Tyson. They chat for a bit, but my attention is drawn by Cassie, who has made her way back to my side. I know that look; she’s going to sulk for the rest of the evening. My heart sinks, while my anger rises. I’m so tired of this.
The bar is busy, and a man knocks into me as he passes with a tray of drinks, causing me to take a step to the side. I bump shoulders with someone and discover it’s Aroha. She stumbles, and I slide my free hand under her elbow to help her regain her balance.
“Sorry,” I murmur.
“If you’re trying to make me fall over, just wait until I’ve had a few more drinks,” she jokes. She looks up at me, and for a moment, our gazes lock again the way they did outside, and neither of us can look away.
She’s beautiful in a different way from Cassie, who’s tall, busty, and blonde. Aroha is maybe five foot six at the most, and slender, with small, high breasts and slim hips. Her skin is an attractive light brown, and her hair is dark brown, while her eyes are hazel. She has a few freckles across her nose. I know she’s a beautician, and her makeup is immaculate, her eyelids covered with a pretty bronze shimmer. Her lips are the same color as her raspberry top, just a few shades lighter, and she moistens them with the tip of her tongue as she sees me looking at them.
I’ve known her for five or six years, and the first time I met her, I thought how gorgeous she was. But she was dating someone else, and by the time I heard she was single, I was seeing someone. The timing just hasn’t worked. But I like her, and I’m pretty sure she likes me, too.
Conscious that I’m still holding her arm, I say, “Sorry,” again, lower my hand, and drag my gaze away from hers. I’ve been called a womanizer more than once in the past, but I would never cheat on a girl I was with. Whatever Cassie and I are going through, she deserves more than that.
Alex is leading the way over to our table, and the rest of us follow, carrying our drinks. Two benches face each other across a rectangular table. He slides along the bench to the end, and Missie sits next to him, followed by Juliette, with Cam squeezing on the end. Cassie slides across on the other side and I follow.
“After you,” Henry says, and Aroha hesitates, then sits next to me. Henry lowers himself down, but the dude is six-three and built like a brick khazi, and Aroha has to squeeze up against me to avoid being crushed.
“I feel like the burger in a Quarter Pounder,” she says as Henry and I sandwich her between us.
“I have been complimented on my buns,” I reply, and she giggles.
Next to me, Cassie huffs a sigh. I turn slightly toward her and put my arm along the seat behind her. It rests on her hair, and she makes an annoyed sound in the back of her throat as she tugs it free.
“Sorry,” I say, removing my arm, but she just throws me a glare, then takes out her phone.
Gaby and Tyson take the two chairs at the end of the table, and the trivia team is ready.
