Chapter 13
“Who is James Howlett?” Ricky yells as he hits the bell on the table just as Janice slaps her bell and screams, “Logan!”
I lift the answer cards to cover my smile as the two teams begin arguing among themselves.
“You’re wrong, Janice! You’ve only seen the movies; you didn’t even bother to read the comics!” Ricky hollers behind his hand and rolls his eyes.
Who knew superhero trivia could get so heated?
I clear my throat, and they all look at me with bated breath.
“The tie-breaking point goes to … Ricky and the Wolf Pack. Wolverine’s real name is in fact James Howlett. Logan was his alias, as well as Weapon X.”
Ricky jumps out of his seat and crosses his hands in an X across his crotch, then howls in victory. “Suck it, Janice! You’re such a know-it-all in the office. Well, how does it feel to lose?”
“Why don’t you shut up, Ricky? Before I come over there and make you?—”
I hold my hands out. “Whoa, whoa, guys. It’s just a game. Let’s all take a deep breath and remember that this is for fun. It’s just a bonding activity, not anything that matters.”
Ricky does a victory lap around our tables, hands in the air like he’s waving to all his fans, while the Wolf Pack cheers and Janice and the Smarty Pints scowl at him.
Shit, Leo was right. These people really do take their trivia seriously. I don’t think I’ve seen a more competitive group … ever.
I thought Fern and I were bad. We used to fight like mortal enemies over every board game we ever played until we learned we were stronger as a team. Our twin bond gave us an edge that didn’t even feel fair at times, like we could read each other’s mind. Once we figured that out, we were pretty much unstoppable in any game where we had to communicate and work together.
Janice jumps out of her seat, trying to steal Ricky’s invisible trophy, and I panic.
“Hang on. Hang on. Let’s not get physical?—”
“I’m going to kick your ass, Ricky. Then, I’m going to CC you on every minor expense report correspondence that comes across my inbox. Now until the end of time!” Janice hisses.
Ricky audibly gasps. “You wouldn’t!”
She pulls out her phone and types something, then looks back up, wearing a devious smile.
He grabs his phone from his pocket, swiping it open, and lets out a bloodcurdling scream of horror. “Three hundred unread emails! You bitch!”
“Those are just from after five. Just wait until you open your inbox on Monday morning.” She throws her head back and cackles like an evil witch.
I have to admit, that was pretty harsh. Everyone knows Ricky can’t leave work until he’s read every email in his inbox.
I scratch my head, trying to think of something, anything to distract them because, right now, the Wolf Pack and the Smarty Pints are staring at each other like two gangs ready to brawl.
A server walks by with a tray of shots, presumably for the group of young people sitting in the corner, and I blurt the first thing that comes to mind. “Who wants shots?”
Ricky and Janice both pause and look at me like I’ve grown two heads, but I don’t really have time to think of a better game plan, so I grab the tray from the server with a pleading expression. “I’m so sorry. I really need to borrow these unless you want this place to turn into a WWE wrestling ring in the next five seconds.”
To my surprise, she obliges with no argument … which makes me wonder if this is a normal occurrence around Ashford Falls.
“Could you send those guys another round on Leo’s tab as an apology?”
“You got it.” She winks. “Watch out with Ricky there. Too much tequila, and he’ll be singing karaoke and trying to give everyone in here a lap dance.”
I quirk a brow. “Is that right? So, he’s a happy drunk?”
She laughs. “Oh, yeah. Total blast. I’d even be willing to bet that he wore his leopard-print thong just in case …”
I nod my head. Now, that could be a fun time.
“Keep the tequila shots coming, would you?”
She just grins. “I knew I liked you. Looks like it’s going to be one of those nights. Can’t wait.”
I grab three shots and head to Janice and Ricky, shoving one in each of their hands. “What do you say we make things a little more exciting tonight? No more competition, just bonding and having a good time.”
I watch as Ricky and Janice stare at each other. Then, Ricky throws his shot back with a hiss. It’s the closest thing to a truce Janice is going to get, and I think she knows it, so she follows suit, wiping her mouth with the back of her hand.
I down mine and wince, then grab the mic. “Who’s up for a little karaoke?”
Ricky’s in the middle of a particularly sensual rendition of “I Want to Sex You Up,” and I look around the room, feeling a warm flutter of accomplishment. Everyone’s gathered around the small stage, and they’ve pushed all the tables against the walls, creating a dance floor in the middle of the restaurant.
