Jake tilted the brim of his hat to Char and moved off of her lap. Had she had it her way, he would have stayed there all night.
He moved across the room with pantherlike grace. His golden brown hair fell across his face and had a slight curl to it. She wasn’t sure if it was sweat or the oil that was causing his hair to curl. But she’d had no idea it was so naturally curly, or so devastatingly hot that she’d literally throw Grandma under a bus in order to put her hands through his hair.
A few other girls yelled his name. He turned his full attention toward them and danced into their group.
“Like I said.” Jace cleared his throat next to her. “Once a player always a player. You think he’s ever going to give that up?” For you? The last part wasn’t spoken out loud, but Char felt the words like a punch to her chest. The music stopped; everyone clapped. Char looked down at her lap and played with the stem of her wine glass.
“Now, everyone welcome the bride and the groom, with a special guest in tow!” A miserable-looking Travis walked down the hall. The man was huge, all corded muscle and brute strength. He was also in a leather caveman costume. Poor guy, definitely got the short end of the stick.
Kacey was dressed in a short white leather skirt and a lacey white shirt. She looked ready to party.
Behind them followed Grandma.
In an actual cat suit, which really wouldn’t have been such a stretch if she hadn’t painted whiskers on her face. But if anyone could rock it, it was Grandma.
“Let’s get this party started!” Grandma shouted.
Kacey sipped her wine as the music changed to techno. People around the room mingled and laughed, but Char felt completely alone.
As if someone had taken the fight out of her.
Her dress wouldn’t allow for her to sneak in her cell phone, so she was officially the lame girl staring at the table at a party she was supposed to be hosting with Jake.
Jace leaned in to her left. “You want me to refill your wine?”
Anything to get rid of him and his condescending attitude. “Sure, thanks.” She handed the glass over and stared as Jake continued to flirt and talk with a few mutual friends Char hadn’t seen in a while. These were the rest of the bridesmaids. Technically, it was Char’s job to go make introductions and be the bigger person but she kind of wanted to wallow.
“Char!” Jake called from across the room, waving her over. Trying not to scowl, she got up from the couch and felt her face heat as the girls eyed her up and down. Sizing up the competition perfectly.
When she was close enough Jake wrapped his arm around her, holding her hostage. “This is Char. I think a few of you guys went to high school together.”
“Really?” Char asked, not recognizing any of the faces.
“Yeah.” Jake squeezed her shoulder. “Really? Don’t you remember, Britney?”
“Ugh.”
A tall blond girl with a wide set mouth and brown eyes held out her hand. “It’s nice to see you again.” Mental note: Britney was nice and had a really kind smile.
“And Lillian.” Jake pointed to an Asian woman with blue streaks in her hair. Char had never seen her before in her life, but shook her hand anyway.
“I know you remember me.” The next girl said with a touch of venom in her voice. She was about as tall as Char, but curvy in a Kardashian sort of way. “Amy—”
“Stevens.” Char choked out. Clearly God was finished punishing Jake and had now moved on to her. Great. What were the odds? The same girl they’d gone to junior high camp with? And why the hell did Kacey have her in her bridal party? Seriously? To be fair, Kacey had never known why Char hated Amy. Char had been too embarrassed over her obsession with Jake to tell her. As far as she knew, Amy had kept in touch with Kacey. Technically, it was Char’s fault the girl was here; she’d been so focused on work that when Kacey had sent her all the details on bridesmaids Char had all but ignored her and just agreed to whatever. Ugh, now she regretted not thoroughly reading those e-mails. How had she missed Amy’s name?
“Great to see you again, Char.” Amy’s smile didn’t reach her eyes, and after a few awkward moments she touched Jake lightly on the arm. “So tell me about life. I’d love to catch up; it’s been ages.” And just like that Char was pushed out of the way. Jake looked back at her and gave her a pathetically kind smile, which just made everything worse.
If he was a jerk at least she could be angry with him.
But when he was nice or when she felt like he was pitying her? It sucked—hard.
“Here’s your wine.” Jace came up alongside her. “Hello, plastic surgery.” He shook his head and stared at Amy and Jake.
Char growled low in her throat and took the wine from Jace’s hand.
“You okay?” he asked.
Char let out a breath and faced him. Why couldn’t she like him? Maybe if she closed her eyes she could believe he was Jake, and not Jace she was kissing or touching.