“Victor,” she said again, more demanding.
“Chill out, woman. I’m coming,” he responded, looking at me momentarily. “I’ll . . .” He walked away without finishing his sentence, and I didn’t even know what to feel. I just knew my heart felt like it was too big for my chest and would possibly climb up my throat and spill out of my mouth at any moment.
“They’re planning something for me,” Estelle said in a quiet voice. “They think they’re slick, those two.”
I tried to smile at her, but couldn’t, so I just nodded. “Everything looks great.”
“Thank you. My mom did most of it,” she said.
“And me,” the blonde said, coming back to where we were still standing. “I helped. A lot.”
“You did a good job,” I said, catching Victor’s gaze over her shoulder.
He was looking at me with an intensity that wasn’t appropriate while out in public, much less with his girlfriend standing right there. However, I felt the heat of his gaze everywhere.
“Oh my God. I’m sorry. I’ve been staring at you since you walked in and haven’t even introduced myself. I’m Mia,” she said with a huge smile.
“Nicole. Nice to meet you,” I said, returning her smile, though mine was much smaller, not as excited.
“Hey, can you help me carry the drinks outside?” Estelle asked Mia.
Mia gave her a sharp look. There was an exchange in their gazes, and Mia finally seemed to get whatever it was that Estelle was trying to tell her. I felt another pang in my chest. They were really, really familiar with each other. Clearly Mia had either been a part of their life a lot longer, or really hit it off with Estelle, much more than I had.
“I’ll see you later,” Mia said, shooting one more smile my way before she turned around and punched Victor in the arm playfully. He rolled his eyes at her before looking at me again.
“She’s really pretty,” I said once they walked away.
“Not as pretty as you.” He took a step toward me. I swallowed.
“You shouldn’t say things like that,” I whispered, tilting my face to look at him when he stood right in front of me.
“I only speak truths,” he said, his voice low, making my heart stutter.
“Stop.”
“Hey, is that Nicole?”
Victor groaned. “I’m in a house full of cock-blockers.”
I sidestepped him until I reached his mom. She wrapped her arms around me. “Hi, Hannah.”
“I’ve called you a couple of times so you could come over and see the dress. I can’t wait to show it to you. The seamstress was very, very impressed with your design. She really wants to meet you,” she said, her words fast and close together.
“Mom, she just got here,” Victor said.
“I was in Argentina for a little while.”
“Oh, you visited your mom? How was it? Did you have fun?” She pulled me toward the back of the house, and I was glad for the intrusion of whatever moment it was Victor and I were sharing. We couldn’t have those anymore, especially now that he’d clearly moved on. I hated my dad right now. Why would he call me and tell me all those things if Victor had clearly moved on? He should have just kept his mouth shut, then I would have never known that Victor had thought about me at all.
Hannah took me around the yard, introducing me to the people there, which was interesting in and of itself. Some of the people were artsy, painters and such, others were doctors, architects, housewives, you name it, they were at the party. I’d already met Oliver, so I said hi to him, and he introduced me to some of his friends. At least there were hot guys there. Maybe they’d help me keep my eyes off Victor.
I excused myself and walked back to the drink table to pick up a glass of wine.
“I’m assuming your dad told you we spoke,” Victor said, his voice making me shiver. I took a long sip of wine, hoping it would calm my nerves.
“He did.”
He put his right hand over the handle of the pirate sword sticking out of its holster. I couldn’t imagine how he thought he looked ridiculous. I’d never seen a sexier pirate in my life.
“What did he tell you?” he asked. I tore my gaze away from his hand, those long fingers of his, and looked back into his eyes. Big mistake.
“Are you going to cut off my tongue if I don’t tell you?” I asked, smirking. His gaze heated as quickly and my breath caught in my throat.
“I can think of more than a few things I’d like to do with your tongue. Cutting it off isn’t one of them,” he said, bringing the hand he had on the sword up to my hair, pushing some of it behind my ear. I closed my eyes as he adjusted the bandana I had on.
“I really don’t think it’s nice for you to say things like that,” I whispered, eyes still closed.
“Why?”
“Because you have a girlfriend, and I don’t think she’d appreciate it,” I said, opening my eyes to look at him. He frowned.