Smiling faces fill the space as far as the eye can see, and the Wolf Pack and Smarty Pints are blended evenly now; you wouldn’t even know there was almost a brawl over X-Men trivia just an hour ago.
This is exactly how things should be. Leo would be pleasantly surprised if he saw everyone getting along so well, and I’m just glad a little quick thinking on my part and a few rounds of tequila shots were all it took to get everyone to bond and get along.
The spotlight shines on Ricky as he moves from the stage and makes a beeline straight to Janice. To my surprise, she doesn’t slap him or even flinch when he begins grinding himself on her. If anything, she looks … flushed?
That can’t be right. Janice hates Ricky …
She fans her face as she sways to the music, encouraging him to grind on her more.
I nearly fall over from shock when he grabs the back of her hair and pushes her to sit in a chair, but she looks like she likes it.
The crowd goes wild as he unbuttons the top half of his oxford shirt and loosens his belt, rolling his hips and gyrating to the music. The song “Bump n’ Grind” begins to play, and everyone claps their encouragement. I guess I’ll get to see Ricky’s leopard-print thong tonight after all.
I cup my hands over my mouth and let out a hoot when Janice grabs his tie and pulls him down, changing places with him.
Oh shit. I didn’t see that coming.
Janice spins away from him and lifts her dress to her knees, putting her ass right in his face, then folds forward and begins to twerk.
My jaw unhinges as everyone loses it, whooping and hollering and chanting her name, which only encourages her. She finishes her twerking, then spins around, kicks a leg in the air, and lands in the splits, and I nearly fall over from shock.
Ricky jumps up, offering her a hand, and to my utter shock, she accepts, letting him pull her back to her feet like it was all a part of the show.
The energy in this place is so high; it almost feels like we’re in a nightclub as I look around, seeing everyone dancing and vibing together.
Fern would have fucking loved this place. This town. These people. She’d have been joining in dancing and making memories with everyone, making the most out of every moment. I can’t help but see her here everywhere I look. I’m more and more convinced that she had a hand in bringing me here a month earlier than I planned. Of all places to crash my car, it just so happened to be here, where a billionaire CEO would need me to pretend to be his fiancée. It’s too ironic to be a coincidence.
When the last chorus of the song plays, Janice grabs a pitcher of water from a server walking by and dumps it down the front of her dress. Her nipples harden beneath the material, and the fabric clings to her, leaving nothing left to the imagination.
The room falls quiet, and then someone yells, “Wet T-shirt contest!”
Suddenly, the crowd joins in, and they all chant together. I don’t think I’ve ever seen such an unlikely group of people share such passion and unity.
A few guys run to the drink stations, filling up pitchers of water and lining them along the bar as everyone forms a circle around the dance floor.
Someone shoves me to the center, and I look around, confused and excited all the same. That’s when I realize I’m standing in the circle of women—who are all easily thirty years my senior—as they shed their bras, slingshotting them overhead in every direction.
I think about Fern’s list and once again how these ridiculous scenarios keep falling in my lap. There’s no way the stars aligned this perfectly to set me up for this.
No, this is one hundred percent my sister’s doing.
I don’t know how or why it’s happening, but it’s like I can feel her near me, like she’s standing right here, cheering me on, wearing that knowing smirk of hers. Like she’s daring me to do it, to live in the moment while I still can.
Maybe it’s the warm buzz of alcohol flowing through my veins or the energy in the room of everyone being so in sync with each other, or maybe it’s a bit of both. Either way, there’s no denying there’s something magical about this town and the people in it. I’ve never felt more right about where I’m supposed to be in life. Like this moment in time was carved out just for me.
So, when I’m handed my own pitcher of water, I reach behind my back and flick off my own bra, sending it flying across the room, slapping Leo Kingsley right in his grumpy, scowling face.
“Wet T-shirts on three!” Janice screams.
Oh shit. He looks really mad.
“One.”
I should stop this before it gets any worse.
“Two.”
Why is he just staring at me like that instead of stopping this?
“Three!”
Oh well, here goes nothing. This is for you, Ferny.
His stare bores into me, sucking me in like we’re the only two people in the room. I keep my eyes trained on him as I dump the freezing pitcher of ice water over my chest, feeling my nipples harden beneath my thin white tank top.
