Chapter 16
A week later, we were getting ready to head out for Bass’s twenty-fifth birthday party. Brody and I were bonding, not physically, but emotionally.
Our relationship was easy and we evened out each other. I wanted to get used to being with him before I decided to take the plunge and officially date him… along with getting intimate once more. God knows when I’d be ready.
Just as the Greek had told me before, he wanted me throbbing and swollen weeks after he pummeled me inside out. True to his word, I would clench my muscles once in a while because I would feel him there, STILL. It was an awful mind game. Dimitris was messing with me even though he wasn’t around.
It was a blasted ingenious idea.
We arrived at Bass’s Hollywood Hills home, complete with valet and attendants as well as a rigorous security man that looked like the Hulk, thrice double checking our I.D.’s, pockets and purses, confiscating any phones and any recording device. On top of that, we had to sign a gag order that nothing about this party would be told to the media. PERIOD.
After a lifetime of being treated like a convict, when it was time to greet Bass, I ended up snapping at him. “Dude! Do I look like I’d sell pictures of your ass for a quick buck? I’d rather keep the picture than sell it, thank you!”
Brody threw me an annoyed look. “I’m right here, Lindsey.”
Bass grinned, greeting Brody like a gentleman—even though he wanted to kill my brother, he was kind to his best friend. The Golden Boy then turned to me, giving me a tight hug before whispering into my ear. “I apologize. The news isn’t out about Nikki, but once it is, they’ll dig up everything they can find about Emma and I—and I can’t have that. I have to protect her. The media’s volatile and I don’t want her portrayed as the woman who stole me from Nikki or anything. I hope you understand.”
“Good. You take care of Emma and I’ll tackle Nikki,” I offered. He gave me a winning smile and squeezed my shoulder before some man took him away.
Damn, this was what I had meant when I’d told dear ole Emma that he was a good man; a very sexy, oozing with testosterone, smoldering sex god of a man—that was Bass Cole. Not only that, but the man was packing the ultimate package. Yeah, Trista and I caught him doing the nasty with Emma and, let me just say, I could’ve came on the spot just watching him work it. Naughty thoughts, but it was inevitable. Seriously.
A few hours later, one champagne case down and several to go, we were exchanging stories—some good, but mostly embarrassing ones—when things shifted.
Trista was telling a story about Taylor and his “no bullshit” way of dealing with things when we heard Emma gasp loudly—the last breath, dying sort.
Of course, we were a curious rat pack, so we checked what had made her do that. The Russian, in all her magnificence, was gliding about, wearing a flowy dress that showed off her assets. From where I’m standing, she didn’t look with child, but then again, given her work-out routine and her diet, she probably wouldn’t show until later.
“Dude, why the hell did you invite her here?” Taylor chided his best friend, disappointed.
“I f*cking didn’t, but now that she’s here, I can’t boot her out. That’s going to cause a scene and that’s the last thing I need right now!” Bass raked a hand over his hair, feeling helpless. “Em, I didn’t invite her, okay?”
Emma gave him a brave smile before whispering, “I know.” She stood up, gathering him with her. “Come on; let’s greet our new visitor to our home.”
We watched as they welcomed Nikki while Brody gathered me close, kissing my nape. “I love you,” he whispered against my skin, making it tingle.
“Well, I’m proud of our girl. The old Emma would’ve probably sat back, fumed and got her ass drunk. Guess, she really is fighting for her man. Do or die,” Amber said out loud, toasting.
Bass looked like a shaken up, corked champagne bottle, ready to pop. Emma looked pleasant, trying not too hard, she was more civilized in appearance. Nikki, on the other hand, simply looked like an evil bitch; smiling in the most fake manner while eyeing Bass like he was going to be her meal tonight.
“Russian bitch is going to get it,” I gritted out, feeling what about how Bass must have been feeling.
Trista interrupted, “Hell, I’ll take her first.”
“Hell, no! I knock her first then you can take over,” Amber added. It was no wonder that we all were not happy campers, we hated having to sit back and watch our friends get played by some woman who had the seriously MAJOR issue of not letting Bass go.
“Calm down, will you, little rugrats?” Taylor warned us, acting like a good referee. “In case any of you lady rascals forgot, the woman in question is pregnant. So ease up with the catfights, please.”
