“No one,” I say, reaching for a glass of water and emptying it in two gulps.
He gives me a look that tells me he wants to press for more information, but thankfully he lets it drop.
I barely taste the dinner, thankful that the positioning of my seat means my back is to Sol’s table. His date is at another table with her parents, and I angle my chair slightly to stop me from glancing over.
This is not how tonight was supposed to go. Or maybe it was. If Sol hadn’t come over last night, maybe this is exactly how it would have happened. Him happy and moved on, with me a hollow wreck, watching from the sidelines. After last night—after this morning—I’d hoped things would be different.
Perhaps the time apart today gave him the space to realize he’d made a mistake. Maybe he realized what being with me officially would mean.
The volume of the music rises, and I blink out of my stupor to realize that the tables have been cleared and the dance floor is filling. I haven’t touched a drop of alcohol tonight, but I feel drunk. The evening is like sand, slipping through my fingers before I can grasp it.
A hand touches my shoulder and I tense, both hopeful and terrified that it’s Sol. But it’s not.
“Can I claim that dance?” Ben asks, extending a hand.
Rising from my chair, I try not to look as disappointed as I feel. He grips my hand as he leads us to the dance floor and a flash of red catches my eye. Sol is dancing with Peyton on the other side of the room, and I look away before he turns. If this wasn’t my event, I’d have left already. My gaze drifts to the doors longingly.
“Excuse me?” a familiar voice says. “May I cut in?”
I smile at Jacey as she glares at Ben. “Is that okay? Can’t say no to the lady this party is for, right?”
Ben’s eyes widen and he smiles, stepping back. Jacey is going to give a small address later, near the end of the night, so not everyone knows who she is yet.
As soon as Ben has walked away, she turns her glare on me. “What the hell, Wes?”
My eyebrows shoot up. “Excuse me?”
“Why were you dancing with that guy?”
I move us slowly, adapting our sway to counter the drag of her foot. “Because he asked. What’s the problem?”
“The problem,” she says, “is that I thought you liked my brother.”
My shoulders sag, and I dart a glance at where he’s spinning Peyton around in his arms. “I do like him. I more than like him, Jacey.”
“Then why aren’t you dancing with him?”
I shake my head. “It’s not that simple. Besides, he has a date.”
Jacey makes a noise like she’s trying to cough up a hairball. “He told Peyton he’d come with her months ago. You know what Sol’s like. He didn’t want to let her down. She knows it’s only as friends, though. He told her he’s seeing someone else.”
My stomach drops. “He is?”
Jacey groans, her eyes rolling. “My god. I thought you were supposed to be smart.”
Trying to make sense of her words, I look back over at Sol, but this time he’s looking right at us, a deep frown on his beautiful face.
SOL
Wes’ face is the picture of confusion. It would be funny if I wasn’t so pissed at him. Why the hell was he letting that guy paw him after what we did last night? At least Jace scared him off. It’s ridiculous that I haven’t even spoken to Wes yet tonight. I expected Jacey to be the center of attention, but because we decided to keep her speech until the end, everyone has been homing in on me instead. I can only assume it’s the same for Wes.
After I didn’t get a chance to see him today, I called to tell him about Peyton. Up until last night, I had no qualms about being her date, but ditching her the morning of the event would have been a dick move and I couldn’t do it.
“I’m going to get a drink,” Peyton says as the song comes to an end.
I give her a smile and let her disappear into the crowd. Enough is enough. Straightening my tux, I head in Wes’ direction.
“Sol!” Jackson slides in front of me, his eyes wide. “There’s a problem with the auction.”