I’m yanked out of the moment when the ice-cold water splashes down my body, soaking my legs and feet, and I suck in a shocked breath.
See-through wet T-shirts fill the room as titties of all shapes and sizes are on full display. Long ones, big ones, small ones …
Who knew Janice was hiding such a great rack under those cardigans?
A laugh bubbles out of me at the ridiculous situation, and I don’t think I’ll ever forget this moment for as long as I live.
“This is the best day of my life!” an old man I don’t recognize shouts, lifting his arms over his head in celebration.
Ricky moves to a now-soaking-wet Janice and pushes her up against a wall. They share a moment of intense eye contact before his mouth crashes to hers, and she hikes up her leg, wrapping it around his back to pull him closer.
Well, damn. Maybe all that competitiveness brewing between them was something else after all.
I feel Leo before I hear him, his anger vibrating in the air between us.
“What the fuck is wrong with you, Ivy?” he growls behind me and spins me to face him, holding up my hands.
“Leo, listen. It’s not what it looks like. We’re just having a little fun, and things got out of hand.”
His eyes trail down my body ever so slowly, his gaze lingering on the see-through fabric of my white T-shirt and my whole body lights on fire. And it’s as if his switch has flipped, revealing the real Leo once again, his eyes growing darker as he drinks me in.
When he finally tears his gaze back up to meet my eyes, his nostrils are flared, and there’s a pained expression on his face.
He moves closer, and I find myself walking backward until my ass bumps against a table as his massive body towers over me, shaking with rage.
“Do I need to remind you that you are my fiancée? You’re supposed to be making me look good.”
“I … I … am,” I stammer out as I brace my hands on the table to keep myself up right.
He grits his teeth. “How the fuck is pouring water over yourself, exposing your tits to the whole town … and encouraging my entire department to do it with you … making me look good, Ivy?”
He lifts my chin with his hand, craning my neck to meet his eyes.
Fuck, it’s so hot when he’s mad. I know there’s got to be something wrong with me if this type of attention is what gets me going, but I have to clench my thighs to keep my throbbing pussy from distracting me.
I press my chest out, feeling his eyes burning across my damp flesh, and my nipples harden even more from his hot, intense gaze.
I open my mouth to speak, but before I can defend myself, he swipes an arm around my back and pulls me flush against his chest.
“You’re such a fucking brat. I left you alone for two hours, and you turned the whole place into a goddamn sex club.” He reaches behind his back and pulls off his shirt, then pulls it over my head. The shirt easily hangs to my knees and engulfs me in the scent of his cologne. “Cover yourself up and go to the car while I deal with this.”
I shake my head. “No, you don’t have to do that. Let me help you shut it down. I don’t want you to have to be the bad guy.”
He quirks a brow. “Really? Since when are you concerned with my image? Go to the car, Ivy. You’ve done enough helping for one night. Don’t you think?” His words are laced with anger and something that sounds like disappointment, and for the very first time, I actually feel guilty for being so impulsive.
I guess I’m not used to my actions affecting anyone else.
“Okay, people, enough with the water!” Jett says into the microphone rather calmly, considering the circumstances.
Again, I’m starting to wonder what really goes on here in Ashford Falls.
“Ricky and Janice, you guys can dry-hump all you want after you help clean up this mess you made. Come on, people. The party’s over. Grab a squeegee, and let’s get these tables back to where they belong. You want to have a rave, that’s fine, but I’m too understaffed to clean this up by myself, and I happen to know where you all work.”
Everyone grumbles as the lights flick on, and they all start cleaning up the mess … like it’s just another regular Friday night.
“I should help clean …” I start to move, but Leo grabs my wrist and slowly shakes his head.
“I told you to wait in the car. You’ve done enough for one evening. Can you please just listen for once?”
“But … I?—”
“I said, go wait in the fucking car, Ivy,” he barks. Then, in a calmer voice, he adds, “I’ll be right there after I settle up the check with Jett.”
I cower a little under his glare. I don’t think I’ve seen Leo this mad … ever … and since I make it my daily challenge to annoy him, I find that truly terrifying. “Okay … yeah. I’ll, uh … I’ll just go wait in the car.”
He doesn’t say anything, but I feel his eyes on me as I hang my head in defeat and head to the car.
I know I’m in trouble … I just don’t know what that means.