“This one!”
Four sets of hands point at me. Given the fact that Savanna and Quinn have both already gone, and Hailey and Maddie are both currently in relationships—not that they should let that stop them—I totally understand why I’m being pointed at.
The man waggles his eyebrows at me, a playful grin pulling one half of his mouth upwards. The flirtation, the smile, even the curls on top of his head of dark hair have Liam’s face flashing in mymind. My stomach clenches, heat flooding my center as a moment from last night when he was inside of me flickers in my memory.
“No, no,” I put both hands up, shaking my head. “I’m good, you guys!”
I’m already well past tipsy. Another shot, especially one sized like Quinn and Savanna’s, could lead down a dangerous path. With every drink I’ve had, more and more memories flood to the surface, and I’m starting to wonder whether the alcohol will lead me to create more.
Something Liam and I both decided couldn’t happen.
Drunk me is less than certain that’s a good idea though.
“C’mon! You have to!” Savanna calls.
Quinn chimes in, “You don’t want to miss out on this, Jor. Look at this stud.”
“Do it!” Maddie shouts.
Only Hailey comes to my rescue. “If she doesn’t want to do it, leave her be.”
I shoot her a look of gratitude, but it only lasts a second.
“But you should do it, it’ll help you get over the news!” she adds, and for one brief moment I think she’s talking about Liam, but then to my dismay, I realize she’s talking about Paul.
Damn it. I haven’t thought about him since last night. In fact, the feelings of inadequacy have all but disappeared since my talk with Liam. And those that lingered into the night vanquished the second Liam kissed me at the top of the Eiffel Tower.
“What news?” Quinn questions, running a hand through her shaggy black hair. “What’s going on?”
“Yeah, Jor, what’s going on?” Savanna nudges my arm. Her blue eyes are wide with wonder, and I know she’s thinking that Hailey is talking about Liam.
Hailey quickly pushes her copper hair behind her ears, cringingdeeply. “I wasn’t thinking, I’m sorry. I should keep my mouth shut.”
The poor server is still standing there and with all eyes on me, I wave him over. I do not want to deal with this right now. Tonight is about Savanna, not me and my drama. Paul, Liam, or otherwise. Besides, I’m starting to think my initial reaction to Paul getting married was just a knee jerk, and I’m actually okay with it.
Spending a night being worshipped may have helped me come to that conclusion.
The half-naked man pulls my seat out from the table we’ve claimed, and comes to straddle my legs. He goes through the same motions as he went through with both Quinn and Savanna, and while it’s entertaining and fun, it’s just not doing anything for me. All I keep thinking is how much hotter and sexier this would be if it were Liam. Liam’s body against me. Liam’s hand in my hair. Liam jerking my head around and pouring liquid down my throat.
This strange man doing it just doesn’t set me on fire like it should. Or like it would have if last night never happened.
Which should tell me that I need to stay far, far away from Liam. Farther than I thought I should. Yet all I want to do is go back to the hotel and knock on his door.
He’s not even there. He’s out with Nate, probably doing the same thing you’re doing right now with some topless girl.
The concept of him touching another woman can’t bother me. We’re not together. Just because we slept together doesn’t mean we’re an item. We will never be a couple. Ever. I’m well aware of that. Liam doesn’t do relationships, and when I decided to sleep with him, I knew that.
I just didn’t expect it to be so good. I didn’t expect to want to do it again. I didn’t expect him to come find me today, or to talk things out. To make sure things were okay between us. I didn’texpect to hate the idea of him touching another woman.
Just because I didn’t expect any of it doesn’t mean all those things didn’t happen.
There’s still a number of cheers as the guy with the liquor bottle steps away from me, but they’re a lot more muted than they were for the first two shots. Everyone is staring at me, and it’s not because my face was just pressed against a very hot man’s six pack. They want answers.
“Oh, I love this song! Let’s dance!” I claim, standing up from my chair.
Quinn is quick to grab my wrist and pull me down. For a smaller woman, she’s strong as hell which isn’t surprising given all the weightlifting she does. “Not a chance! Spill!”
Looking from one lady to the next, they’re all watching me intensely. Even Maddie, who hardly knows me, appears invested in finding out what happened. There’s no escaping this. And I know if I don’t tell them, Hailey will.
