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Noel grins. “He’s loving all the attention since Riff and I are off the market.”
I glance over to Riff, curious why Noel would say that? Isn’t he back to banging every chick in sight?
Riff catches my stare and quickly leans forward, making a show of grabbing the girl standing next to him wearing a tube top and tugging her into his lap. “Speak for yourself, buddy. I’m a free man. You’re the one about to be strapped to the old ball and chain.”
My lips pull into a tight line and I fight back tears as Zach makes a show of whispering into the girl’s ear. I understand he wants to move on, but he doesn’t have to shove it down my throat. If that’s how it’s going to be, I’ll play dirty right back. I’m tired of assholes walking all over me. I want to show him I can move on, too.
I flip my hair and turn towards Lanie and say loud enough for everyone to head, “I forgot to tell you I’m seeing someone and he’s going to be my date at your wedding.”
Her green eyes widen and her lips form the letter ‘O.’ “Who?”
“Yeah, who?” Zach adds in from the other side of me, but I can’t see his face.
I lean back so I can catch his reaction this time. “Isaac. You remember him…Riff. You met him at the pizza place.”
I know calling him by his stage name got his attention as well as the shocking news that I’m dating one man I know he loathes because his eyebrows instantly shoot up. “Your douchebag boss?”
I narrow my eyes at him. “Don’t call him that. He’s sweet.”
“How many times have you been out with him?” I fight the urge to tell him everyday since the day we ended things to piss him off. In reality it’s only been a three times, but I’m not going to tell him that.
I glare at him. “That’s none of your business.”
“The hell it’s not!”
I shake my head. “I think it’s pretty clear that we’re even less than friends now, so I don’t have to tell you a damn thing. Lanie, let’s dance. Excuse us, Noel.”
Noel howls with laughter as he slides around and lets us out. “I’m really starting to like this girl. She’s not afraid to dish it right back to him,” he tells Lanie before he kisses her lips.
Lanie melts into him, and before she changes her mind about dancing, I pull her into crowd. Amongst the writhing bodies, we shake our hips to the beat of the music. I try to push the thoughts of Riff with other women out of my mind and try to focus on the beat of the music.
“If you’re trying to push his buttons and make him jealous, I think it’s working,” Lanie says after she glances at the table where Noel and Zach are.
I shrug. “That wasn’t my plan when I came here, but if he’s going to shove the fact that he’s out with other women in my face then I’m going to dish it right back at him.”
She nods. “Good plan. He’s been miserable, you know. I think this show is for your benefit. Trip told me that Riff’s been holed up in his room depressed since he came back from New York. I don’t think he’s been with other women.”
“He has. He told me so.” I shake my head. “I don’t know why he’s trying to punish me?”
Lanie grabs my arms. “I don’t think he knows what the hell he’s doing. He’s fighting his feelings for you tooth and nail for some reason. I know he still cares about you. Noel says he’s never acted this way with any other woman. You’ve done something that’s grabbed his attention.”
I run my hand through my hair, frustrated at the entire situation. If he cares for me why run away? Why sleep with other women? It exhausts me even trying to figure it out. I glance back at the table and the girl is gone, but Zach watches me intently as he presses his bottle to his lips and throws back the last of his beer. His hungry eyes rake over me, but I refuse to let me use me for sex. I’m done with those kinds of random relationships. I’m ready for something real.
Chapter 21
RIFF
The rest of the weekend passes by quickly. Aubrey and I never really talked. I didn’t help the situation out much when I flirted with every single girl I could in front of her. It’s a childish game to play, but I want her to be okay with moving on even if it kills me inside. I need her to hate me.
“I like this one.” Noel points to the plain black tux on the mannequin.
The middle-aged saleswoman nods and the black bun on the back of her head bounces. “Excellent choice, Mr. Falcon. It’s very traditional.”
“I like it, too,” Lanie agrees.
“Okay, then. Mr. Falcon let’s do you first. Follow me back to the dressing area so we can get you sized up. Riff, honey, you’ll be next.”
I smile as they leave the room, leaving Lanie and me alone in the front of the store. I finger a few shirts and try to pretend I don’t feel a hole boring into me from her heated stare. I know she’s pissed about how I treated her friend this weekend. I offered to go with her to the airport this morning, but both Aubrey and Lanie told me no in unison.
“You’re an idiot, you know,” she says to me.
I know exactly what she’s referring to, but pretend I’m clueless. “Why’s that?”
She walks over and stands next to me, trying to gain my full attention. “Because you’re going to drive her right into that guys arms. If you aren’t careful, you really are going to lose her.”
