Eruption - Chapter 22 #3
"Yeah, sorry about that." I sat down on the arm of the couch. "I came back over to see if you liked that cookie."
"I liked making you laugh." He gave me a charming smile.
I laughed awkwardly. "But did you like...that dick?" Geez.
He laughed. "I'm not gay if that's what you're asking. Trust me." His eyes had landed on my legs.
"Oh, no, I didn't think you were." I quickly stood up. "Have a good night, guys." I made my way back to my table despite him calling after me. My heart was beating fast. "This is so awkward," I said and sat down in my chair. "Please can we just go home?"
"We'll give you an easy one next," Marie said. "Let's skip to number nine. All you have to do is make googly eyes at someone until they send us a round of drinks."
"You still have a million shots on the table."
Kendra laughed. "Honey child, we're only just getting started."
I sighed.
"How about him," she said and pointed to a guy at the bar. "He's been staring at you all night."
I turned to see who she was pointing to, but immediately looked away when I made eye contact with him. "Some random guy isn't going to send us all drinks. Don't be ridiculous."
"You have years of being single at a bar to fit into one night. So put your hand through your hair and casually look back over at him."
"Ugh." I tucked my bangs behind my ear and looked back over at him as discreetly as possible.
He smiled at me and I immediately turned away.
"He really can't keep his eyes off you," Kendra said. "And he's handsome. I bet he's great in the sack."
I laughed. "Is that the thing I have to veto? Done. I'm not hooking up with a stranger."
"We would never put that on the list," Bee said. "Well, Kendra wanted to but I told her no."
"Thank you." I shook my head.
"You know what really make guys possessive?" Kendra asked. "Seeing a girl they want with another guy. If we really want that sexy man to buy us drinks, we should make Penny do number ten."
"Perfect," Melissa said. "You have to dance with that first guy who bought you the drink."
"He already thinks I'm going to sleep with him at the end of the night. Please don't make me talk to him again."
"You won't be talking. You'll be dancing," Melissa said. "And make sure you walk by the guy who's going to be buying us drinks later."
"Should I shove a penis cookie in his mouth while I'm at it?"
"That's not a terrible idea. I can add that to the list," Marie said and lifted up her purse. "Just let me find a pen."
"Don't you dare." I got up before any of them could add another stupid thing I had to do.
"A whole song, Penny!" one of them yelled after me.
I walked toward the guy who had bought me a whiskey, making sure to pass the one they wanted to buy us a round of drinks. I smiled shyly at the guy. It looked like he thought I was going to stop and talk to him. I noticed him frown as I leaned against the counter near my future dance partner.
"Back already?" he said with a smile. "How'd you like the whiskey?"
I laughed. "It was awful."
"I'm sure it wasn't that bad."
"Oh, it was. Thanks for that."
"Anytime." He seemed pleased with himself.
"You said you'd be willing to help with..."
"Do you have something else fun on your list you want me to do for you?" he said, cutting me off.
"Yes actually. Will you dance with me?"
He smiled. "I'd love to." He downed his drink and whispered something to his friends before walking with me toward where the DJ was set up in the back of the bar.
Unfortunately it was a slow song. He grabbed my hand and pulled me in close. I could smell the whiskey on his breath and it made me ridiculously uncomfortable. I tilted my head to the side so I was staring over his shoulder. Just one song.
"Whoever you're marrying is a very lucky guy," he whispered in my ear.
"Thanks." Did James think he was lucky? I had thought so before yesterday.
But I wasn't sure anymore. Does he even love me?
The alcohol and my friends' laughter had momentarily distracted me from the notes he had written to Isabella.
He loved her so much. I didn't want to be here right now. I just wanted to go home.
"You're beautiful, you know."
For some reason his words made me want to cry. I didn't say anything. I just turned my head away from him even more. The song would be over any second.
"What are you thinking about?" he asked.
I suddenly felt even more uncomfortable. "I miss him." All I wanted was to be in James' arms. I needed to hear him say that everything was okay. And that he loved me.
"You don't have to go home alone tonight." His hands slid down to my ass.
I pushed on his chest and stepped back. "I'm sorry, I'm not...I'm not looking to go home with anyone."
"Let me buy you another drink."
"No, I've already had too much to drink. I'm sorry." I quickly walked away from him and ran directly into the guy I was supposed to be making googly eyes with.
"You okay?" he asked.
I looked over my shoulder. "Yeah, I'm fine. I just..." I shook my head.
