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“She wants me,” he says, grinning back at me.
I pat his back a couple times, leading him out. “Mhm, sure buddy.”
We all pile into the Uber, Trevor and Amanda continuing to bicker as they climb into the backseat of the SUV. Thea climbs in next to me. She leans in closer. “We just guaranteed they’re going to sleep with each other by forbidding them from doing it, didn’t we?”
“Yup.”
She gives a nervous laugh before making a puke noise. I throw my head back against the seat, laughing and relaxing into the comfort she always seems to bring. All my nerves are immediately at ease whenever she’s around.
“I missed you.” The words slipped out. It was instinct.
“What?” Her giggles fade slowly into a curious smile.
I clear my throat, realizing my mistake. I don’t even know what to say. I can’t think of anything. I’m blank.
“So tell me about this guy,” I say, changing the subject.
“John?” she asks, shying away slightly.
I ball my hand into a fist at the sound of his name in her mouth. I hate it. It doesn’t settle right hearing it. “Yeah,” I say through a clenched jaw.
“He’s a doctor,” she says cockily, implying he’s at least more responsible than some of these losers she’s dated before. “A pharmacist,” she clarifies.
“A professional drug dealer then?” I ask, knowing I’m going to get under her skin.
She rolls her eyes. “Handsome as fuck.”
Her words are meant to hurt and they do. “Oh?” I ask anyway, torturing myself.
“Yeah,” she says, leaning back in her chair. “Tall, strong, sharp cheekbones, piercing green eyes that match his fiery red hair.”
“Is that all?” I ask, rolling my eyes.
“No, he also didn’t try to take me home like you said, and if he does have a wife, his friends would have to be in on it because he’s already having me meet some of them tonight.”
My jaw ticks, reacting out of reflex. When I found out about this party, I immediately knew I had to be here to see what this fucker is like. If he’s having her meet his friends, he’s either trying to prove he’s trustworthy enough that she’ll trust him enough to want to sleep with him, or worse, that he’s sure he wants her and wants to show her off. Thea’s the type of girl that one could easily fall for after only knowing a short while. She’s electric. She keeps you feeling alive.
We walk into the elevator fifteen minutes later. Thea and I agree to separate Amanda and Trevor when we get inside, so I take Trevor to the kitchen to get drinks. I need to catch up to the rest of these fuckers, especially if I’m going to have to watch Thea with some guy the whole night.
I almost didn’t want to come tonight, but I couldn’t stay away. I try scanning the room to find some women to talk to in order to distract myself, but I can’t seem to keep my eyes away from Thea standing across the large open room overlooking the city lights. She looks beautiful smiling and laughing with this pharmacist guy. I can’t help but size him up. I could take him if I had to, but he seems like a good enough guy from appearances. Well groomed, expensive clothing. He doesn’t seem like the type that would have any trouble taking care of her, but that doesn’t mean I trust him.
Trevor starts chatting up some girl in the kitchen while I throw back the remainder of my drink before grabbing a beer and making my way across the room to introduce myself to this motherfucker. I adjust my collar, standing up taller as I take a final swig of my beer before walking up to the three of them.
Thea eyes me, glaring like she wanted me to wait for her to introduce me when she was ready, but now she doesn’t have a choice. “Oh, John, this is Mack. He’s my uh… my uh…”
We always have this problem when trying to introduce each other. For some reason my best friend’s little sister just doesn’t seem like an appropriate title for our relationship. She’s more than that. She’s an important part of my life. She’s my family. But not so much that I don’t think about doing things that are not family friendly. Fuck.
“I’m Trevor’s friend. Thea’s brother,” I say, extending my hand to shake his.
“John,” he says, smiling as he grabs my hand.
We both squeeze hard, trying to establish dominance. I respect that. He doesn’t back down from my stare down as we both step back.
Not that it makes me hate him any less. The more we talk, the more I can’t seem to find anything wrong with him. He’s successful, wellspoken, he isn’t shitfaced drunk or high on coke like the rest of the rich fuckers at this party. I’ve been so used to her going out with absolute losers that I never stopped to think if that was the reason I hated them.
Thea laughs at one of his jokes, placing her hand on his bicep. I have a physical reaction to the way he glances at her hand and then smiles at her. Her smile is radiant. Her guard isn’t as high after she’s had a few drinks. She’s more willing to show her true self to strangers, and I know it’s selfish, but I want to keep that part of her for myself.
I swallow hard, trying not to react. What is wrong with me? How much more beautiful could the world be if she wasn’t afraid to be herself, and here I am trying to diminish her light.
