Eye Candy

“I’ll tell you later. It’s a great story,” I promise.

Prior to meeting Armstrong, Amie had decided to give online dating a chance. She thought it might help weed out some of the undesirables she was prone to going after. Some huge bigwig corporate mogul started messaging her, along with about six hundred other men. As was typical for Amie. She has absolutely no need to use online dating services, apart from being curious. She got asked out standing in lines at the grocery store, at least until Armstrong put a rock on her finger. I’m not sure even that has been much of a deterrent.

Deacon, the man currently hugging her, certainly wasn’t her usual type, but he was hot, and she was desperate to break her bad-boy pattern, so she went out with him.

Fast forward three dates later and she ended up back at his place. Apparently this guy had a thing for dining at the pussy buffet while her panties were still on. Which can be sexy in a teasing kind of way. Except he chewed an actual hole in her panties. And of course he kept them, because what man doesn’t need a pair of crotchless panties from a woman he’s fucked? We laughed about it.

The sex was insane though, based on her reports, so she went back for more.

The panty chewing continued. He seemed to be making it his mission to turn all of her panties into crotchless ones.

Anyway, after three panty destructions, she ended things. But in true Amie fashion, she’d managed to secure herself a stage-five clinger. He continued to message her for weeks after she said she wasn’t really interested in a relationship. It took a while for the message to sink in; the threat of a restraining order helped.

She shut down her account after that. Unfortunately the bar scene produced even less favorable dating options. The next guy she went out with was worse than the online ones—and almost landed her in prison.

Deacon embraces her far longer than is appropriate. During that time I shift a little, so I’m able to see her face. Everyone in our small group has stopped talking to watch this interaction.

He finally releases her but holds on to her shoulders as he leans back enough to see her face. His thumbs sweep along her collarbones. “I’d hoped you’d be here.”

“Deacon, it’s so . . . I didn’t . . . How are you?” Her voice is shrill, disarmed.

Lex gives me a questioning look. His fingers curl around the hilt of his sword, as if he’s considering using it.

Amie wraps her delicate hands around Deacon’s wrists and takes a step back. He moves forward with her. This is getting awkward. Especially when he grips her wrists in return, as if he’s unwilling, or possibly unable, to let them go.

Lex moves in, but I hold up a hand. She’s had years of self-defense classes, hot yoga, Pilates, and some crazy boxing thing she does to keep her fit and safe. Also, I really want to see how this plays out. It’s too bad Armstrong isn’t here to witness this. I search the room, hoping to spot him, but I can’t find him anywhere. I do, however, spot Brittany flirting with some suits.

It would’ve made my night if Armstrong happened to get punched out by one of Amie’s exes. Well, that and Bancroft fucking me while I’m Catwoman and he’s Batman.

Deacon holds Amie’s hands together in his and takes another step toward her. “You look so beautiful. It’s just so good to smell you again.”

And there it is. The weirdness I’m talking about.

Lex makes a face, as if he’s unsure he heard that correctly.

“See you again. I mean. So good.” He bows his head and brings her knuckles to his lips. I’m pretty sure he licks her, right before he notices the giant rock on her finger.

He snaps up, back ramrod straight. “What is that?”

Amie wipes her hand on her dress. “I’m engaged.” Her voice still has that reedy quality to it.

He blinks rapidly. Disbelieving.

“Do I need to manage this guy?” Bancroft asks me.

Lex steps up beside Amie before Bancroft can make a move, though, and throws his arm around her shoulder, pulling her into his side. She stumbles a bit and has to brace herself with a hand on his chest. Which is bare since he’s dressed as a gladiator. He turns his charming smile on Deacon and holds out his hand. “Hello, I’m Lex, Amalie’s fiancé.”

Amie looks up at him, her expression reflecting both confusion and shock. He bends down and puts his mouth to her ear, whispering something that makes her eyebrows lift even higher, but she gives him the tiniest of nods. What the hell is happening here?

Deacon looks from Amie to Lex and back again. “Her fiancé?”

“Yes. In just a few months she’ll be mine forever.” He turns to Amie, smiling down on her with a convincingly loving gaze and takes her chin between his finger and his thumb. For a second I think he’s actually going to kiss her. Instead he dips his head and brushes the end of his nose across the tip of hers. Amie’s eyes are wide. Her hand is wrapped around his wrist. The one that’s holding her chin.

It occurs to me, as I watch this go down, that those two would actually look incredible together. It’s really too bad she’s set on Armstrong.

Deacon’s expression has gone from confused to angry. “You’re getting married in a few months?”

“I’m sorry, how do you know Amalie?” Lex asks, giving him a full once over.

“We dated,” Deacon snaps.

“Briefly,” Amie adds.

“It wasn’t that brief.” He strokes the square of cloth peeking out of the pouch of his little man satchel. He really committed to the Peter Pan bit. He’s even wearing tights. The square of cloth seems out of place, though, since it’s lace and satin. “How long have you been engaged?”

“That’s irrelevant.” Amie’s hand flutters to her throat.

Deacon’s still stroking the fabric; the satchel is right over his crotch, so it looks a little obscene. “I thought you said you weren’t interested in getting serious with anyone.”

“At the time I wasn’t.”

Deacon scoffs. “So it was just about my cock then.”

Oh my God. Who the hell says that in public? In front someone’s fiancé, of all people. Even if Lex isn’t really Amie’s fiancé, Deacon doesn’t know that. I’m about to speak up when Lex wraps his gloved hand around the back of Deacon’s neck, wearing a jovial smile. From an outsider’s perspective, it could look very much like a normal conversation apart from Deacon’s angry expression and the way Lex’s fingers dig into his skin.

“Listen, buddy, that was fucking rude. You’re making a scene and you’re embarrassing yourself and Amalie. Now would be a good time to walk away, unless you’re interested in a bigger scene and some broken bones.”

Deacon closes his eyes, his expression pinched. He inhales and exhales deeply before his livid gaze finally falls on Amie. “I apologize.”

I breathe a sigh of relief.

Lex loosens his grip on Deacon’s neck and gives him a heavy pat on the shoulder. “Smart move.”