ChapterOne
Lexi
April 2004
The music was too loud.Maybe it was me.Was twenty-seven too old to sip an overpriced cocktail, wearing a too-short skirt and a too-tight top?Judging by what some of the other ladies were wearing, no.
I tugged at my skirt in a vain attempt to pull it closer to my knees.Preferably over them.Nicole was late, as usual; it would take at least twenty minutes to go back to the room and change.There was no time.One thing was for sure, I'd never again buy anything an eighteen-year-old sales girl declared, "Totally perfect for Vegas."
The fluorescent blue liquid swirled around my glass as I fiddled with my straw.A “Knock Out,” the bartender had called it.It was going to knock me out.Every time I took a sip, the sweetness sent bites of pain through my teeth.Yet I couldn't seem to stop drinking it.
“Excuse me,” a voice from behind said.
I swiveled in my seat to see a very blond, very clean-cut, very preppy guy.Good-looking if you liked the college-boy look.
I didn't.
He was standing over me, not even trying to conceal the fact that he was staring at my cleavage, which there was way too much of.
“Yes?”
“Can I get you another?”College Boy gestured to my drink, which I was surprised to see almost empty.
That would explain the dizzy feeling every time I moved my head.Knock Out, indeed.
"I'm married,” I said and turned back to face the bar.Where was Nicole?
"I'm Clark," College Boy said as he took the seat next to me, "and nobody in Vegas is married."
I twisted to look at him again.His smile dazzled.Clearly the result of thousands of dollars of orthodontic work.“Seriously,” I tried again.“I'm not interested.”
He leaned in and the smell of stale beer assaulted me.Over his shoulder, I could see the table of his frat buddies, poking each other in the ribs and pointing in our direction.
Perfect.I was a bet.
“Listen, kid.”I couldn’t have been much older than him, but maybe an insult would help.“I'm not interested in being part of your game tonight.”
“Come on, baby.”His breath was hot and moist in my ear.I leaned back as far as I could without falling out of my seat but his arm snaked around me and yanked me towards him.“I just wanna have a little fun.”
“Maybe I can suggest a playground nearby."
"Ouch," College Boy said and pulled back in mock injury."That hurt."
"You think that hurt?"
"Come on."He leaned in again."Don't be a bitch."
Really?
Changing my approach, I slid my hand up the side of his face, being sure to give his cheek a little caress as I went.
"Yeah," he murmured and closed his eyes."That's what I'm talking about."
Without wasting any more time, I grabbed his soft, fleshy earlobe and twisted, hard.
"Ow!"His eyes snapped open and he jumped back but I still had a grip on his lobe."Shit!Let go."
"Have I made my point?"