“You remember the first time I danced with you…I told you I wanted to kiss you.” His eyes zero in on my lips.
He wouldn’t dare.
“How much have you had to drink?” I ask, needing his attention away from my mouth.
“I’ll dance with you.” The floozie from bathroom hallway rubs her hands down his thick arms. Her red nails are chipped and her eyeliner is about an inch thick under her eyes as she peers at me with distaste over his shoulder.
Really Holden. I mentally shake my head. He could do better, but then again, I am sure he’s done worse.
He releases me, as my disgusted expression whips across his face. “See, you have a willing partner.” I try again to get what I came for. “I really need to get home and get dinner started.”
He tugs on a strand of my dark hair. “It’s ladies’ night, Con. Live a little. Big E won’t be home anytime soon. He’s probably fucking that tight ass bitch from his office. What’s her name…June.”
“Judy,” I correct him, hating that his words sting me. Judy is Ezra’s assistant and she’s gorgeous and sophisticated. She fits in perfectly in the corporate world, unlike me with my holey jeans and oversized hoodies. “Fuck you, Holden.”
“I’m game. You might as well have a good time. I’ll even stop drinking and drive you home myself. Cut loose. Get the stick outta your ass.” He smirks, and I shake my head, suppressing the urge to laugh.
Like I’d get in his death on wheels’ mobile.
“I’m going to cut something alright.” I’m about to snap on him.
He’s probably right about Ezra, getting in late. He is always entertaining a new client or working late on a project with Judy, but I trust Ezra. Even around a woman like Judy, but I was looking forward to a bath and my book. I’ve been reading the Game of Thrones books after I got hooked on the TV adaptation.
“You wound me.” He smiles and moves side to side, clutching his chest.
“I’ll just take the key, but thanks for the invitation. I don’t think your friend will like my stealing your attention.” My nose crinkles on the word friend.
“Pfftt.” He rolls his eyes. “Cheryl don’t care, do you?” He nods in her direction as she still grips his arms.
I begin to say of course not but stop myself. Ezra says I’m too hard on Holden. I don’t know why I let his antics get to me, but he seems to get under my skin. It’s as if he enjoys pushing my buttons.
“I don’t mind.” She smiles anything but friendly at me. She minds a lot, and I don’t care enough to be bothered. She’s another notch on his bedpost, I’m sure. I’ve never known him to have repeats, maybe one or two. But never a real girlfriend.
That along with him having a fling with Bailey is why I started dating Ezra. He’s safe. He won’t hurt me and use me like a guy like Holden would.
Holden begins to move his hips more, thrusting his ass backwards at his friend. It’s almost easy to get swept away by his charm. He has an easiness about him that draws you near, until you get to know him. I do know him though and the games he likes to play. So, I shake my head with a frown.
“Stop, I really need to get home.”
Holden pouts like a child.
“I have to see my advisor tomorrow. Early.” I don’t know why I’m explaining or making excuses. This is ridiculous.
“Fine, but you owe me a beer and a dance.”
I raise my brows at him, and he winks as he tucks his own key in my hand. It’s dangling from a bottle opener keyring with a picture of a pinup model on it. He’s such a pig.
Curling my fingers around the keyring, I shake my head and go home to wait for my boyfriend. Tomorrow, I’ll make my own damn key. Ezra should have gotten me one made. I shouldn’t be depending on Holden for a damn thing.
Ezra is my boyfriend, it’s his place to take care of me to an extent. He tries, I mean he did attempt to solve the problem of us not getting enough time together. Tired of hearing me complain about canceled plans, Ezra took the plunge and asked me to move in with him. I was sure we were headed for a break or a break up.
I was taken off guard when he asked, but we were at a crossroad in our relationship—take it to the next level or walk away. I was sure I was prepared to walk away until he got down on one knee and proposed that I live with him.
It seemed romantic at the time and it was, until I found out his best friend, Holden would also be living with us. I thought he meant we’d get an apartment of our own, but he only meant I would move in at Holden’s with him. Ezra and Holden have been roommates since his freshmen year of college.
I don’t know why I got my hopes up, but at least we’ve taken the next step in our relationship. I haven’t told my mom and Ronald that I moved off campus yet. They aren’t in favor of my relationship with Ezra getting serious too fast. It’s not that they don’t like him, but they think I’m too young to be dating seriously. They want me to focus on my degree.
Something else I haven’t told them…I’m not going to pursue teaching anymore, I’ve made up my mind. I want to be a writer. Though I’m not likely to tell them a damn thing though after the shit with my mother. After this semester, I’m not sure if I’ll return for the next. I have so many ideas and no time to write the stories playing out inside my head.