If this was the company her parents kept, I couldn’t blame Valerie for not wanting to be around them.While my parents might have checked out on us kids, at least their friends weren’t snobs.Hell, this is one of the reasons I hung out with the FI crew.They were down to earth, even though we were wealthy in our own right.
“Can we get out of here?”I’d had enough of this charade.Why had I insisted we come?
“I wish, but not until after whatever announcement my parents want to make.They said nine.”
Damn, it was only eight fifteen.It felt like we’d been here for an eternity.“Let’s dance then.”
If I had to stay, then at least I could have her in my arms.Not that I hadn’t had her in my hold all night.I’d kept my arm around her waist most of the evening.While people hadn’t said much, Valerie still tensed when someone approached.Guiding her to the dance floor, I pulled her into my arms.
At least here I could hold her close like I wanted and not offend anyone.Having her in my arms helped me forget where we were.Luckily, the band was playing music that allowed us to slow dance.Maybe later tonight I’d show her another way to dance.My cock twitched, and I hid a smile.Two dances later, her sister stumbled over.
“My turn.”Her words were slurred.Shit, she was drunk, and she wasn’t going to take my rejection well.
“No, thank you.”My tone was cold.
“Oh, come on.”Kendall tried to nudge Valerie away, but I tightened my hold on her.
“I’ve tried to be polite, but I guess I must spell it out.Kendall, Valerie gets all my dances tonight.”
“I don’t care.I want to dance with you.”She pouted, and it wasn’t a good look.“Go away, Valerie and let me have at him.”She raised her voice and people turned their heads.
Really?Did she really think Valerie was just going to walk away?Kendall was going to cause a scene.So be it, I’d give her one she wouldn’t forget.“No,” I said firmly, my voice loud enough to carry.“Kendall, you’ve had too much to drink, and I’ve already told you no.”I wasn’t going to be guilt tripped into dancing with this woman.Valerie had been suspiciously quiet, but I couldn’t look at her.I didn’t dare take my gaze off Kendall.She was a snake ready to bite.
“What’s going on?”Cora arrived with Bernard in tow.“I heard raised voices.”
“Valerie won’t let me dance with Lucas.”
I hadn’t thought it possible for Kendall’s voice to get any whinier, but it did.I opened my mouth to refute Kendall’s words.
“Valerie,” her mother started.“Grow up and let your sister have a dance with your friend.”
I bristled at her mother’s exasperated tone.
“See.”Kendall grinned like a fool.
“Don’t make waves, Valerie,” her father chimed in.
Damn, this family was a piece of work.I took a deep breath so as not to go off on them, but it wasn’t going to be easy.“I’m the one who said no.None of this is Valerie’s fault.”
“Of course it is.”Cora brushed my words aside with her hand.“Valerie is always making a mess of family events.”
Oh hell, no.“Excuse me?”They were not going to blame Valerie for this.Not with me there.
“Oh, you’ve done nothing wrong, Lucas.”Cora glared at Valerie.“Valerie is the culprit, as usual.Now, be a good girl and let Lucas and Kendall dance.”
Valerie shifted on her feet, and I tightened my arm around her waist.“Mrs.Ray, you apparently haven’t been listening.I’ve said several times that I don’t want to dance with Kendall.Besides, she’s drunk.”
“No, I’m not,” Kendall protested loudly without a single slur, though I had no idea how she managed it.
Cora’s gaze turned to Kendall, then back to us.She totally disregarded my statement that Kendall was drunk.“Kendall’s fine.”Cora turned to Valerie.“Now, tell your little friend here that dancing with my Kendall will be good for him.”
Sheer will stopped me from rebuking Cora.Valerie had done nothing, so why blame her?Valerie said she was always blamed for everything, and I was seeing it firsthand.How fucked up was this family?
Valerie hadn’t said a word.I turned my gaze on her.Her features were closed, nothing showed on her face, and she was stiff as a board as if waiting for a blow.
Enough.It was time to end this debacle.
“The only ones making a spectacle are you and Kendall.”I kept my voice down, but the tone was hard.My insides boiled, but I wouldn’t let it out.I had a feeling that’s what Valerie’s parents wanted so they could blame Valerie some more.I wasn’t going to allow that to happen.
