His eyes lighten, a smile playing on his lips. “I like you just the way you are, Zoey Richards. Don’t change for anyone.”
The way he stares back at me sinks deep into the pit of my stomach. My body is touching his, and if this were a club, we’d be grinding and dry humping like two desperate animals. “Well, I like you just the way you are, Andrew Baldwin. Don’t you change for anyone.”
He instantly scolds me for calling him that but is quick to let it go. The song continues, and both of us enjoy ourselves, laughing, finally mellowing to some crazy dance moves. Maybe it’s the champagne that I forced Drew to drink, but as time goes on he relaxes, and we start to have some real fun.
But fun is overrated. And I’m gullible enough to think the night can end like this.
In the middle of the dance floor, during the first verse of If I Could Turn Back Time, Jess interrupts our dance to ask if he can cut in. Drew doesn’t say a word and surprisingly backs off, unusually quiet for someone who’s usually so opinionated.
Eying Jess with extreme wariness, he lingers for only a moment then walks to the foyer, disappearing from sight.
Ignoring my body language, Jess forces himself on me by grabbing my waist and pulling me closer to him. There’s no time to think about his touch or the way his hand rests so comfortably on my hips before he lashes out in a malevolent tone, “I knew you always had a thing for him.”
My strength is weak compared to his, and so, despite my anger toward him, I continue to allow him to touch me. “Get over yourself, Jess. You were cheating on me. Don’t forget that.”
“Yeah, well, I wouldn’t have done that if I didn’t think you were cheating first.” His disturbing laugh that follows, coupled with his sinister gaze on my barely-covered chest, should have warned me of his intentions. “Those days when you said you were busy? I knew you went home to fuck him. It’s the only reason I did what I did. I was hurting. I loved you, and you broke my heart.”
I stop moving, standing perfectly still in front of him as the disco lights reflect off my body in the dim light. “Are you kidding me? Your excuse gets worse over time. Tell me, Jess, was it worth it?”
He pauses, and without any emotion in his aging face, he whispers, “No. I still love you, Zoey.”
Ouch.
The words I so desperately wanted to hear, yet in reality, they mean nothing. Empty words from someone who scarred my heart and left me to pick up the mess he created. There are words for people like him, words that sit on the tip of my tongue, itching to be said, but Gigi’s voice replays in my head. Be the mature one, the bigger person. Walk away with dignity and show him that you’re over him.
So what do I do next?
I blurt out some nonsense about finding my boyfriend because I miss him and need to get laid.
Great! Pat on the back for the drunken slur, Zoey.
I pull his hands off me and scramble outside desperately needing to find Drew. Beside the entrance, I find him busy with some skank that’s stroking his arm as he leans against the wall with a bottle of champagne in his hand. He takes a long drink straight from the bottle, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand. Oh, for the love of God. It’s going to be one expensive cab ride home.
I put on my fake smile and call out to him, “There you are, babe.”
The skank backs off immediately. Standing next to Drew, I move closer and wrap my arms around his waist burying my face into his neck. He smells so nice and masculine. My lips move against his skin, and he doesn’t stop me, not even when his arms move up the side of my waist, slowly tracing the curves of my breasts.
The skank mumbles something about leaving, and when a gust of wind almost lifts my dress up, I realize we are alone, and there’s no longer a display for anyone. Yet, we are clinging to each other.
My pumps are extra tall, giving me a height advantage, my eyes almost in line with Drew’s. And here, outside, beneath the stars with no one to watch us but the ornamental cupids surrounding the fountain, our eyes are drawn to each other. Staring curiously, without reason, the way he looks at me climbs into my soul, searching for something, something I’m not sure I can reciprocate.
After all, it’s Drew.
But I can’t ignore, no matter how hard I try, the magnetic force pulling me to him. Whatever it is in the moment feels right, and I tilt my head slightly until my lips are on his. He tastes sweet, and with his tongue kneading mine slowly, we stay locked into this kiss until some smokers come outside and interrupt us.
I touch my lips with my fingers savoring the sensation that lingers. “We should probably head back inside, you know, save the show for where it counts.”
I regret my words almost instantly.
His body instantly recoils. Taking another drink from the bottle which appears empty, infuriating him further. He throws it into the bush, ignoring displeased bystanders. His aggressiveness is very unlike him, but I dare not say a word for I am the one causing this huge headache.
“That’s right. This is all for Jess,” he almost spits.
“No, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean for it to come out like that,” I quickly apologize. “I just got—”
“Don’t hide the truth, Zoey. You’re shit at lying. You want to make him madder? Make him regret his actions? Give him a show?” he barks, the fury driving his normally calm demeanor. “Then that’s what we’ll do, Zoey. No more holding back.”
Drew grabs my hand tightly and with force almost dragging me back inside. I struggle to keep up begging him to slow down as my heels skid against the marble floor.