“You‘re fine, Mia,” Parker yelled back before returning to his conversation with his date.
I stopped to listen. Without seeing her, I knew she would be pretty, but did she have to have a sexy voice too?
You’re an idiot. You’re far too attached to him for someone getting married.
I showered quickly and dressed in the simple black dinner dress Victoria had insisted I buy yesterday. I wondered as I slid it over my head if she knew about this dinner party. I had redone my makeup but hadn’t taken the time to blow dry my hair. The result of a day in the city was a beachy-looking wave instead of straight. Not the sophisticated look I should have gone for, but it would have to do because it was now seven twenty-five. No time to change it.
You look pretty good, girl. Good thing you listened to Victoria because you know you would have changed three times already.
A knock sounded at the door. I squared my shoulders, took a deep breath, and opened the door. There was Parker looking amazing in a casual navy dinner jacket. His smile made me feel I was the only one around.
“Hi,” I squeaked, then gulped for air.
Are you kidding me with how good he looks? Thank you again, Victoria.
“You look nice, Mia.” He handed me a glass of red wine. “You look ready to go, so come on out and meet Samantha.”
I followed Parker out on the balcony. I could tell Samantha had put on a fake smile, the kind that could be seen across town. She was clearly thinking I was a threat.
I wish I was a threat.
“Hi!” I said, extending my hand. “I’m Mia and you must be Samantha. I hope I won’t be too much of a third wheel tonight, but it is nice to get out and meet more people.”
“I didn’t realize I was going to have competition tonight. Good thing I’m with Parker.” She rested her hand on his arm. “The rest of the men are all yours.”
I blinked back my disappointment. “Aren’t you sweet for saying that. Not to worry though. I’m not looking for any men.”
“Ladies, it is time to go,” Parker urged “Hank is waiting on us, and we still have to pick up Murphy.”
The party was a mostly quiet affair. Instead of a DJ or a band, there was a string quartet. There were stuffy people standing around talking about money. Like, serious money. Money I couldn’t fathom having, and they were tossing it around like it was pennies. I was so glad I had this dress so I looked the part. Now I saw why Victoria wanted me to prepare for life as a doctor’s wife.
Murphy was the best part of the evening. She was a complex creature. Smart and so pretty with her wavy raven hair and emerald green eyes, just like Parker’s. I’d been concerned when Victoria first mentioned my meeting her, even though she’d insisted we would get along. But now that I had met her, I’d say Victoria was right again. I should stop worrying about which son because Victoria probably got that right too.
Murphy asked a lot of questions about why I was in town and what her mother was doing for me and that she didn’t know the friend Victoria had said I was a niece of. To say she was suspicious would be an understatement. Victoria obviously had her reasons for not telling anyone, so it wasn’t my place to.
Murphy kept bringing us shots because she thought the bartender was hot, but I wasn’t sure how many more I could drink without being picked up off the floor. This current one was three shades of orange. I didn’t even know there was a three-shades-of-orange drink.
“Oh my God, Murphy, no more,” I said as sternly as I could with a smile on my face. “This is the last one. Promise me.”
“No can do, Mia,” Murphy slurred. “I need reasons for going back to the bar repeatedly.”
“Well then, we need some food,” I said. “Come on. Let’s hit the hors d’oeuvres.”
Parker and Samantha were still heavy into conversation with two other doctors. Well, at least Parker was and he was oblivious to how bored Samantha looked.
This girl is working hard to show Parker how into his work she is. Poor thing. She has it bad, and he has no clue. Friends with benefits and no attachments, my behind. This girl has her stink eye perfected. If it were any better, I might be dead already.
“Did you see my brother keeps looking at you, Mia?” Murphy announced a little too loudly. “Perhaps he has the hots for you instead of Miss Stuck-up over there.”
“Murphy, shh,” I said, laughing into my napkin. “He does not have the hots for me. I’m sure he just wants to make sure I’m making friends.”
“Yeah, you keep telling yourself that, Mia,” Murphy said, throwing her arm around my neck and whispering loudly. “Even Samantha can see it, which is why she wants you dead. Do you feel the lasers hitting you right between the eyes?”
After that discussion, all I could think about was Parker and if he really was looking at me too much. Murphy was drunk but correct in her Samantha assessment. I felt like she was doing target practice on my face. Before I knew it, I was downing as many shots as Murphy.
Chapter 20
MIA