| |
WREN
The girls took me to a new club for opening night. I wasn’t a huge fan of clubbing, I was more of a home body, but Eva insisted I needed to go out and unwind with my friends. And I figured, since I actually had some cash to spare because of Tate’s rent money and the fact he made me let Nelson go, I might as well enjoy a night out.
The cocktails were flowing, maybe more than they should, and I knew I needed to pace myself, but I was genuinely having a great time. It was freeing to forget my money worries, my cruel tenant, and his overly tanned girlfriend.
“Let’s dance,” Eva insisted after I finished my third pretty pink drink—I didn’t even know what was in them, but they tasted like cotton candy.
I groaned. “Do I have to?” We’d already danced, and my feet hurt.
“You have great moves thanks to that pole of yours, so get your ass back out there and shake it.”
She led me to the dance floor where the girls were still dancing, now with a couple of guys hovering close by. I rolled my eyes. This was why I didn’t like clubbing. I wanted a girls’ night. I was happy for a girls’ night. But in places like this, you couldn’t just go out and have drinks and dance without being groped at least a few times.
Eva pulled me close and threw her arms over my shoulders as she swayed her hips and laughed. She was always the life of the party.
“Hey, isn’t that Tate Montgomery?” Blake leaned in and shouted in our faces to be heard over the music.
My blood chilled, and Eva’s head whipped around. “Oh, shit. What’s he doing here?”
“Who cares? Let’s go say hi!” Blake stared over my shoulder, fluffed her hair and rearranged her boobs so they were almost spilling out of her dress.
“Uh, no. It’s okay.” I shook my head. Why was he here? I couldn’t face him, not after earlier.
“But you’re obsessed with the man,” Blake said, staring at me as though I’d lost my mind.
“Lost interest.” I chanced a glance over my shoulder, and there he was, walking in the direction of the bar.
“Come on. When will we ever get the chance to introduce ourselves to him again?”
Eva laughed. Little did Blake know, I saw more of him than I cared to admit. He hurt me, and if I didn’t need his rent to survive, I’d evict him.
Blake pushed between Eva and I and headed in the direction of Tate, but as she neared the edge of the dance floor, I reached for her. “Abort mission.”
“What? Why?”
I pointed to Rachel a step behind him. “Girlfriend alert.”
“Ugh, she’s so fucking lucky to go home to that every night.”
“I wouldn’t be so sure.” I pulled her back to Eva. “Let’s just dance,” I said before either Tate or Rachel realized I was there. My good mood was dwindling fast, and if I didn’t lose myself in the music, I’d end up leaving and going home to eat my weight in ice-cream and leftover pizza.
“Bitch be coming your way,” Eva hissed in my ear, and before I had a chance to comprehend her words, claw-like fingers gripped my upper arm and spun me around.
“This is all your fault!” Rachel screamed in my face. “You ruined everything.” She shoved me in the chest so hard, I stumbled back into Eva’s waiting arms.
I didn’t have a clue what she was talking about. I didn’t do anything wrong.
Blake and Emerson stood on the side, staring transfixed at the situation unfolding. Great. No doubt there’d be two more NDA’s on my countertop in the morning for my friends to sign.
“Rachel.” I raised my hands in defense. It was like trying to calm a savage animal. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“You and your poor me act. Wren, the pathetic, fat girl with nothing to offer but insight on the best pizza toppings. You did this! And now you’re going to suffer. I will end y—”
She was cut off by Tate appearing out of nowhere and wrapping his arms around her waist. Way to support the crazy girlfriend. They were perfect for each other. Tate didn’t say a word as he picked her up and threw her over his shoulder. With what I assumed was meant to be an apologetic smile, he turned and walked off with a screaming and thrashing Rachel in his arms. Looking around me, I realized everyone had their phones out and were likely taking photos or recording the whole thing. I wondered how that was going to go with his need for privacy, then I laughed.
I didn’t care.
He was a bastard.
But he was still sexy.
That jaw of his when it clenched in anger or frustration. Jaw porn. That’s what it was.
“You okay?” Eva asked, pulling me out of my thoughts.
I shrugged. “What was that about?”
“No idea. But whatever it was, you seriously pissed her off.”
“Explain,” Blake said.
‘Umm.” I shot a worried look at Eva, but she just clapped her hands to her cheeks and shook her head. She was no help.
“What did Tate Montgomery’s girlfriend want with you?” Emerson asked. “Mistaken identity maybe?”
What could I say? I was legally bound to secrecy and so was Eva. But they were my friends and they witnessed everything firsthand.
“Do you know her?” they pressed on for more information.
“I think we need a drink,” Eva suggested, and I prayed they’d agree.
“We need answers.”
My prayers went unanswered.
“Look, I...”
“Maybe she had you confused with someone else,” Eva tried.
“But then why...”
“Because I broke up with her,” Tate’s deep, gravelly voice sounded from behind me. I tensed when his body pressed into mine.
Emerson and Blake’s jaws dropped and they elbowed each other in the sides, their eyes darting from me to Tate and back again.
“Eva, think you and your friends can leave us alone? I can make sure Wren gets home,” Tate said, his hands coming to rest on my hips. He was touching me. Why was he touching me? I wanted to pull away. I was so mad and upset with him, but he was so warm and strong, and his hands felt nice.
My body was a traitor.
Emerson and Blake looked at Eva, then Tate. They were going to get whiplash from moving their heads back and forth so fast.
“Uh...” Eva looked at me for confirmation to which I shook my head rapidly.
“No. Eva. Don’t...” I warned.
“Sure. We were over this club anyway. They let too many psycho bitches in.”
Eva was a traitor too.
“Good,” Tate said and pulled Eva over to whisper something in her ear.
“Okay,” she said, “but remember, I’m watching you.” She pointed at her eyes then at Tate before dragging a still-gaping Blake and Emerson off the dance floor.
I shook off Tate’s hold and walked to the bar. If I was going to listen to him, I was going to need more to drink.
“I was thinking we could go somewhere quieter.” Tate grabbed my hand and pulled me toward the door. I followed reluctantly because, well, he was holding my hand.
Stupid body.