Chapter 12
Twelve
"Y ou know Mom is going to slaughter you for wearing that dress, right?" Xavier stated, giving me a passing look as he sauntered into the makeshift dressing room, followed by Michael and Connor.
Their hands were occupied with bottles of champagne they must've swiped from the kitchen and glass flutes held upside down at the base between their fingers. The glasses clinked together as they walked. I winced inside. Mom would rip them a new one if they ruined any more of her crystal.
Xavier looked back at me again, examining my dress as he peeled the foil from the top of the bottle and threw it to the side.
When he turned away to pour the bubbly, I tugged the hem of my dress down a little.
"Will she be that mad?" Holly asked, walking up next to me. She looked worried.
"Fuming," Xavier answered as he handed me a glass. He still looked like he hadn't slept in days. "Normally I sure as shit wouldn't let my sister walk into the viper pits with her tits and ass out for all to see, but I'll let it slide this time to see her reaction. It's going to be priceless."
"Gee, thanks, asshole."
"Even I know she's going to blow her lid," Connor added, passing out the rest of the champagne flutes. "Your mother needs to loosen the buttons of her cardigan. She's so fucking uptight."
"I can work that right out of her," Michael said with a massive, sleazy grin on his face. His eyes gleamed as he wiggled his brows, and I cringed.
Xavier slapped him on the side of his head, then dropped his hips to the counter, leaning casually next to him. Michael didn't flinch. Instead, his grin reached his eyes.
"That's my mother, you sick fuck. Stop talking about her like that."
It was a known fact that Michael had a serious attraction to women who were older than him and already in relationships. It was like a prerequisite. The way he saw it, if he could make them sway even for a second, it wasn't solid. They were fair game.
"What? Can't stand the thought of calling me Daddy one day?" He chuckled.
"I guess you wouldn't mind if I fucked your sister, then, would you?"
Oh, shit. Xavier was out of line. Then again, he always knew which buttons to push.
"That's not even funny, bro," Michael growled, his gaze deadly.
I revolted at the thought of both scenarios and faked a loud gag. I didn't like the direction of this conversation.
"Michael, the last thing I want to think about is my mom, and your sister for that matter, having sex. Just stop."
"I think about it all the time," he instigated.
"Ew, you're fucking gross, Mike. You think about me having sex?" Avery shouted from the bathroom.
He didn't miss a beat. "No, you weird fuck! Not about you."
"Don't worry about anything Mom says to you, I'll take care of it," Xavier said, bringing the topic back to the center.
I glanced at my glass and swirled the contents. Little spurts of anxiety fizzed and popped inside me the way they did in the glass.
I looked up. "She shouldn't have embarrassed me in front of my friends."
I had no idea where my balls came from.
A little smirk tugged at one corner of Xavier’s mouth. "A little freedom has made you a bit rebellious, I see."
I smiled, a little nervous, a little confident. I wouldn't admit it out loud, but I was worried to see her response.
"Defiant looks good on you," he added.
"I think she looks amazing."
Xavier whipped his head toward Avery and I swear his eyes dilated. "Ave." He dipped his chin, his intense gaze deliberately scanned the length of her body. "You look beautiful." He shot a quick look at Holly. "You too, Holly." But his eyes were already back on Avery while he loosened his tie.
"I look fucking amazing," Michael added, his arrogant tone made us laugh. He ran his hands down the front of his chest and smoothed out his shirt.
"Let's get this show on the road. People to meet, girls to do," Connor said, his voice a deep southern drawl.
I rolled my eyes. That dialect meant Michael would use the same one tonight. They once confessed they only used that voice when they wanted to pick up chicks. He thought girls loved a fine, southern gentleman.
Such pigs. What was funny was that southern girls could spot a fake a mile away. They just didn't know that.
We all raised our glasses, said a quick toast, and emptied the bottles of the remaining bubbly before heading down to the party.
The party was in full swing. There were guests everywhere dressed to the nines, music playing in the background, white gloved servers carrying trays of food and champagne.
A proud smile slid across my face. I was enthusiastic about the night, especially since I got to spend it with all my friends I'd grown so close to.
A newfound attitude swept through me. It may have been the two glasses of champagne, but I felt free.
I decided everything that had happened in the past was going to stay in the past. I wasn't going to dwell about how I could've changed things, or how I should've kept to myself and not engaged in a relationship with my coach.