“Really, babe? So not the time to be such a good guy, okay?” Trista was heated. I suppose, you can call Emma “our baby” because she was the kindest one amongst us and the youngest, too.
The three of us waited like good, little angels until Nikki had to go to the bathroom. After all, a pregnant woman had a bad bladder, right?
When we followed inside the bathroom, there was a woman checking herself out at the mirror before Trista tapped her on the shoulder. “Miss, our friend is having the runs. Unless you want to stay for the stink bomb, you better run outside.”
“Ew, gross bitch!” the woman disgustedly threw at her before she spun around and left.
I was sitting on one of the chaise lounges, waiting for the sound of the flushing toilet while Trista was leaning against the secured door and Amber was leaning against the sink, tapping her fingers on the granite top.
At the sound of the flush being released, it took Nikki another couple of minutes to come out. She was fixing her skirt as she walked towards the wash area when she noticed us.
Nikki paused, flicking back and forth before she started laughing like she was being tickled. “Awww, I have a welcome party? Thanks, I feel so special, you guys.”
Bitch was unreal. “Cut the moronic lines, Nikki,” I barked at her before I got up and looked down on her. “Get the stupid DNA test before this turns into an ugly mess. If you love Bass, at all, you won’t risk this kind of heartache for him.”
“I’m risking for the both of us. We were happy, but Emma seduced him. He’ll tire of her, I just know it,” Nikki hissed out, looking at us like we were filthy. “The three of you, little gold-diggers and Emma’s hangers-on for a little fame and money, need to f*cking disappear.” When we didn’t move, she threw a hissy fit. “Do you want me to have Bass throw you all out? He’d do that for me.”
Trista snorted. “Lady, I want to see you try. Bass will probably throw you out himself if it were possible, but then again, you did this on purpose. To show face that you’re still somewhat connected to him, so that when your bun in the oven starts showing, it’ll look like you and Bass still kept in touch, maybe even could be reconciling. That way, you’re protecting your image, keeping the delusion that you and Bass are still bueno. He doesn’t like you. I heard him tell his best friend the other night. So, consider this DNA testing just to get it over with.”
Nikki’s big, brown eyes and beautiful face were completely unyielding, mind set already on Bass. She wasn’t going to give him up. I could see that now.
“How much do you need to go away?” Amber asked, dead serious.
“Bass Cole. That’s my currency. He’s mine,” the Russian bitch spat out, proud. “Tell your blonde friend that I look forward to getting my man back.”
Amber launched herself at Nikki. “You dirty son of—”
I pulled her away before she reached the Russian psycho, not wanting to cause any trouble. Nikki gave us an evil smile before leaving the restroom.
“I almost had her, Linds! What the hell!” Amber rubbed the spot where I gripped her hard, her skin a tad sore.
“I had to. Didn’t you hear her? She’s a cookie. She’d get you in trouble and you don’t want your parents to get on your case.”
Trista chimed in, “You can’t reason with a mental person; a pregnant one to boot. Not to mention the kind of crap she’d come up with to make Emma look bad if you beat her pretty, little face up.”
What a dumb dick Bass’s penis was. Of all the women to attract, he sure did choose the perfect one out of the pack, pun intended. He sure was lucky Emma was staying with him because if that had happened to me, no matter how hot or how delicious you are, I won’t tolerate shit like that. Bass was a great man, but what the f*ck? This was just too much for Emma, especially after what happened last year. Girlfriend couldn’t even catch a break.
She was suffering, but she loved Bass. What good would love do if you’re only to suffer? What happens when she sees this woman swollen and very pregnant with Bass’s child? There was a fifty perfect chance that it was his. The risk was too big. The damage would be beyond irreparable.
I would have never thought anything could come in between Emma and Bass, but a crazy, baby momma and a little Bass would surely bury their relationship. Looking at it from this angle, I ached for my friend and what she’d go through. Never in my life, especially a beloved friend of mine, had I even dared think this, let alone consider it, but I was almost wishing that she’d go back to Carter.
My brother f*cked himself all the way to Mars, but seeing him now, I know he loved Emma and would take her back in a heartbeat. Or maybe she could merely be single and enjoy being in this new celebrity status that she was having while she dated other men. Then again, this was Emma, who knew what went on in that pretty, little head of hers.
I knew one thing, though, I’d bet her chunky ass that she’d want to deck Nikki herself.