Desperate Chances

“Hey guys,” I called back. I opened the front door and let myself inside. It wasn’t packed the way parties used to be. In fact there was only a dozen or so people standing around talking with beers in their hands. Just the normal people that had been friends with the guys for years.

I made my way to the kitchen where I could hear Vivian’s voice over the music. She was like my own personal beacon.

I found Vivian and Cole arguing, which wasn’t new. Her face was flushed and Cole looked ready to spit nails. Maysie was standing against the counter looking amused.

“What did I miss?” I asked, grabbing a bottle of water and uncapping the lid. I discreetly looked around but didn’t see any of the other guys. More importantly I didn’t see Mitch. Or Sophie.

“I’ll tell you what you missed!” Vivian screeched, pulling away from Cole’s restraining grasp.

“Tell her she misheard me, Mays. Get her to see fucking reason!” Cole pleaded, pulling at his hair in frustration.

Vivian whirled around and pointed her finger into his chest. “This asshole just told me to get a boob job!” she shrieked. “A fucking boob job! As if these aren’t good enough!” She squeezed her breasts together, giving us all an eyeful.

“I have the best boobs you’ve ever seen!” she yelled. Stan, a friend of Jordan’s from school had the misfortune of walking into the kitchen at that particular moment. Vivian grabbed his arm and pulled him over. “Stan, look at my boobs. Aren’t they nice?” She lifted her shirt and poor Stan’s face turned beet red.

“Uh—” He cast a nervous look at Cole who seemed ready to commit murder.

“Don’t you fucking dare look at my girlfriend’s tits or I’ll kick your ass!” Cole roared. “Put your damn shirt down, Viv! I don’t want everyone to see what’s fucking mine!”

“Run, Stan,” I whispered and he nodded, hurrying from the kitchen.

“These aren’t yours! They’re not good enough apparently! Not big enough! Well maybe I just need to go find someone who will appreciate them!” Vivian made to leave and Cole grabbed her from around the waist. He picked her up and set her onto the counter, his hands trapping her.

“I love your fucking tits. I worship them! I would eat my meals off them if I could! You said you wanted a damn boob job and I said, verbatim, ‘whatever makes you happy, baby.’” Cole grabbed her face and kissed her roughly. “I’ll love you no matter what you decide to do with your body. But don’t you ever fucking think about letting someone else touch you! I’ll kill them! I swear I will!”

Then they were kissing and there was the distinct tearing of fabric. Maysie and I looked at each other.

“Well, that’s our cue to exit,” I said, rolling my eyes, knowing that in about thirty seconds we were going to be witness to parts of Cole and Vivian that we would be happy never seeing.

“Yep. Let’s get out of here quickly,” Maysie agreed, taking my hand as we hurried from the room. She stopped a girl who was about to walk in. “I wouldn’t go in there right now,” she warned. Maysie and I snickered as we walked into the living room where most of the party was congregated.

There was some shouting as a group of guys, including Jordan and Garrett, sitting on the sofa in front of the 50-inch television.

“Gracie! There you are! These guys suck! I need someone to go against that’s an actual challenge!” Garrett called out as something exploded on the screen. Jordan yelled and threw his controller onto the floor.

“I give up! Fuck this!” Jordan groaned, running a hand over his buzzed head. He glanced up at us as we entered the room, his eyes sparkling at the sight of his fiancée. “There’s my girl,” he murmured, grabbing her hand and pulling her onto his lap. He looked like such a tough guy with his shaved head and tattoos, but he was the biggest softie I had ever met. Particularly when it came to Maysie Ardin. I noticed how he tenderly touched her stomach as he kissed the side of her neck.

I noted that Mitch wasn’t in the room. Neither was Sophie.

Don’t think about it, Gracie. Don’t even go there!

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