AllFreeNovel
Share Us
What now?
The plan was for both Joliet and Erik to see what was going on between her and Nathan, but on their way in Tully hadn’t spotted either of them.
Clearly, she hadn’t looked hard enough, because from the way Erik stumbled towards her with a can in hand, he’d already been there long enough to not walk straight.
Tully cursed under her breath, and tried to shift her body so that the jocks would block his view. But he already had his sights on her, and nothing deterred him.
“Baby,” Erik called, loud enough that it disrupted several people around them. A few briefly glanced his way, before returning to their conversations. “You didn’t tell me you were coming.”
His words were slurred, and Tully sighed as he shuffled his way toward her.
Apparently, the alcohol hadn’t mixed well with his memory and he’d forgotten that the last week had even happened.
She turned her back to him, hoping he would get the hint, but it flew right over his head and he took it as an invitation instead.
Arms wrapped around Tully’s waist, and she gasped at the sudden hug from behind as Erik buried his face into her shoulder and began kissing her neck.
“You look amazing tonight, babe.” He murmured the words along the hem of low neckline, taking advantage of her delayed reaction.
Not even two weeks ago, her heart fluttered when he called her pet names. Back then, she could tolerate the affectionate touch.
Not even two weeks ago, she realized that no matter how sweet he acted, or what he called her, he was a liar.
Today, she was fuming. Today, she was going to get even.
“Get off her, asshole,” Stephanie caught up much quicker than Tully. The sound of her voice snapped Tully back to the moment.
Be a bitch.
His intoxication made his grasp lazy, which Tully took advantage of to wiggle out of his hold. Spinning around, she raised her palm and sent it cracking into the side of Erik’s face.
The sound echoed harshly through the crowded patio, bouncing off the ripples of the pool water. That really got people’s attention.
A chorus of “oohs” sounded, and surprised but entertained yelps and laughs popcorned in the area. A few people drunkenly clapped.
Off to the side, Stephanie’s mouth hung open but turned up at the corners with amused pride.
Erik’s hand covered his wounded cheek, and he blinked, stunned. When he looked back up to Tully, his bloodshot eyes narrowed and a hint of soberness hid in them.
“What the hell, babe?” he yelled, and more people turned to enjoy the scene.
Was it really a party if there wasn’t at least one fight?
“You don’t have any right to call me that,” she said and straightened her back to maintain the charade of confidence.
His hand dropped and he stepped forward, reaching for her hand. “Come on, baby. You know I love you, don’t you? Don’t act like you’re all innocent.”
His voice sounded gentle, but there was a threat concealed under the words.
They say looks can kill, so she tried her very best to make that true and sent all the daggers she could his way.
Stephanie stepped forward, close enough to whisper something that only Tully could hear. “Rondeau is coming this way.”
Tully craned her neck and saw that Stephanie was right. The group that Nathan was with were all focused on the action, and Nathan had broken off to walk right toward them. Undoubtedly trying to figure out what was going on in case things got ugly.
Luckily for him, she didn’t plan on giving Erik the satisfaction of giving him any more attention.
Her eyes met with Nathan’s for a moment, then she turned back to Erik and sighed. “I don’t have time for this,” she pivoted and rebuffed any of Erik’s further advances. More people oohed, rubbing the rejection into Erik.
