Life of the Party (Wayward #1)

CHAPTER 38

The banquet hall was decorated as lavishly as the church had been: all satin and silver, dripping with fragrant white flowers, glowing with soft white candlelight. It was extravagant, and elegant, and expensive. I wondered how much my parents had spent. Obviously, nothing was too good for their little girl.

I couldn’t help but feel for Grey, trapped at a table with them. I’d never thought of my parents as snobby before, but the way they were treating him—like he wasn’t good enough to be sitting there, like they resented his very presence—told me otherwise. They weren’t even giving him a chance.

To earn my eternal gratitude, Aunt Linda made up for my parents’ disdain, talking with Grey from across the table as they looked on, listening in with a frown.

“What is you do again?” She asked Grey after he complimented the steak.

“I’m a chef at the Red Wheat. That’s where Mackenzie and I met.” He explained.

“So you know a little about gourmet cooking?”

“Not exactly.” He laughed. “It’s a good restaurant, but it’s not gourmet. I don’t think I’ll be there too much longer, though.”

“Oh?” This piqued Dad’s interest enough for him to speak. “What will you do?”

“Well, sir, I’m hoping this record deal turns into something more profitable.”

“…You’re going to be a rock star? That’s your plan?” Dad scoffed. I frowned at my baby vegetables as I eavesdropped, biting my lip.

“I hope so,” Grey admitted shamelessly. “We’re pretty good. We’re working on our first album now.”

“Hmmm.” Mom pondered, condescending to join the conversation. “Isn’t it awfully hard to become a famous musician? What if it doesn’t work out? ”

“I don’t know. I haven’t got that far yet.”

“You know, Jake Donovan, that’s Blake’s brother…” Mom motioned to him.

“Wait—Blake’s brother’s name is Jake?”

“Yes.”

Grey laughed in amusement. “Their names rhyme?”

I smiled to myself at his observation, a giggle escaping my lips.

“He’s a solid young man, that Jake,” Dad spoke up in his defence. “He’s only twenty years old and already an up-and-comer at his firm.”

“Really? What does he do?” Grey’s voice was polite, but completely uninterested.

“He’s in finance.” Mom burst excitedly. “Everyone’s talking about him.”

“Yes, he’s very successful for someone so young. Maybe you could talk to him. He might have an opportunity for you. Maybe a more…reliable career.” Dad offered.

I sat there, listening, remembering the day Marcy brought Blake home to meet my parents. They hadn’t acted anything like this; they’d practically rolled out the red carpet and placed a crown on his head. But now they couldn’t even treat Grey with a little common courtesy. Why? Because he wasn’t rich like Blake? Because he didn’t have a six-figure trust fund waiting in the wings? That sucked. I dropped my fork—giving up the entire eating facade—and looked over at Grey, an open apology written on my face. He was just sitting there, calm and cool and gorgeously handsome like always. I was completely amazed at his total composure.

“Yeah, thanks. I’ll remember that.” Grey answered my father.

“Something to consider. Nothing wrong with respectable employment.”

“No, sir.” He agreed.

I couldn’t take it anymore. I leaned over the table and caught Grey’s eye, motioning towards the exit. He smirked and nodded, following as I got up from my seat and headed out of the room.

He met me just outside the hallway. Giggling, I took his hand and led him through the lavish lobby until I found exactly what I was looking for—a vacant, single-occupancy washroom just off the foyer.

Grey’s face was curious as I pulled him clandestinely into the bathroom, shutting and locking the door behind me. “What are we doing?” He wondered suggestively. I set my purse down on the thick stone counter and rummaged through it.

“This.” I held up my vial, triumphant.

His blue eyes lit up. “Why are we doing this?” He chuckled in surprise .

I smiled and scooped up the cocaine, rapidly inhaling it. I shut my eyes in relief and then handed the container to him with a shrug. “Because, fuck ‘em. That’s why.”

“Fuck ‘em.” Grey agreed, sniffing some blow quickly and handing it back to me. I did some more, sucking it back as deeply as I could muster. The happy, buzzing trembles overwhelmed me once again, and I felt normal, like I could finally think straight. I let out a happy, shaky sigh as Grey took some more.