"Bad night?"
"Honestly, I miss my fiancé. His friends kidnapped him for his bachelor party this weekend. So my friends decided to throw me a bachelorette party. All I really wanted to do tonight was watch a movie."
"Honestly, I'd rather be watching a movie too."
I smiled. "I'm not interested in going home with anyone tonight. I'm just going to go back over to my table."
"I'm not trying to sleep with you. I mean, you're gorgeous. But I'm not an asshole."
I looked up at him.
"You're engaged."
"I am."
"I was merely going to try to get your number in case things went south."
"Things aren't going to go south." I wasn't able to admit that they had already started to. James and I were still fine. We had to be.
He shrugged. "I was engaged once. I didn't think that would end either."
It was like he knew what I was going through. "What happened?"
"I don't think commitment really means the same thing today as it used to."
I thought about the pictures of James with Rachel and Isabella. I thought about all the love notes. "You're probably right. It still means something to me, though."
"So how about I just buy you a drink and casually slip you my number?"
I laughed. "Actually, I could use your help."
"And what do you need help with?"
"My friends have this list of stupid stuff they want me to do. Including getting someone to buy us a round of drinks."
"Let's go see what they're drinking then." He touched the small of my back for just a second to direct me back to the table. When we got there, he put his elbows down on the table and smiled. "Ladies."
They all giggled.
"Can I offer you some refills?"
"That would be fantastic," Kendra said.
"What were you drinking?" he asked and smiled down at me.
"If I could just get some water, that would be great."
He nodded. "Probably a good choice. You seem a little drunk."
I couldn't even argue with him. My friends had been shoving drinks in my face since I had arrived at Bee's. "Maybe you should just get a round of waters for the table."
"Are you sure you don't need more shots?" He smiled and looked down at the table covered with shot glasses. Half of them hadn't been touched.
"I think we're good there. Just water."
"If that's what the lady wants." He winked at me and leaned in close. "Hopefully free drinks count," he whispered into my ear. "If not, I'll be by the bar. And here's my number just in case your fiancé takes commitment as loosely as my fiancée did." He slid his business card into my hand.
I looked down at the card and then back up at him, knowing perfectly well that I would never call that number. "Thanks."
"Really, water?" Melissa asked as soon as he walked away.
I laughed. "He was nice. I didn't want to make him pay for a whole round of drinks. Plus, you guys are getting me wasted. I can barely walk in a straight line." At this point, I probably couldn't.
"That's okay, it still counts," Bee said. "Plus," she grabbed the business card out of my hand. "Penny just scratched off number seven too."
"You got his number?" Kendra clapped her hands together. "Oh my God, he's like a walking sex ad."
I laughed. "Did you want it?"
"Yes please." She snatched the business card out of Bee's hand. "I bet he's amazing in bed."
Marie rolled her eyes.
"Speaking about sex," Kendra said. "On a scale of one to ten, how good is James in bed?"
"An eleven."
They all laughed.
"I haven't met an eleven in years," Kendra said. "I think all the elevens are in relationships. And why wouldn't they be? Their dicks are like fucking Gods."
Marie laughed. "You put too much emphasis on sex. There is so much more to a relationship than that."
"I thought Carter was good in bed?" Kendra asked.
"He is. I'm just saying..."
"Mhm," Kendra said, cutting her off. "All about that dick."
Melissa laughed.
"And what about you?" Kendra asked Melissa.
"What about me?"
"Are you seeing anyone right now?"
Melissa glanced at me. "Yeah. Actually, I just started dating Tyler."
Kendra squealed. "The cute one that Bee and Penny always hang out with?"
Melissa took another shot from the table. "Yup, that's the one."
"And how is he in bed?"
"Well...I personally think he's an eleven."
This is so awkward.
Kendra smiled. "Usually younger guys have no idea what they're doing. But every now and then you find one that's super eager to please. I think I might just be in the mood for a younger guy tonight." She looked around the bar.
Melissa grabbed the paper from Kendra. "Okay, what's next?" She looked down at the paper and then handed it back to Kendra. "Do you want to skip around again? How about we do number 12?"
"No, let's just do what's next. Oh, perfect. List everyone you had sex with in order from best to worst, Penny."
"I'm going to veto that one," I said.
"Seriously? We have you making out with a stranger near the bottom of the list."
"What? I'm not doing that."
"I know. That's why you have to do this one. We all knew you'd veto that one."
"I..."