Page 89 of Meant to be Mine

I took my time, fixing my hair and reapplying my lip gloss. I felt good. Better than good. I felt like I belonged here, which was a strange and wonderful feeling. Being on Drew’s arm was a huge confidence boost. He made me feel pretty.

When I came back up to the third level, I spotted Drew immediately. He was still at the railing where I’d left him, but now he wasn’t alone. Three women had materialized around him, all wearing dresses so small and tight I wasn’t sure how they were breathing. One was pressed against his side, practically humping his leg. Another was leaning forward, giving him a clear view down her dress. The third was twirling her hair and batting her eyelashes so hard I was surprised she didn’t take flight.

Heat flashed over me like someone had cranked up the sun. Jealousy. That’s what that feeling was. Pure, visceral jealousy.

I watched them for a moment. Drew looked polite but uncomfortable, his body language closed off in a way I recognized. They weren’t taking the hint. They were circling like sharks and they smelled my man’s blood in the water.

This was his life. This was what he dealt with constantly. Beautiful women throwing themselves at him everywhere he went. And I was going back to New Jersey in a few weeks. What happened then? Long distance didn’t work. I knew that. Everyone knew that. And even if we tried, even if we really committed to making it work, how long before one of these women succeeded? How long before he got lonely and someone like the blonde currently trying to touch his chest made herself available?

As if he felt me watching, Drew’s eyes found mine across the deck. His expression shifted immediately. Relief flooded his face. He gave me a look that said everything without words. It was the kind of look couples shared, the silent communication that came from really knowing someone.

His look said, Save me.

I smiled and started walking toward him. The jealousy didn’t disappear entirely, but it quieted. That look was just for me. I’d seen him charm people before. This wasn’t that. This was him being cornered and looking for an exit.

As soon as I was close enough, Drew’s arm shot out and wrapped around my waist, pulling me against his side like I was a life preserver. The motion pushed the two women away. The other one clung like a barnacle to the underside of a boat.

“There you are.” He looked at the three women and smiled. “Ladies, meet my girlfriend, Kensey.”

The word landed like a bomb. Girlfriend. He’d never said it before. We hadn’t discussed labels or what we were calling this thing between us. But hearing him say it out loud, claiming me in front of these women, sent a thrill through me that had nothing to do with the champagne.

The women’s faces fell. Anger, disappointment, and jealousy. And then they were all inspecting me. Let them look. I looked good. I might not have my tits out and be a size two, but I looked good.

“Oh,” the blonde said flatly. “How nice.”

“Kensey, this is…” Drew paused, clearly having no idea what their names were. “I’m sorry, I didn’t catch your names.”

“Doesn’t matter,” the brunette pouted.

“You know, my brothers Hollis and Micah are around here somewhere. They’re both very single. You should go find them.”

The effect was instantaneous. The three women perked up like kids hearing about free candy and puppies.

“Last I saw, they were near the bar on the second level,” I said.

They practically tripped over each other trying to get down the stairs.

I watched them go, then looked up at Drew. “Girlfriend?”

“I figured it was simpler than getting into our whole relationship,” he said. “Friends that fuck.”

My eyes widened. “Drew!”

He laughed. “Too crass.”

It was funny. But I couldn’t ignore the wave of disappointment. I would love it if we made it official. Yes, it was messy and complicated, but if we made it official, couldn’t we figure out the rest? I wanted him to want me, to feel as torn up about the ticking clock over our heads as I did. He seemed to have accepted the inevitable and that was that.

I was the one falling apart on the inside.

29

DREW

Ihad to make a little speech, since the store was hosting this event and I was the representative for the store. Kensey waited for me at the edge of the crowd while I made my way up in front of everyone. One of the staff gave me one of those ridiculous, tiny microphones.

I took it and addressed the crowd, but as I spoke, I only had eyes for Kensey. I hated not having her at my side. She’d become more valuable to me than my right hand. And me and my right hand were pretty close. She watched me back, eyes bright like she had a spotlight shining right on her.

After I told them about the models coming out in Blackwell clothing, I wrapped it up and headed straight back to Kensey.