"You look gorgeous. Are you still nervous?" I asked, putting my hands on her shoulders like I was giving her a pep talk.
She laughed and puckered her lips. "No, dahhling, you look gorgeous.” I laughed. "Not really. Now that we're inside it isn't so bad."
I agreed and let my hands drop back down to my side.
"I thought those reporters were going to jump across the rope and tackle you," Becca laughed.
I rolled my eyes just as Liam and Penn walked over with drinks. Liam kissed my cheek and handed me a glass of soda.
"Why thank you," I winked. Penn handed Becca her drink and we all clinked glasses before taking a sip. The champagne was light and sweet, a perfect combination.
"Were you guys talking about the reporters?" Penn asked.
"Yeah, they were vicious," Becca answered.
As the group chatted, Liam placed his hand on my lower back once again, drawing me near his body. It felt intimate to have him claiming me like that. It was as if he couldn't stand near me without touching me somehow. I rested my body weight against his chest and I felt his hand dip just past the plunging hemline on the back of my dress. The one downfall to the flowy garment was that there were no barriers to keep Liam out. He easily slid his fingers an inch lower than they should have been. If he kept going he'd hit the top of my lacy underwear.
I eyed him warily, but he was talking to Penn and wearing a confident smile. The guy had one perfected poker face. I smiled to myself and took another sip of my drink, but when I slid the glass from my lips, I looked up to see Josh and the blonde bimbo.
Yes, the one I found in his bed while we were dating. They were heading in our direction from the entrance of the party.
I almost couldn't believe it at first. Surely, he'd have more class than that. Or maybe he didn't know Liam would bring me? Either way, my stomach clenched and I wanted to flee the scene immediately. Liam's fingers pressed into my back gently, letting me know he saw Josh approaching as well.
"Hey everyone," Josh offered with a small smile. I was almost surprised that he even came up to our group, but then I remembered that he and Liam had practiced together all week. Liam had told me that on the field they pushed all the bullshit aside and played as teammates. I wasn't sure what the rules were for this situation though.
We all offered simple hellos and I thought Josh would slink away, but no. He actually had the nerve to introduce his date, Jenny.
Penn and Liam nodded and Becca murmured a hello. She didn't know that Jenny was the girl that Josh had cheated on me with, but she had enough sense to realize that anything concerning Josh was bad news.
Jenny didn't glance up at me once. She averted eye contact as her gaze flitted around the room. I could feel Liam tensing more and more next to me. I was sure my anger was a tangible thing floating around the entire group.
The silence was growing more and more awkward and eventually I just couldn't handle it. "All right, Josh, you have sufficiently made this awkward as hell."
The moment the words were out, Liam let his arm drop from my back and stepped forward, angling himself in between Josh and me. Thankfully, Josh wasn't completely plastered by this point and realized that fighting wasn't the best idea.
"Yeah, okay. You're right. I'll see you guys at the game tomorrow." He smiled tightly and walked away. Jenny trotted after him trying to keep up.
Our group was stunned into silence at first, but then Becca spoke. "I realize that he is beyond, beyond foolish, but we'll eventually have to be able to have a conversation with him since he's Liam's and Penn's teammates."
I scoffed. "Yes, I completely agree, but I'm not about to let him introduce me to the girl I found him in bed with when we were dating."
Becca gasped. "That was her? He had the freaking gall to bring her as his date and introduce her to you?!" She was fuming and I couldn't blame her. If I wasn't standing next to Liam, I would have been much angrier about the situation myself. But the moment Josh was out of my sight, Liam’s cologne wafted around me and I remembered the guy I was actually here with. Liam trumped all.
I glanced up, making eye contact, and rested my hand on his forearm. "I hardly care. I'm here with you and there's no one else I'd rather be with. I just would love to not have to pretend to like her if I don't have to."