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The only part of tonight I was looking forward to was seeing Deacon, and coming to that realization in the shower while I was shaving every damn inch of my body has been enough to deal with.
“I figured he’d send Brooks.”
Wren’s smile wilts.
“Or Flynn.”
And the smile falls completely off his face. Now I’m an asshole for hurting this guy’s feelings.
“They’re not—” He swallows, and it makes me wonder what Deacon told this guy about me. He legit seems like he’s seconds away from turning around and running. “—he sent me.”
Even with his messy hair, and the numerous years separating us in age, I can see the appeal of this guy too. Add another hot guy to team Blackbridge for heaven’s sake. His tuxedo is pressed to perfection, and there’s a glimmer in his eyes that tells me there’s a wild child waiting to escape. Tonight may end up being a blast even without Deacon Black.
“Well, Wren,” I say as I grab my clutch and step fully into the hallway, “let’s go have a great time.”
He releases the breath he was holding when I scoop my arm through his and turn us in the direction of the elevator.
“Are you old enough to drink? I’m planning to drink my weight in whiskey tonight and we need to preplan our night if you’re getting drunk, too.”
“I’m twenty-six,” he mutters as we wait for the elevator, “but I’m not drinking tonight. It’s not allowed while we’re working.”
It only takes a few words to be reminded that to Deacon, I’m nothing more than a job.
Question is, what happens when we find Dani? I don’t know if I’ll be able to handle going back to a world that doesn’t include that surly bastard.
***
Despite the awkward foot Wren and I got off to, he managed to loosen up some during the limousine ride. He’d never been in one, and I watched with glee as he enjoyed it for the first time like an awe-struck kid. I also managed to convince him that pre-gaming, including a couple of shots, were a necessity to get through a night like tonight. His work excuse flew out the window the second I held up the bottle of liquor.
This is the first Starfish Gala, and since my parents are huge advocates of helping ocean life, it was one of the events I didn’t have a say in attending.
I don’t think Wren is going to be who she’s expecting when my mother insisted I bring a nice man as a date when I spoke with her earlier. I still haven’t spoken to them about what happened with Dani or how my apartment was trashed. If we’re able to find her safely, I may never open my mouth to have that conversation with them. It wouldn’t be the first time I kept secrets from my parents for Dani.
“What just happened?” Wren asks with a silly smile. “Your face just transformed from happiness to depression.”
I quirk my lips back up into a half-smile. “I don’t really like attending these kinds of things.”
“Really?” He honestly sounds surprised. “It seems so glamorous.”
He sweeps his arms to indicate the luxury car we’re traveling in.
“It grows tiresome after a while,” I mutter.
I expect him to get that same look on his face that Deacon gets, the one that says oh you poor spoiled brat, but he just looks wistfully outside the dark-tinted window to watch the building move by slowly.
“I guess glamour isn’t always glamorous,” he whispers.
“Tell me about yourself.” I nudge his shoe with the tip of my heel. “Do you have a girlfriend?”
“No.”
“Single and looking?”
He turns his head back in my direction. “I game.”
“Like hunting?” I tilt my head in confusion.
“Not hunting. Games. Online stuff mostly.” He frowns. “I’m awkward when it comes to women that aren’t aware of the score.”
“The score?” Is he drunk after just a couple of shots?
“I, umm…” He lifts his hand and squeezes the back of his neck. “I meet girls on hookup apps. I find it difficult to walk up to women in person without having set up arrangements previously.”
“Hmmm.”
“You can say it. It’s weird. I’m fucking weird.”
A laugh erupts from my throat before I can stop it.
“Ha, ha,” he deadpans before looking out the window again.
“No,” I scoot closer and grip his arm until he’s turning back around, “I’m not making fun of you. I just thought you were joking.”
“I’m not.”
“What about the girl you lost your virginity to? You approached her, right?”
His cheeks beat the land speed record for turning red as an apple.
“Oh, Wren, no. Really?”
He shrugs, breaking eye contact, and I think he may be close to tears. “She knew, so it’s not like it’s a big deal.”
“There are girls online looking for that sort of thing?”
He refuses to look at me again when I tug on his tux sleeve.
