Chapter 27 More Dangerous
Twenty-Seven. More dangerous
Tamara
While I’m not surprised Millie got married, I am a little upset they did it without us.
She’s been engaged for a million years, so I’m glad it finally happened.
And judging by her glow, this is the happiest she’s ever been.
That’s all I want for my best friend. After she introduces me to a bunch of guests, I head to the bar where Vera’s chugging on a glass of wine.
“Oh my god, look at your belly!” My cousin sets her drink down and puts both hands on my stomach. Like the baby knows she’s there, they kick up a storm.
“That means the baby likes you.” She grins and I drop my voice to a whisper as I say, “You should have seen Patrick, Vee. He talked to my belly and cried. The man is going to ruin me.”
“We’ve been telling you this for weeks now.” She rolls her eyes and knocks back her drink before calling for another one.
I ask for a ginger ale and lean against the wooden surface beside her. Even though the nausea is gone, the baby and I have finally adjusted to the flavour of this damn drink.
“Just so you’re aware, if you elope, I will murder you.”
Vera chuckles. “Does a registered wedding count as an elopement?”
“If I’m not invited, yes.”
“Jeez, fine. We’ll just have to wait until you pop my new favourite kid out before we make any plans.”
I eye my cousin. “Hold on a minute, did he propose?”
She shakes her head. “No! Just thinking out loud.”
“You’re still open to the idea of marriage though?”
“I’ve always been open to it. A string of bad luck did scare me away for a bit, but I like the idea of spending my life with someone. Calling them my life partner or whatever. And Elias would make such a good husband.”
Patrick would too.
I look across the beautifully decorated backyard to where the Joseph brothers hold onto each other while talking with a bunch of other guys.
While Millie has been our friend for years, I often forget she and Jonathan have a life outside of our circle.
I lean against my cousin and we admire our men from a distance. Until a squeal reaches me.
“Auntie Tam!”
“Little Sammy!” I try to match her pitch, but it’s pointless because she’s five and I’m…not. I do my best to bend so I can hug Krystina’s daughter. She’s a carbon copy of her mother with big expressive eyes and straight black hair that’s always tied up in some weird new style.
“Mama says you’re having a baby.”
“Hopefully she’ll be as pretty as you.”
Samara’s eyes widen and she touches my belly. “Is it a girl? Can she be my best friend too?”
“I don’t see why not.” She bounces up and down as her eight-year-old brother walks over with the attitude of a twelve-year-old. “What about you, Luke the Duke?”
“I’m too old for cutesy nicknames, Auntie Tam.”
I gasp and Vera echoes it playfully as Lucas tries to hide his smile. I ruffle his hair and bend to kiss his cheek. “Until you’re a hundred, you’re going to get all of the cutesy nicknames. So get used to it.”
“Fine,” he says dramatically and then gestures to my belly. “Are you sure it’s a girl?”
I shake my head. “I don’t know, actually. And I won’t know until they’re born.”
Samara pouts. “When?”
“Next year.”
“That’s so far!” Luke moans and we all laugh, because it really is far.
He grabs his sister’s hand and they walk away, whispering to each other.
When I finish my drink, I look across the backyard and my heart plummets.
Patrick leans against the opposite bar as he talks to Vinitha.
I remember when we were all friends, but that’s no longer the case.
Especially since she’s the one Kabir was sleeping with before and after my miscarriage.
She rubbed it in my face as often as possible, but I still never told my friends.
Other than Vera who was there during the D&C, nobody even knows I lost a baby three years ago.
I smooth down my dress and excuse myself from the group of ladies that has suddenly congregated around us and head towards where an evil woman is trying to sink her claws into my man.
I’ll be having words with Millie after this party. What was she thinking putting Patrick and Vinitha next to each other? I should have known she’d be here. She’s Jonathan’s friend from college or something, but she’s also my biggest nightmare.
Ugh, don’t turn into one of those jealous girlfriends.
Jealousy has always felt like an excuse to be a bad person.
Every time someone reacts that way, everybody else suffers.
I don’t think I’ve even felt it until tonight and it’s Patrick’s fault.
I know he’s not going to flirt with Vinitha, but I see the way she admires him, how she can’t take her eyes off him.
Earlier when she was fluttering her eyes at Patrick, my blood boiled.
He didn’t look interested, but I had to mark my territory.
Make it clear to her and the few other single people around that he’s off limits.
