God, I’m so stupid.
Stepping back a little to put some space between us, I say, “I think we need to put the brakes on this a bit. I need to know a man for longer than five minutes before I even think about sleeping with him.”
A couple of hours, minimum.
Okay, don’t say that.
I turn my body back toward to the bar, leaning into it. “And anyway, I don’t get involved with drivers.” I rest my chin on my hand and grin up at him.
He chuckles. “Yeah, so I’ve heard.”
That straightens me up. “You’ve heard? From whom?”
“Ryan.” He tilts his head in the direction of where Carrick is. “I asked him about you, and after he not so politely told me that you were off-limits, he informed me that you don’t date drivers anyway, so I’d be wasting my time.”
I shoot a look at Carrick. And this time, I find that he’s staring right at me, and he looks pissed.
Good, because I’m feeling majorly pissed off myself. Who the hell does he think he is warning Leandro away from me?
“I can’t believe he did that,” I fume.
“To be fair to Ryan, if you worked for me, I would have done the same thing. I would definitely want to keep you all to myself.”
Something fires up inside of me.
Decision made.
I focus my eyes on Leandro. “Just to be clear, I’m not going to sleep with you, but if the offer to get out of here and go to that party is still on, then I’d really like to take you up on it.”
“Are you coming with me just to piss Ryan off?”
“Partly,” I confess. “Is that a problem?”
“Nope. No problem at all.” He grins, his eyes crinkling at the corners.
“Cool. Well, just give me a minute to let my friend know I’m leaving, and I’ll be back.”
As I weave through the crowd toward Petra, I’m bubbling with anger.
Who the hell does Carrick think he is? He warned Leandro off me! He had no right!
I can’t believe he cockblocked me!
He can sleep with whomever he wants—annoying fucking pop-tarts—but I’m not allowed.
Screw that. Bastard.
Well, not that I’m actually going to have sex with Leandro, but Carrick doesn’t know that. Yes, I know it’s childish, but I’m not feeling very mature right now, and my primary goal is to piss Carrick off.
“Hey.” I tap Petra on the shoulder, pulling her attention from Mike, one of Nico’s pit guys.
So much for talking to Robbie, who is currently sitting in a chair, with a scowl on his face while he nurses a pint of beer.
“Hey, where’s my drink?” she complains to my empty hands.
“Oh, sorry. I forgot,” I say, distracted. “But guess who I just met at the bar?”
“Matt Damon?”
“No. Why? Is he here?” I swivel my head on my neck. It’s not unusual to see celebrities out and about while the Prix is happening.
“No!” She laughs. “It’s just a dream of mine to meet Matt Damon in a bar. Or should I call it a sexual fantasy?”
“Okay, TMI. Anyway, it was Leandro Silva.” I put a dramatic effect to his name.
“Leandro’s here?” Her head starts to swivel on her neck just like mine did moments ago. I see when she spots him because her eyes spark. “God, he’s so fucking hot,” she says with a weird moaning sound to her voice, which freaks me out a little.
Shaking it off, I say, “Yep, and he just invited me to go to a party with him.”
Her eyes widen. “Seriously? You’re going, right? Please tell me you’re going!”
With a mind of their own, my eyes search out Carrick. He’s not looking at me, but I can tell that he’s listening to our conversation in the way that his chin is tilted in our direction.
“I told him yes…” Taking hold of Petra’s elbow, I steer her away from prying ears. “But now, I’m not so sure,” I whisper.
In all honesty, my anger and confidence has started to wilt now that I’m here telling Petra with Carrick only a few feet away.
“What?” She looks aghast. “Why not?” Then, she flickers a glance in Carrick’s direction and looks straight back to me.
I’m rewarded with a disapproving look.
“I just think…maybe it would be a mistake to leave with Leandro,” I quietly tell her.
“How? It’s not like you’re going to have sex with the guy. You’re just going to a party with him.”
“But I’m not going for the right reason,” I whisper. “I only said yes after Leandro told me that Carrick had warned him off me.”
“What” Her mouth pops open, forming an O. “You’re shitting me?”
I see a few of the guys heads turn at her yelling, one being Carrick’s.
“Pet…” I chastise, my eyes briefly meeting with Carrick’s curious ones.
“Shit. Sorry.” She puts her hand over her mouth and talks through her fingers. “He seriously did that?” she whispers.
“Yeah, he seriously did that, and it pissed me off. And then I found myself saying yes to going to this party with Leandro, but I’m going for the wrong reason.”
She takes her hand from her mouth and rests it on my shoulder. “Andi, if you were going to revenge shag Leandro—which I would totally recommend if you weren’t you—God, I would tell you to revenge shag that hot Brazilian until you couldn’t walk. But because you are you and I know you’d torture yourself for about a year after doing so, then I say no to any shagging. But I do say a big fat yes to going to this party with him.”
“But what if he tries to kiss me?”
“Then, snog his face off!”
I give her something between a disapproving and humorous look.
“Okay,” she says placatingly. “Let’s say he does try to kiss you and you don’t want him to, then you push him off and say no thanks. Seriously, honey, you’re overthinking this. Just go have fun with the hot older man.”
I bite my lip, hesitating.
“Look, do you want me to come with you? Act as a buffer?”
“Would you?” I brighten up. I’m such a chicken.
“Of course. A change of scenery would be good right now, and I’m sure Leandro has some hot friends at this party.”
I notice that something in her tone is off. “Petra, is everything okay?”
“Yeah, everything is fine.” She smiles, and it’s as forced as mine have been all night.
I give her an unconvinced look. “You sure?”
She flicks a quick glance in Robbie’s direction. Then, she looks back at me, plastering a bright smile on her face. “Sure, I’m sure.”
She’s so not okay, but I’m not going to press it with her. She’ll tell me when she’s ready to.
“Thanks.” I wrap my arm around her shoulder, giving her a squeeze. “You know that you’re the best female friend I’ve ever had, right?”
“I’m the only female friend you’ve ever had.”
“True.”
I give her a cheeky grin, and she laughs.
Reaching past Ben, she grabs her clutch off the table. “Right, boys, we’re loving and leaving you. See you all tomorrow.”
“Where are you going?” That’s Carrick, and he’s not looking at Petra. He’s looking at me.