“So,” Cole said a little nervously and scratched his jaw. “You wanna dance?” Finally! I nodded my head and grabbed his hand. We didn’t move very far from the sofa. Just enough so we were at the edge of the imaginary dance floor.
When I was in Cole’s arms, the party didn’t seem that bad at all. Nothing did. This is going to end badly, a nagging little voice in the back of my head said. Pushing away my inner worries, I stepped closer to him, but still kept a reasonable distance to avoid arousing anyone’s suspicions.
We continued dancing, changing our rhythm to match the song but always fitting with each other. A few times, I noticed Julian watching us, but I tried to ignore him. He was just trying to intimidate me. I was tired of being intimidated and scared. The only thing I cared about was the way Cole was looking at me, with so much love and adoration in his eyes.
Just as thought I could start properly relaxing and actually enjoy the party, the music was cut, and Mum tapped a microphone. My stomach dropped. She was going to make a speech.
Chapter Fourteen
Cole
I felt her body stiffen under my arms as Sarah stopped the music. Surely, she knew all that fuss wasn’t her thing? Why the hell were they drawing more attention to her? She pressed her side into my chest, looking so uncomfortable that I just wanted to grab her and run.
“Hello everyone,” Sarah said cheerfully, and smiled at Oakley, seemingly oblivious to the fact that she was hating this. “Sorry to interrupt but I’ll only keep you for a few minutes. I just want to say a few words about my beautiful daughter.” Oakley cringed and shrank back into me, so she was half-hidden.
I was pissed off with Sarah. Throughout the whole speech, Oakley stared at the floor uncomfortably, not daring to look at anyone, not even me. The things Sarah said about her were nice and all, but she really didn’t need that stress on top of a huge party.
“So, please say a very big happy sweet sixteen to Oakley. Happy birthday, honey,” Sarah cheered, raising her glass. The crowd joined in, with the exception of me, Kerry and Ben, who seemed to know her a shit load more than her own family.
“You okay?” I asked her, as soon as her Sarah handed the microphone back to the DJ. She nodded, still looking at the floor. Her cheeks flushed a deep pink in embarrassment. I groaned and grabbed her hand, pulling her through the kitchen and out to the back garden. Thankfully, we were alone.
“Sorry. You hated that, right?” I stroked her cheek, and she smiled. Finally, she looked up at me and nodded, biting on her lip. My pulse raced at the loving way she was looking at me. “Wanna sit out here for a while?” She didn’t answer me but did sit down on the bench beside the fence, so I knew it was a yes.
We stayed outside for a bit and tried to decide on the best way of telling everyone about us. It took me a while to realise that we were both playing with each other’s fingers as I came up with ideas and she dismissed them. How could something be so natural? It was as if she was made for me.
I turned her slightly swollen hand over to get a better look at it. Oakley had never hit anyone before in her life, well apart from me, but that was playfully. I was actually extremely proud of her for sticking up for herself, and the fact that it was Julian was just a bonus. We were going to need to talk about her punching technique though…
“What did Julian do? Did he try kissing you again?”
She looked a little taken back at my timing, but not surprised that I asked the question.
“Oakley?” I prompted. She sighed and half-nodded her head but looked a little unsure. What did that mean? He wanted to? He came on to her but didn’t try kissing her? I gritted my teeth together. What the hell is wrong with him?
“Sorry,” I said a little sheepishly. “No fighting. I promise. Think I’ll leave that up to you now anyway! You okay to go back inside now?” I rubbed her arms, feeling the bumps on her arms from the cool air.
As soon as we got back into the lounge, I noticed Julian. He smirked and grabbed the microphone. I tensed. Shit.
“Ladies and gentlemen,” he slurred. How did he get that drunk? Max and Dad were supposed to be checking everyone’s drinks… “I would also like to say something about the birthday girl. Firstly, she isn’t as sweet and innocent as you all think.”
He waved his arm around, spilling his drink of the floor.
“She’s a real little tease, gets you all worked up then runs away, hey Oakley?” he shouted, with a lopsided smile.
Oakley backed up. Tears filled her eyes, and she ran to the stairs. My blood was boiling. Not only did she not want this party, but also one of the dickhead guests had just embarrassed her in front of everyone.
“Secondly, she’s screwing her so called ‘best friend’.”
I froze and looked at Oakley. She was standing deathly still on the stairs. I started to feel sick. Max had grabbed Julian by his shirt and thrown him roughly out of their now open front door.
“Stay the hell away from my daughter,” he bellowed after Julian.
As he slammed the door, an eerily silence fell upon the room. Sarah finally broke it seconds later.