Chapter 15 #2
I look over at Ava, seeing her confidence plummet by the second.
Damnit. Jane’s eyeing me back, biting her lip with the same thoughts I’m having.
Why the hell couldn’t this chick have shown up earlier when we were all dancing and having fun and we could’ve distracted her?
! Seriously bad timing. Ava gulps down more of her margarita as we all watch the horror show of Mark basically salivating over Mindy’s boobs in his face.
I mean, I get it, but at the same time, I’m disappointed.
Maybe if we’d had more time for them to talk and hit it off more before this happened, things would be going differently.
“I’ll have to chat with you in a bit, Mindy. I’m here with friends.”
My ears perk at this. I feel somewhat hopeful.
He’s not being straight up rude, and if we can sway things, we might still have a shot at this.
My thoughts crumble when she leans down and brushes her lips across the corner of his mouth before making a show of brushing those boobs up against his arm.
Ava’s not going to want to even try at this point.
“Later, babe,” Mindy coos in his ear and takes off with a sneaky smile.
Bitch… There’s no way she didn’t just see him dancing with Ava. She purposely came over here to stir shit. Colin eyes Mark, then me, then Ava. We’re both thinking the same thing. Tonight’s shot is done for. Thanks a lot, Mindy.
Ava is trying to mask her disappointment, but it’s not working very well. Thankfully, some fun music picks back up, so Jane and I escape with her to the floor to cheer her up.
???
Colin
Mark looks back at me with a wicked smirk after Mindy walks away from the table, disappearing into the throng of bodies. Garrett and the girls are dragging Ava back onto the dance floor, margaritas in hand.
“Can you believe those tits? That surgeon did a fantastic job.”
Trystan and I shake our heads at each other. Mark is completely oblivious to the situation.
“You realize less than ten minutes ago, you were dancing with and attempting to hit on Ava? A pair of titties flash in your line of sight, and what? It all just goes poof?” Trystan chastises him for me, and Mark has the good sense to look a little sheepish.
“This right here is a perfect example of why you can’t keep a steady girlfriend.
Your eyes just wander wherever they please, and you don’t take a minute to think about anyone or anything else that’s not your dick.
” Mark sits back against his chair, crossing his arms across his chest, a bit taken aback by my little outburst. Damn, if he knew what Ava’s been through, he might have considered her feelings a bit more.
I wish I had known so that I could’ve explained things better to the guys.
“She went through hell with her ex-fiancè. She was really nervous to come out tonight because that son of a bitch took it upon himself to make her feel like she was nothing more than a boring prude. He legit called her that. So, please tell me how openly slobbering over some chick’s boobs made Ava feel more confident in her own skin tonight after you were just hitting on her?
She likely feels insignificant. She sure as hell doesn’t feel interesting to you right now. ”
Mark curses under his breath, finally feeling like the asshole he just behaved like. Good.
“I’ll try to make up for it.”
“I probably wouldn’t bother tonight. She’s probably thinking what a manwhore you are right now.”
“Is that really how I come off to everyone?”
We both nod.
“Manwhore, playboy, womanizer, rake, player, ladies’ man, skirt-chaser… I’m sure there’s many other names for it.” Trystan adds, hiding his smile behind his glass of draft beer.
“Joy…” Mark rolls his eyes, our scolding seeping in.
The girls and Garrett choose that moment to come back.
“So, the ladies are going to head out and go back to Sydney’s place for the night,” Garrett announces, a finality to his tone that tells Mark he totally fucked up. I look up and glare at him, letting him know how unhappy I am about my sleeping arrangements getting “unarranged”.
“Oh, shit. Mark, you better start kissing ass. You’re gonna be beer bitch for a while, I gather.” Trystan slings back his last swallow and stands, a “you’re fucked” laugh escaping his lips.
“Among other things. You. Owe. Me,” I grit between frustrated teeth. Tonight was going to be so good…Key word is was.
“I’m sorry, man. I wasn’t thinking.”
“Trystan, Mark…” Sydney steps into our little area, grabbing my hand to tug me away and say goodnight. Fucking Mark!
“Oooh, she used your name. She’s not happy with you either,” Trystan taunts, leaning in to hug Sydney before walking off to say goodnight to the others.
“Damnit…” Mark mutters under his breath, running fingers through his hair before following Trystan.