What's done is done. New year, new me. New outlook, new goals.
Conner and Michael went in the opposite direction to do God knows what. Before they left, they told us if we wanted any alcohol to hit up the pool house, but I wasn't planning on drinking more, and neither were my friends. Possibly another glass of champagne when the ball dropped, but that was it.
Oh, God. Midnight. I could kill Avery. I had a sinking feeling Hayden was going to try and kiss me when the ball dropped.
Locking lips with him again wasn't on the list for the night—or year.
An alligator walking on to my lawn was a higher possibility than that.
My lips tingled at the memory and I brought my fingers to my mouth, curious as to what was on his mind.
Hayden was a good kisser, but then again, I didn't have many kisses to compare it to.
I lifted my eyes toward Hayden and found him taking in the scene in awe.
My home looked like something fresh out of a movie, and the more I studied him, more questions crowded my head.
We'd kissed once before when I first moved to Cape Coral, a memory long forgotten, and nothing I'd thought would ever, in a million years, happen again.
But it did tonight. I didn't resist. I didn't pull away.
I didn't question it. The slow caress of his lips said way more than what I was prepared for.
Even though he'd been there for me at the drop of a hat when I needed him the most, I assumed he was disgusted after everything that went down with Kova.
I'd been wrong. So, so wrong. Friends don't kiss friends for the fun of it.
Stopping just before the steps to the deck and against my better judgment, I skimmed the crowd of Wonder Breads looking for one person. Wonder Breads . I laughed to myself at the use of Avery's phrase to describe fake, full of shit kind of people.
"Stop," Avery whispered in my ear, and clutched my forearm. I dragged my attention away from the crowd and frowned at her. "Don't make it obvious."
Recognition dawned on me and I gave a subtle, appreciative nod.
"Ana? Ana!"
Glancing over my shoulder, our eyes locked long enough between the flurry of people for Mom to get a glimpse of me. My heart froze when her eyes widened. Despite the rosy blush she'd dusted onto her cheeks, she looked like her oxygen had been cut off.
"I'm sorry your mom is such an asshole," Avery said, only for me to hear. I nodded, chewing my bottom lip, careful not to smear lipstick on my teeth. Inhaling, I drew in confidence and plastered on my social event face she'd taught me so well to wear.
"Hey, Mom," I said cheerily. Her freshly dyed blonde hair was perfectly coiffed, her appearance on point. I had to give it to her, she knew how to play the socialite part well.
"Mrs. Rossi, thank you again for allowing me and my sister to attend your party and stay in your home. It's very generous of you and we appreciate it."
"Hayden, what a gentleman." With a tilt of her head, she looked pleased.
That was a plus. "You're more than welcome here anytime.
" Her voice was a perfect lilt of culture and wealth.
"There's plenty of food and drinks, so make sure you help yourself to whatever you like.
I know you guys are leaving early tomorrow, so if I don't see you, have a safe trip back and I hope to see you again.
" Just when I thought I was off the hook, she gave me the look.
It was all I needed. "Excuse us, I need a word with my daughter. "
"I'll see you guys in a few. Ave, keep them company for me, please?" She nodded.
Placing her hand on my lower back, Mom guided us until we were out of view of the wandering eyes and gossiping ears of Amelia Island, then she grabbed my arm and lead me straight toward Dad’s office.
Just steps from the door, Xavier turned the corner.
Our eyes locked and his face grew grim when he saw the grip she had on my arm.
He knew. I tried to smile but my nerves got the best of me. I felt downright ready to vomit.
Two dainty, light taps, and Mom pushed open the door. In a saccharin tone, she asked, "Frank, may I have a minute with you, please?"
Dad nodded. A man I'd never seen before excused himself from the room as Xavier walked in and went straight for Dad’s private stash of liquor.
They said nothing as he poured a glass of bourbon and dropped an ice cube into it, but I felt a hundred times lighter with him in there. I knew what was coming, as did he.
"Frank," she huffed, not bothering to disguise her displeasure.
"Joy."
"Tell your daughter to go change her outfit right now. I refuse to allow her to parade around in that scrap of material she calls a dress."
He squinted at me, a crease formed between his eyes. He looked at Mom. "What's wrong with her outfit?"