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Warren appears out of thin air like a ghost haunting me. My stomach starts to twist into tight knots. Hiding behind the rack, I peek up over it. I’m half tempted to run out of the store, but then I remember I’m here with Alice, and she’s somewhere at the back of the store.
Shit. I’m just going to have to sneak past him and pray that he doesn’t see me. Moving slowly, I casually walk behind the racks toward the back. When I’m about twenty feet away, I spot Alice, but she isn’t alone. Parker. Like a damn cancer, that devil of a man has entered my life, eating and taking every single good thing with him. I’m drowning in all his evil, and I don’t know how to swim.
Stopping in my tracks, he smiles at something Alice says, and then as if he can sense me watching him, he locks eyes on me. Dark and piercing, I find it hard to breathe being trapped in his steely gaze. My chest rises and falls, but no air enters my lungs. Why can’t I breathe? Why does he have such an effect on me?
Knowing I’m watching him, he leans in closer and whisper’s something into her ear, and though his eyes and attention are on me, something that I can only describe as burning jealousy forms in my gut. Why? Why am I jealous? It’s obvious that’s what he wants, but I shouldn’t care in the first place. I shouldn’t care who he sleeps with or flirts with. But you do. A voice nags at the back of my brain. Alice laughs once more and responds to whatever it is that he said.
Fuck him. Fuck this. Sneering at him, I let jealousy guide my next move. Turning on my feet, I’m ready to stomp out of the store, but my steps are cut short because right behind me is Warren. Like an all-American golden boy, he stares at me, his muscular arms crossed over his chest.
“Jealous?” He grins, cocking his head to the side to inspect me.
“No,” I lie through my teeth. “I was just leaving.” I try to push past him, but he steps in front of me once more. All over again, I feel trapped.
Warren shakes his head, disappointment marring his features, “Aren’t you here with Alice? It wouldn’t make you a very good friend to just leave her here, now would it?”
Before I can come up with a response, I can hear Parker’s voice coming closer. When I look over my shoulder, I find him and Alice walking our way.
“Fancy meeting you here,” Parker smiles mischievously. I wouldn’t be surprised if this were planned. He probably followed us here, trying to ruin my day with the one friend I have. I want to pull him into the back of the store, wrap my hands around his neck, and strangle him.
“Parker invited us to dinner,” Alice announces, and suddenly I wish I had told her the whole story. She probably thinks she is doing me a favor, getting me in Parker’s good graces or something. She has no idea that what she’s done is lead us straight into hell.
“Oh, great,” I say, trying my best to sound sarcastic, I put a smile on my face. It’s best not to let him know how much I’m loathing this. This is not part of the deal, but I still need that invite and looking at Alice beaming at me, I’m pretty sure she wants to go anyway.
“We just need to find Willow a dress for the fundraiser gala. Maybe we can meet you after we are done here?”
Please, say yes…
“We can wait,” Parker answers right away, his gaze burning into mine. “I’d love to see Willow try on some dresses. Maybe she needs some help zipping up.”
“Oh… umm yeah… okay. Let me find some for her to try on,” Alice stumbles over her words, clearly confused by Parker’s interest in me.
“I guess I’ll look too.” I go to the closest rack and start picking through them, selecting two that I like.
“You can all stop,” Parker suddenly calls out. “I found the perfect one.”
Sweet baby Jesus. Turning, I find Parker holding up a bright red dress if you can even call the piece of fabric a dress. It looks like it’ll barely cover my asshole.
Shaking my head, I purse my lips and place my hands on my hips. “No, I’m not wearing that. I might as well go naked.”
“That’s an option too,” Parker winks at me. “Try it on, I want to see it on you.” I feel compelled to yell at him, throw the dress in his face, and tell him to wear it himself if he likes it so much, but I bite the inside of my cheek instead. I still need that invite to the gala, and that means playing whatever stupid game this is.