It wasn’t long before we were both thoroughly, impossibly, giddily stoned.

My heart was pounding, my teeth grinding, and I couldn’t keep the smile from my face. I met his eyes and we laughed together at nothing.

“Now that I’m good and wrecked.” He wiped at his nose. “Your parents should really approve of me.”

“Ugh, trust me. With them, it’s better to be stoned.” I checked the mirror and wiped the white residue from my nose, then fixed my hair with a trembling hand. “Do I look okay?”

“Better than okay.” He smirked, and his blue eyes narrowed lustily as they looked me over. He placed his hands around my waist and with a careful, wicked grin, lifted me up so I was sitting on the bathroom counter.

It may have been the blow or the time we’d spent apart, but the warmth of his hands shot heat straight through my veins. I couldn’t remember ever wanting Grey as badly as I did at that moment. I pressed my knees around him and grasped his tie, pulling him towards me, slowly, until our lips finally touched.

Sparks flew then. I forgot everything…Marcy, my parents, the wedding…everything but the feel of his lips pressed to mine and the hard strength of his hands on my body. In moments we were breathless, dishevelled, and desperate for each other. I couldn’t stop, I didn’t want to, everything within me was screaming, go, go, go…

A hard, sharp rap on the door jolted us both out of the moment. Only then did I remember where we were, what we were supposed to be doing. I couldn’t believe the sheer lust that came over us, the depth of the desire still burning in my veins.

“Yes?” I tried to calm my frantic breathing.

“Mackenzie? Are you in there?” Mom demanded impatiently. I met Grey’s eyes in alarm. He lifted his eyebrows in amusement.

“Yes,” I answered.

“What are you doing? The speeches are about to start.”

Holy crap. Had she followed us or something?

“Sorry…I’m not…feeling well,” I lied quickly. “I’ll be out in a minute. ”

“Are you okay?”

“Yeah, I just, I need a sec.”

“Okay. Hurry up. They’re waiting.” Irritation was evident in her voice. I waited until her heels had clipped briskly away from the door before I dared to speak again.

“Shit, Grey, what do we do?” I barely stifled a giggle. “We’re so busted.”

“I know. Here, you go first.” He grinned, pulling the straps of my dress back in place. “I’ll wait until you’ve gone in, and then I’ll come later.”

I agreed to his hasty plan, smoothing my dress, taking a breath to calm my frenzied pulse. I wondered if my cheeks were flushing as hotly as they felt. “Do I look high?”

He looked me over and shook his head. “I don’t think so. Do I?”

Grey was gorgeous as usual. His eyes were a little glassy, but not noticeably so. I straightened his tie, my touch lingering on his chest. “No.” I breathed.

“Go.” He smirked, removing my hand. “Before you get in trouble.”

Somehow, I made my way to my seat. I couldn’t keep the smile from my face; I had to suppress the urge to giggle the entire time. Grey came back in after a while, giving no excuse for his absence as he sat back down at my parent’s table. They pointedly ignored him. He winked at me, and I grinned right back.

Then the emcee started the program. I fidgeted through the speeches and the slideshow, restless and high, itching for the night to be over. After the thousandth picture of Blake and Marcy cuddling to the tune of “I Honestly Love You” by Olivia Newton-John, it was time for the first dance.

The newlyweds took their place on the dance floor. Marcy looked impeccable, glowing with happiness as Blake whirled her around the ballroom, a three-piece orchestra accompanying them with soft, gentle music. After a few moments of this, it was time for the bridal party to join in.

This meant I had to dance with Jake.

I bit my lip as he bleared across at me, approaching unsteadily, grasping my wrists a little rougher than he needed to and wrapping them around his neck. I stiffened at his touch, deliberately looking at anything but him as we moved around the dance floor.

“I don’t know what’s wrong with you,” Jake spoke finally, wine on his breath. He scoffed and glared in Grey’s direction with total repugnance. “Why would you want someone like him ? He’s got nothing.”

