The Great Hall is crowded and I'm nervous about meeting all of Audrey's friends. I've met Jenna a few times, and her fiancé, Landon, once. But past that, I don't know any of these people.
When I agreed to come down for drinks tonight, Audrey took it upon herself to spit-shine me. After I took a shower, she fussed and fretted over my hair and makeup for a full hour. My scalp is still slightly sore from the mauling that took place. She then proceeded to dress me in her clothes, proclaiming my baggy jeans and sweaters were not appropriate for a posh, winter resort like The Montgrove.
I have to admit, though... I do look nice. For the first time, I would not describe myself as average. I think I'm slightly above right now. I will never have Audrey's natural beauty or confident walk, but as I gazed in the bathroom mirror just a bit ago, I have to admit I'm pleased by the results. Audrey tediously blew out my long hair with the dryer and a large brush, so it was glossy and full of bounce. The makeup she put on me was subtle, all except for my eyes, which she lined with dark kohl. For the first time, I saw more green than mud irises staring back at me. She has me wearing a pair of black leggings with shiny, black riding boots. The scarlet, cashmere sweater that hangs off both of my shoulders gives me an air of sophistication that even I didn't know I possessed.
As we walk toward a large crowd hanging out around the bar, I nervously start to fidget and my palms grow sweaty.
"Stop pulling on your sweater," Audrey hisses in my ear.
"I can't help it. My shoulders are naked and I'm not used to that."
"You look stunning, and every guy here is going to have his tongue hanging out when they get a peep at you."
That thought does not inspire confidence in me. Instead, it just ratchets my nervousness up to Defcon 5. Maybe this was a bad idea. I stop walking and Audrey turns to look at me. She must see the indecision on my face because she grabs my hand and forcefully pulls me along.
"Don't even think about bailing. In fact, I'm going to pour a few drinks down your throat right away so we can loosen you up a bit."
Audrey leads me through the crowd, nodding at people in greeting, stopping to give air kisses to some of the girls, and even suffering a hard slap on her ass by one of the men in the crowd, to which she just gives a saucy wink back to the offender.
Once at the bar, Audrey orders us two gin and tonics, a drink I've never had before, but I accept it gratefully. After my first sip, which burns like hell going down, I nervously take in my surroundings. There must be a crowd of thirty or so people standing around us, and they all seem to know one another. I see Jenna and Landon standing together, his arms wrapped around her waist. I take another slug of my drink and, while it still tastes like gasoline, I won't deny I like the warm feeling in my belly that's starting to set in.
"Now there's the sexiest, hottest FSU grad I've ever had the pleasure of knowing."
I hear those words and, for just an instant—a split second really—I think someone is talking about me, because...well, I'm an FSU grad. But as I turn around, I see Audrey is being lifted up by a bear of a man and hugged tightly. She squeals in delight and hugs the guy back. When he puts her down, Audrey turns to me.
"Hope... I want you to meet a really good friend of mine. This is Carson Mills. He's Landon's younger brother and the best man at the wedding."
My gaze moves from Audrey to the man she's introducing me to and I realize with surprise that it's the guy that Jack was with today. He sticks his hand out to me. "It's great to meet you, Hope. I've heard a lot about you but Audrey didn't tell me her sister was knockout."
I shake his hand, even as my face flames hot over the compliment that is never given to this Camden sister. "It's nice to meet you too."
"Hey," he says excitedly. "I want you two to meet my friend, Jack. He's here somewhere."
Carson starts looking around the crowd and my heart starts beating fast. He's here? And I'm going to talk to him again?
Suddenly, I have the urge to flee. The crowd, the noise, even the burning gin and tonic in my stomach, feels overwhelming to me. But before I can even move my feet, there he is, walking through the crowd toward us.
I see my memory of his magnificence is not dulled in the slightest. He's dressed far more casually than the other people around us, wearing yet another pair of dark jeans and this time a thick, black sweater that hugs his chest like a second skin.
Carson reaches out and grabs Jack by the shoulder. "Jack, this is Audrey and Hope Camden. Audrey is Jenna's best friend and the maid of honor. Ladies, this is Jack Freeman. My best friend from back home."
Jack shakes Audrey's hand briefly, and then turns to me. "So... we meet again."
I nod, trying to think of something witty to say. However, I'm afraid if I open my mouth, a terrified squeak may slip out.
Jack stares at me for a few seconds and then Carson is grabbing him away to meet other people. I stare after his retreating back, furious with myself that I'm such an introvert.
Audrey bumps her shoulder into mine. "Well, that Jack certainly is some hot man-candy, huh?"
I take a sip of my gin and tonic, just to get my tongue unstuck from the roof of my mouth. "I guess."
"You guess? You were practically undressing him with your eyes."
I'm horrified. "I was not!"
Oh, God... please don't tell me I was doing that.
She ignores my exclamation. "So... when did you meet him? And how come I'm just hearing about this?"
"We met outside when we arrived. I tripped and he caught me. We only spoke for a few minutes."
Audrey doesn't say anything, just stares at me in an appraising manner. After several moments of perusal, I can't stand it any longer. "What? What is going on in that perverted brain of yours?"
She smiles at me wickedly and takes me by the arm. Leading me away from the crowd, she leans into me, whispering. "That's it. He's the answer to letting out your inner sex kitten. You should so have a fling with him this week."
"Are you fucking crazy? I am so not having a fling with him—or anyone—for that matter. Gross."
"Why not, Hopey? Why not just have some no-strings, curl-your-toes, shout-down-the-ceiling sex with that guy. I can tell by looking at him that it would be freakin' fantastic."
"Because... because... it's not who I am. I don't even know how to go about engaging in something like that."
"Well, first... you don't call it ‘engaging’. That sounds like a business deal. You just need to flirt a little with him, and trust me, nature will take its course. That guy is interested in you, I can tell."
"He is not."
"Is to."
"Not."
"To."
"Whatever," I say in exasperation.
I tilt my drink up and swallow the rest of it, reveling in the burn. "I'm getting another drink and we are not discussing this any further."
Audrey gives me a wicked smile. "If you say so." Then she turns and walks away.
I head for the bar, intent on asking the bartender to make my next drink a double.