Leslie is perched on Theo’s lap and is giggling happily at something he’s whispering in her ear. Finley and her husband Brody are seated next to them. The others who came out tonight for Theo’s stag party consist of Liam and Theo’s other two mates, James and Ethan.
Reyna’s eyes find mine. I could feel her penetrative gaze as soon as I entered the VIP section. Liam has a lazy arm draped over her shoulders as he talks to Ethan. I can read her expression like a fucking book and right now she’s wondering how hard all of this is for me to be around. She raises her eyebrows at me in silent question. I frown and shake my head, telling her I’m fine. I look away, trying to conceal my annoyance. For starters, I’m not her concern anymore. Secondly, the alcohol is child’s play compared to Vi in that red fucking dress.
Vi bends over to grab a bottle of water off the table and Ethan’s eyes zero in on her. In seconds, he’s detaching himself from Liam and approaching her slowly in a way that makes everything in me want to turn into a caveman. Ethan has definite sleazebag qualities. Of all Theo’s mates, he’s the worst. He’s tall with caramel-chocolate skin and blue eyes that he thinks make him fucking Zeus, king of the bloody Greek gods. The way he expects women to fawn all over him gets right up my nose.
I turn away just as he slithers up to Vi. I lean on the metal rail that’s positioned above the dance floor, watching the swarms of people drinking themselves into oblivion. There was a time when I’d be right there with them, drinking so I wouldn’t have to feel. But all that did was delay my feelings until they crashed in a mighty wreck all over my life. Now, I’m content to be sober and deal with things as they come…one by one.
The night carries on and all I can do is watch Vi laugh and have a great time while I sit and stew over how I feel about her. She doesn’t drink alcohol like everyone else. She’s had the same cocktail since she’s arrived, and she’s gone through two whole bottles of water since they arrived nearly two hours ago. I fucking love that about her.
“You’re not fooling me, you know,” Leslie’s voice chirps quietly in my ear.
“What do you mean?” I ask, frowning at the fact that Vi has barely looked at me since we came inside. I’m sitting on the couch directly across from her as she’s sandwiched right between Ethan and James, the only other single blokes here tonight.
Leslie sits on the edge of the coffee table, blocking my view. “You’re trying to act all strong and confident. But I see right through you, baby brother.”
I roll my eyes. “Stop calling me baby brother. You’re only one year older than me.”
She giggles dopily, her green eyes drooping in her happy, drunken state. Taking her hand, she reaches out and pushes my sullen pout into a grin and I can’t help but laugh in response.
Shaking my head, I say, “The alcohol isn’t bothering me. I actually quite enjoy being sober. All you sods are going to wake up with crippling headaches tomorrow and I’m going to hit the gym feeling great.”
“I’m not talking about the booze.” She shifts off the table and onto the couch, leaning back next to me. She rests her head on my shoulder and continues, “I’m talking about the blonde.”
I shift my jaw back and forth. “It’s like she doesn’t even know me.” My eyes squint as Vi laughs at something Julie says from the other side of James. I know I rejected her, but I can’t help but feel like her excessive shift in attitude toward me is some blatant form of judgment. Does she not want to be seen publicly with me? Is that it?
“You’re not the easiest of guys to get to know,” Leslie drawls sleepily.
That was true…until I met Vi. Christ, what on earth have I got myself in the middle of? Originally, running into Vi at the gala felt like the universe’s way of putting us together. That’s why I thought she’d be perfect to help me with my countdown. I should have known better. The first moment I met her at The White Swan was the first time my body had responded to another woman since Reyna.
Fuuuuck. What have I done? “I’ve told her more than I’ve told most, Leslie,” I admit in hushed tones.
She sits up and whispers right in my ear, “That must mean she’s worth it.”
Her words hit me just as the music shifts to a Beyonce track. Leslie lets out a mighty cheer and Frank’s head pops up out of nowhere. His eyes lock on hers and they sprint toward each other, connecting in an epic hug of jumping and squealing. They make a mad dash for the dance floor, grabbing people along as they go.
Suddenly, Julie sidles up to me. “Would you fucking dance with me, Hayden?” she purrs. “I’ve had a bastardly couple of weeks and I feel like a bloody loser.”