“He’s got everything I want.” I retorted.

“Yeah, looks maybe. Those don’t last. I’m talking money. ”

“I don’t care about money.”

“You say that now, but you’ll change your mind someday. By then, it’ll be too late. You’ll be kicking yourself for missing out on this opportunity.”

I shook my head, determined to ignore him. We waltzed closer to my parents’ table, where my mother took the opportunity to smile and snap pictures of us.

“Just look at them. Don’t they look great together?” She was exclaiming, loud enough to be sure Grey overheard. I shot her a look. Mom could keep right on dreaming. Jake and I were never going to happen.

“See? Even your mother approves of us.” Jake smiled. “I saw them at dinner. They don’t like your boyfriend much, do they?”

“Like that matters.” I rolled my eyes.

Jake chuckled in amusement. His hands moved down the bodice of my dress, resting against the small of my back, pulling me closer.

“I know what you’re doing.” He murmured.

“You do, do you? And what is that?”

“Playing hard to get.” He lifted a hand to brush a tendril off my shoulder, his eyes falling to my lips. “It worked, okay?” He whispered breathily. “It worked.”

Then he kissed me.

He caught me totally off guard. One moment we were the proper distance apart, and the next, my face was in his hands, his lips mashed against mine.

I let out a cry, but before I could even think to push Jake away, he was already off of me. I staggered back in surprise, watching in stunned amazement as Grey’s fist slammed into Jake’s face and sent him sprawling backwards across the dance floor.

There was a collective gasp from the reception guests as Jake landed on the ground in an undignified heap of Armani; I think a few people even shrieked at the sight. I couldn’t believe my eyes; I couldn’t stop the giggle that bubbled from my throat as he struggled to collect himself, his cheek swollen and puffy with the beginnings of a handsome shiner.

Blake stepped forward to avenge his brother, his face taut with anger, but Marcy grasped his arm and held him back with a quick shake of her head. My mother was absolutely livid; her face flushed deep red as she glanced around in apologetic embarrassment at the appalled wedding guests. Dad merely stood, his mouth hanging open with shock and dismay that quickly turned to full-on outrage. The veins stood out on his forehead as he turned his eyes to my boyfriend .

“Are you okay?” Grey was indifferent to the hushed murmurs of the horrified guests and the heated stares from my humiliated parents. His blue eyes were concerned, edged with residual anger as he turned them to me, his handsome face tense.

“Yeah, I’m okay.” All eyes were on us; everyone had stopped in their tracks—even the musicians stopped playing to see what would happen next.

I smiled at Grey; I couldn’t help myself. I didn’t care that everyone saw.

“Mitch, do something.” I heard my mother hiss. She glared up at my father expectantly. “Get him out of here!”

Dad’s eyes narrowed at Grey. He cleared his throat and pointed his finger menacingly towards the door. “Son, I think it’s time you leave.” He threatened.

“What? Why?” I stepped between them, indignant. “For stopping that creep—”

“No, Mackenzie.” Grey placed his hand on my arm, and his touch was gentle, even though his face was furious. “Don’t… It’s okay. I’ll go.” He shook his head. “I’ll see you later.”

His warm hand slid down my arm, and then, under the watchful eyes of my parents, he turned to go. The guests made a path for him like a pariah. Mom crossed her arms, her eyes flashing triumphantly, and Dad shook his head at me in disgust.

I glared right back at them.

I didn’t stop to think; I only knew I was going with Grey. No way I’d stay there—not with them, not after this. I rushed back to my chair to gather my things, and once my mother saw what I was doing, she pounced on me.

“Stop this right now. Mackenzie, you are not going with him.” She whispered harshly.

“The hell I’m not.” I stepped around her, suddenly face-to-face with my beautiful sister, her arms crossed in fury, her dark eyes glittering with angry tears.

I looked up at her, shocked to realize…maybe I’d ruined her wedding after all.

I was sorry for it. I really hadn’t meant to.

“Marcy, I—”

“Just go.” She demanded.

I turned and fled down the same path Grey had taken, and no one tried to stop me.

I didn’t look back.