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A cheesy pop song started over the speaker, and Mackenzie theatrically threw the flowers over her head and behind her. As if she were aiming, the bouquet landed in Amanda’s arms without her trying for them. She held her hands out, staring at the flowers in disbelief. When she looked up, her eyes met mine and they widened.
Suddenly, like the flowers were burning her skin, she thrusted them into the arms of the first jealous woman that congratulated her. She looked around her, her face pale, and then she took off running. She disappeared through the entry doors and out of the ballroom towards the bridal suite, and when I was sure nobody was watching me, I slipped out the door behind her.
The oversized dressing room the bridal party got ready in was empty when I entered. The sink turned on, and I realized she was in the bathroom. “Get it together, Amanda.” Her muffled voice came through the cracked bathroom door. I pictured her looking at herself in the mirror when she said it. “You don’t want him!”
I chortled, leaning against the counter still lined with makeup bags and purses. She continued to mumble behind the door, doing who knew what while she did. I debated moving closer, but I didn’t need to hear what she was saying to know she was grumbling about me.
Amanda hadn’t been expecting me when she opened the door, and when she saw me she screamed. She clutched her chest and fell back against the wall. “Fuck, Drake,” she gasped. I smirked at her.
“That’s not how I imagined it sounding the first time you said those words.” I stood straight and closed the space between us. She sucked in a sharp breath again, her cheeks turning a dark red.
When I put my arm on the wall above her head, she held her breath. “Why do you lie to yourself?” I asked her.
She scrunched her nose, glaring at me. “What the hell are you talking about?”
“You don’t want me?” I leaned close enough to her to taste the champagne on her breath and the vanilla lip balm on her lips, but I didn’t kiss her. I breathed her in while she practically buzzed against the wall.
Amanda shook her head. “I don’t. I can’t stand you.” She said it, but she didn’t believe it. Her voice squeaked, and she closed her eyes.
“That’s not true.” I brushed my lips across hers, and when she parted them, moving towards me, I smirked. “Told you.”
She huffed. Was she angry I didn’t kiss her or that I was right? “This is why I say you’re infuriating,” she hissed.
“Because I won’t kiss you when you so clearly want me to?” I asked, and Amanda clamped her jaw shut, groaning.
She shook her head furiously. “I don’t want to kiss you. Not at all.” Her voice was scratchy, and she licked her lips.
“We both know that’s not true.”
I moved my hand up her arm, watching the goose bumps that rose on her skin. She held her breath when I drew a line with my fingertips along her neck before I cradled the side of her face. I ran my thumb along her bottom lip, and she whimpered.
“Drake,” she said breathlessly.
“Amanda? Are you in here?” the other bridesmaid asked, opening the door to the suite. Amanda quickly ducked under my arm, scurrying to the counter. She was breathless, and the other woman looked at her suspiciously. “Everything okay?”
“Fine. I was just… we were just talking.” She closed her eyes, gritting her teeth. She wasn’t necessarily wrong, but the guilt she wore on her face made it seem like we were doing a lot more than we had been. “I should go find Mackenzie.”
She didn’t wait before she slipped out of the room. The bridesmaid looked at me, finally deciding it wasn’t any of her business and shaking her head. I watched the empty doorway after them when she followed Amanda.
I don’t want to kiss you.
Chapter twenty
Amanda
No matter how many times I hit the button, the hotel elevator wasn’t moving any quicker. My feet hurt from the heels I was desperate to take off, and I could already imagine the relief I’d feel from throwing my strapless bra across the room. Nobody ever warned me being a maid of honor would be so much work.
Good thing I don’t have many friends.
The bell dinged, and the door opened. I hurried in, hitting the button for the third floor and then the one to close the door. It started to close, and I leaned back against the elevator wall, shutting my eyes.
“Finally.” I sighed, considering removing my shoes before the elevator even started to lift. Before the door closed all the way, it stopped. “What the…?”
The doors opened again, revealing Drake and his stupid smirk. “Room for one more?” he asked, not waiting for me to answer before he stepped onto the elevator. I rolled my eyes, and he leaned against the wall opposite of me.
I held my breath while the door closed, starting to wonder if it would ever shut all the way. Drake just stared at me. I could feel the burn of his eyes, and I knew if I looked up, I wouldn’t be able to look away.
“Amanda.”
