“You mean the velvet burgundy suit?” I pointed out, knowing just how much Eric hated velvet.
“Never mind the wardrobe. Thiago is second in line to his grandfather’s estate, which happens to be the most expensive piece of real estate in the Bahamas. Plus, he designs handbags for a living.”
“He designs handbags?” I questioned and grabbed another champagne from the waiter who passed us by. “I think that’s more up your alley. And besides, second in line isn’t exactly first in line.”
I don’t even know why I entertained this conversation. Firstly, I didn’t need a man, and even if I did, I could find one myself. Secondly, Eric was the worst at trying to set people up. His idea of date-worthy wasn’t exactly the same as mine.
“And wait,” I add, feeding my curiosity. “How do you know all this?”
Eric shuffled his feet and lowered his head as if caught in a naughty act while hovering behind me in an odd way. “Um, no reason… through the street.”
“Does the street mean you screwed him, which is why you’re trying to stand behind me?”
“Fine.” Eric stomped his foot and crossed his arms. “We had a moment inside a closet at a party a few years back.”
“You had a moment?” I scoff as I took a sip of my champagne. “What does that even mean?”
“It means I jerked him off because he was too big to take all in.”
The bubbles got caught in my throat, and a coughing fit followed as I tried to gulp for air. Just when I thought I was about to die, I managed to compose myself and control my breathing.
“Would you keep it down?” Eric hushed me and kept his gaze lowered. “He’ll see us standing here.”
“But I’m so confused.” My voice came out uneven and breathless, forcing me to drink again to clear it. “You always talk about the bigger the dick, the better.”
“Honey, we’re not talking just big,” Eric asserted and raised his hand toward his chest. “We’re talking thick big.”
“Thick big?”
Eric widened his hands, my mouth opened in shock. Indeed, he exaggerated. No one was that thick, and Eric was known to embellish girth on more than one occasion.
“All right, we’re done with this conversation,” I told him as I scanned the area around us in an effort to talk about something else.
Close to Vivian, I saw a man standing beside her. I was drawn to his tall stature, the way he towered over her yet still gazed at her in a loving way. His dashing black tuxedo with his black-rimmed reading glasses made him look like an incredibly sexy Clark Kent, especially with the way his jet-black hair was perfectly styled to the side.
“And that guy over there?” I nodded in his direction.
Eric exhaled while he rolled his eyes of boredom. “That’s my brother, Dominic. I’m surprised he knows how to pull a tux off. Don’t even bother saying hello. You might as well talk to a brick wall.”
Well, if truth be told, the brick wall was beautiful. Dominic looked nothing like Eric—much taller with lighter skin and features. From where I was standing, his hair looked like the only similar thing to Eric—jet-black and straight. Aside from that, you wouldn’t pick them as siblings.
; “Oh, listen.” Eric’s mood shifted, and his tone picked up with excitement. “Mom is talking to that lady from the Real Housewives, you know, the bitchy one, but she’s Celine Dion’s second cousin. Or something like that.”
“Eric, you know I don’t watch television, let alone reality TV.”
“Right, right,” he mumbled, distracted. “I’ll be back.”
When Eric says he’ll be back, I’m pretty much guaranteed to be alone for most of the night. Why I agreed to this again is beyond me. You have no life outside of work, that’s why.
With my champagne in hand, the last remnants went down too quickly while I stood on the patio and watched the night sky. There was a peacefulness to being out of the city, away from the hustle and bustle, and able to clearly see each star. It reminded me of back home, bringing on nostalgia and memories of what felt like a lifetime ago.
The area around me began to get crowded and prompted me to find a quieter place. I took a walk in the gardens with great difficulty as my heels dug into the perfect lawn and away from the noise to enjoy the peace and quiet. The sky was even more visible away from the party, every star shined brightly above me with a glimpse of one shooting in the distance. The proximity of the sea provided a fresh breeze, cooling down the warm summer night.
“Care for a top-up?”
The voice startled me. Clutching my chest, I turned to find Dominic standing beside me, carrying his own bottle of liquor. I’d considered myself a reasonably tall woman if compared to Charlie or Adriana, but Dominic towered over me, much like Lex.