“I’m sorry about the change in sleeping arrangements.” She looks up at me, a wistful gleam showing me how sorry she really is, but I get it. Tonight wasn’t easy for Ava, and Mark just made things that much worse in her head. She needs her girlfriends.
“Tomorrow night, you’re mine.” I pull her by the waist to my chest, slashing my lips over hers in a possessive kiss. I can’t stand the thought of another night alone in my bed.
“Tomorrow,” she whispers against my lips, the fire in her eyes echoing mine. I growl my disdain for the situation, and she pats my chest, silently letting me know she feels the same. We turn our heads when we notice Mark walking up to Ava. She’s grabbing her purse while talking with Jane.
“Hey, Ava, I’m really glad I got to spend some time getting to know you tonight. It was fun.”
“Was it?” Ava asks, disbelief clearly lacing her words.
She stares for just a second at Mark as he works his jaw, dumbfounded and at a loss for words, before turning her head back to talk to Jane, Garrett, and Trystan.
I was expecting him to walk away, but he stands there and listens to the conversation.
Oh shit… “I wasn’t expecting that,” I mutter to Sydney, and she snickers. “Serves him right. Hopefully he can find someone to tame his wild side down just a tad. So she’s got a bit of fire in her, huh?” She shakes her head, merriment dancing across her features.
“She sure does. She’s really not quiet at all when you get to know her. After hearing her story about Eric, the whole quiet-around-guys part makes more sense. He did a number on her. Was she like this when she was around Jenna too?”
“I don’t think so. I really never gave much thought to it.
I just knew Jenna loved her, so naturally, I was partial to her too.
We didn’t all hang out in a big group though either, so I didn’t really get to see much of her interacting with other guys.
It really bothers me that Eric was such a dick to her.
If I had known, I probably would’ve reached out to her.
Hell, I’d have loved to give him a piece of my mind.
Jenna sure would’ve… Trystan and I gave Mark some hell, by the way. ”
“Good. It could’ve been worse, but the way he was literally just dancing and flirting up a storm with Ava then sat there slobbering over that chick’s boobs was pretty tasteless. She totally thinks he’s a man slut, and figures he’ll be warming Mindy’s bed tonight.”
“Unfortunately, she might not be wrong about that, but who knows. I’m sorry. I was hoping he’d behave a bit better tonight.”
“So is he a man slut?”
“He can be, but most of the time it’s just shameless flirting. He’s not taking home new girls all the time if that’s what you were getting at.”
“Okay, that’s at least good to know.”
The group walks our way, and I decide to walk the ladies out to the car with Garrett. He seems like a really nice guy.
“Goodnight, ladies. Thank you for coming out. I hope next time is a bit more enjoyable.”
They both nod and wave their goodbyes as they crawl into Jane’s car.
Garrett leans in and kisses his bride, telling her he’ll see her in the morning and to enjoy the rest of girls’ night.
I pull my girl in close to my chest and breathe her in, enjoying the mix of Sydney with the salty smell of the ocean nearby.
An evening breeze blows by and causes her to shiver, goosebumps ghosting up her arms.
“Although this night is not going anywhere near as planned, I’m glad I got to still see you. Dream dirty dreams of me.” I give her a wicked smile and kiss her playfully. I’m crazy for this girl.
“I’m sure I will. I’ve got some pent up energy still raging from this afternoon,” she trails off, looking up at me with those big, hungry eyes. I quietly groan my frustration out, biting my bottom lip as the memory of her on her knees for me in the exam room assaults me.
“I promise, I’ll return the favor as soon as I get the chance.”
“I’ll hold you to that.”
“You’re shivering.” Kiss. “Go get warm. Drive safe, and have some fun.”
“Bye, babe,” she coos and blows me a kiss.
Rubbing my palms together, I walk back into the bar and find Trystan and Mark waiting for me.
“One game of darts?” I ask, hopeful.
“You’re on,” Trystan chimes back, and Mark nods.
“Mark, you go last because you ruined my plans with Sydney, and now I have to sleep alone in my bed.”
“Fuck…I’m sorry, alright? I was an ass. Besides, you always got Amy.”
Trystan snorts, almost spewing his beer. I just glare at Mark.
“So. Not. The. Same.” Each word comes in a clipped warning from my gritted teeth.