Mine, I remind myself.
I stare at the lipstick stain on his throat and when I look up, he’s watching me with a smirk.
I stick my tongue out at him and he chuckles.
When he turns to Jonathan’s brother, I focus on my food.
It’s a five course meal and everything that’s come out so far has been delicious.
As a restaurateur, I’m not surprised Jonathan got the best of the best to serve us and with Millie’s taste in the good stuff, I’m sure everything served is of the highest quality.
“So, carrying a future athlete, huh?”
I glance to my right, my face splitting into a wide grin. I didn’t notice who was on either side of me while I was focused on Vinitha trying to move in on my man. Now I’m staring into the young and handsome face of Millie’s favourite cousin.
“Hey, Paulie. It’s good to see you.”
“You too, Tam. Been a while, huh?”
I nod, realising the last time I saw him was right after my miscarriage and I was in no state of mind to be socialising. Yet, I showed up and put on a brave face.
“So cooking another Olympian?”
“Trying not to put any pressure on this kid before they’re born,” I say instead and he laughs.
“Unlike our families, you mean?” We share a chuckle and he continues. “What happened to…what’s his face?”
“Kicked him out. It was time to move on.”
“I gotta say, the new guy is a big upgrade. Heard about what he’s doing with his foundation and coaching a new team and shit. He seems pretty cool.”
This time my smile is wide and genuine. Patrick is very cool. We haven’t talked at length about what he’s doing with his foundation, but I know enough. Still smiling, I peer across the table and Patrick’s frown deepens.
I nod at Paulie and say, “He’s amazing. We knew each other years ago. Reconnected over the last few months and now here we are.” I put my hand over my stomach. It’s weird to feel proud of getting knocked up, but it did bring us back together and for that, I will never complain.
Paulie says something, but I’m too busy watching Patrick push away from the table and head into the house. I frown at the stiffness in his shoulders and wait until he vanishes through the back doors.
“I’m so sorry. But I have to go…check on something.”
He chuckles. “Didn’t mean to make the big burly hockey player mad.”
I poke his shoulder. “Still being a pain in the ass, I see.”
I grab my clutch and hurry inside as fast as I can in my heels. At this stage, I don’t even think about people noticing us vanishing. I’m so focused on finding Patrick. A server points me in the direction where he went. I turn the handle to the bathroom and it sticks, so I do it again.
“Occupied!”
“Open the door,” I say and twist the handle again. This time the door swings open and I’m tugged inside. He’s frowning and dragging his hands through his untied hair. The bathroom looks untouched and I scan him from head to toe, then reach for his shirt. “Are you okay?”
“I get the whole jealousy thing now.”
I roll my eyes. “Paulie’s a kid and not even close to my type. Besides, I wasn’t flirting with him.”
“No, but he was. And according to Daniel, the kid’s been in love with you since he was an actual kid.”
“Cute.”
“I get it. I was in love with you when I was a kid.”
He steps around me to wash his hands and I lean against the door taking in the strong lines of his body.
Of late, I find myself sometimes simply staring at Patrick, admiring the size and shape of him.
He’s so much taller than me even when I’m wearing heels, but it’s the rest of him that really captures the eye.
“Done eye fucking me, baby?”
“Never,” I whisper and he crowds me against the door, hands skimming down my sides. “You should probably check if I’m wearing anything under this.”
He grins. “I know you’re not.”
He fists my dress and tugs it up, cool air brushing against my thighs.
Our eyes never break contact and when the silky material is gathered around my waist, Patrick groans.
Of course I’m not wearing underwear. It would have been impossible to hide in this dress.
His head starts to dip, but I grab his jaw and hold him so I can stare into his eyes.
“Keep your eyes on me, Trick.”
“I was trying to do that, sweetheart.” I pull him closer and he inhales deeply, one arm coming to rest beside my head. “What do you want, Lotus?”
“Make me come, Daddy.”
His jaw flexes and one hand slides under the dress, rubbing over my stomach, then under the section hanging over where the waistband of my underwear should be.
I bite my lip and his hand moves down until he’s cupping my pussy.
I rock against his palm and his mouth curves into a filthy smile.
Spreading my legs a little, I push myself onto my toes, my heels glad for the relief.
One finger slides through my seam, the sound of my wetness echoing in the room.
He strokes me faster and I quiver, hips rocking against his hand for more.
“Trick, please.”
“Please what, Lo?”
“I want to come.”