Chapter 14
Natasha
I’m so shitty. So shitty. How dare he ask me if I love him and not say it back?
What was it, a fucking test? Did I pass…
asshole. He probably wants to see exactly how pathetic I actually am, and you know what?
I’m astounded at myself at just how well I passed.
I got a high fucking distinction. He doesn’t call me, except in the middle of the night for a booty call.
He leaves in the middle of the night, so he doesn’t have to do the walk of shame in the morning.
He doesn’t communicate at all with me unless it’s with his damn penis, as lovely as that is.
Hi Tash, Sorry I have to bail on coffee, but do you and your friends want to meet Josh and me at the Ivy tonight? Adrian x
I press the delete button with such force I’m amazed I don’t crack the screen. As if I am going to turn up at the Ivy. He didn’t even text me himself. What a wanker. He can wait there all frigging night or go to hell, either way, I don’t care.
10 p.m.
I am in my flannel PJs, the ones he hates.
In spite, of course, with Abbie and Bridget by my side commiserating and drinking wine.
We have decided he can go to hell. If he can’t call me himself, well then, he bloody well can’t have me.
I must say the thought of him at the Ivy with all of those beautiful women and him being, well, himself, is making me jumpy.
“As if he won’t pick up tonight,” I sigh to Abbie.
“You’re such an idiot,” she snaps. “I thought you wanted answers?”
“I do,” I sigh.
“Well, you are really going to get them here, aren’t you?” I shrug my shoulders as I feel sorry for myself and blow out a breath, my head leaning back onto my sofa.
Bridget chimes in. “Natasha, you are doing the right thing. He’s a self-absorbed prick, remember.”
“What would you do then, Abbie?”
She smiles a sly smile. “I would go and look so unbelievably hot that he would be begging for mercy and then some.” I narrow my eyes. “Why don’t you go and set a trap?”
“Like what?”
“Arrive and then don’t go over and say hello but let him see you.
And didn’t you say he liked dirty talk?” I nod.
“Well, I would get my mouth so filthy it needs disinfecting and then I would go home without him. You watch, he’ll be begging for mercy tomorrow.
And you know what men do when they are needy?
” I shrug—really, I have no idea about men, do I?
“They talk.” She raises her eyebrows and gives me a wink.
I bite my lip and look at Bridget who shrugs her shoulders.
“Hmm, that does sound better than my plan I suppose,” I whisper.
She smiles at me. “Lucky you got that Brazilian wax. It’s not pretty when girls’ pubes hang out the bottom of miniskirts.”
“Eeww, you’re an animal.” Bridget chuckles.
“Hurry the hell up,” she snaps. “Time to tart up. Mr. Stanton is going down.”
I look into the mirror at my reflection an hour later; OK, yes, it’s true.
I do look sort of hot. I’ve got the cleavage happening, thanks to my super-duper booster bra, tight-wrap bandage black dress, my shoes that I want to marry, and my hair is straightened to within an inch of its life.
I’m even wearing red lipstick. If he can resist me looking as skanky as this then good luck to him, he deserves an exit pass.
Now the dirty talk, that’s a whole different story. What the hell do I say?
And how far is too far? There’s a fine line between hot and downright low, maybe I will just follow his lead all night. See how far he can take me.
11:45 p.m.
We walk into our favorite bar at the Ivy and I must say the reaction of a few drunken men outside on the street to my dress has given me the confidence boost I so desperately needed.
Abbie heads to the bar to buy our drinks and I wait with Briget.
She knows a group of girls here from uni and one of them has come over to talk to us.
“Oh my, Natasha, you look amazing tonight.” She smiles. “Have you lost weight?” I fake a smile and nod. I hate it when girls say that when they can’t think of anything else. I haven’t lost frigging weight, you silly bitch. My thoughts are anywhere but on this conversation.
“Two o’clock,” Bridget whispers. I casually look around and I see them, the Stanton boys, well, three of them and Adrian.
Two other men are not far from them leaning up against the wall and I now recognize them as Josh’s bodyguards.
Josh is in his standard jeans and blazer, but he has a pink checkered shirt on, and he looks frigging awesome as usual.
Bastard. I turn away instantly, not wanting to be the one that notices him first. Play the game Natasha, play the game, I chastise myself.
Cameron notices us and bounds straight over.
He grabs Bridge in an embrace and twirls her around.
“How are my two favorite cousins?” He smiles as he kisses her on the cheek.
He comes over to me and puts his arm around my shoulder and kisses my forehead.
“Sorry about the other night. Josh is a prick.” Huh, what’s he talking about?
Oh, the fight night, shit, he doesn’t know that I’ve seen Josh since.
My mind races off in a tangent. He hasn’t told them we’ve hooked up, why would he do that?
I know the answer: to protect me. I am suddenly seeing our midnight visits in another light.
They have been staying at his house so of course he wants to be home before they wake up.
Maybe, and I mean just maybe, I have misread this situation.
Abbie returns with our drinks and I take mine immediately, wishing I could drain the damn tumbler in one gulp.
From the corner of my eye I see the others join Cam and our group.
Adrian kisses me on the cheek and squeezes my hand as does Wilson when he arrives.
Joshua, however, stays back and silent but I can feel him watching me and I refuse to look at him. He can kiss my ass.
I keep playing the game, refusing to make eye contact with him while I talk to Adrian.
“So, why did you bail on me today?” I tease.
He shuffles his feet. “I wasn’t allowed out to play,” he winces.
“Huh, what does that mean?”
He leans in and lowers his voice so that no one else can hear us. “Josh said if he can’t spend time with you then I’m not allowed to either.”
I frown, not understanding his statement. What does that mean? “Josh can spend time with me—he just doesn’t want to,” I snap.
Adrian winces and nods. “By the way,” he whispers. “Josh hasn’t told his brothers about—” he points his glass at me, “—you know,” as he nods his head.
“I thought so. Why not?”
He shrugs. “He’s got it in his head it’s really wrong.”
I scowl. “We are not hurting anyone, Adrian.”
He smiles. “I know, I thought you were OK with it. Josh, however, isn’t.” I take a gulp of my drink without tasting it. Adrian gets his phone out of his pocket and reads the text. He smiles. “I’m going to the bar,” he gestures.
“OK.” I smile. I turn back to Cam and Bridget’s conversation although I’m not in it. I feel my phone vibrate in my bag and I pull it out to check.
Hello x
It’s Joshua. My eyes immediately shoot up to him. He dips his head and gives me a stifled smile. I text back.
Hello
My phone beeps again.
Are you purposely not returning my kiss?
Hmm, what does that mean? Why would he even notice no kiss?
This is honestly the most confusing man on the planet.
I don’t know what to text, so I just look up at him and shrug my shoulders.
He gives me a sad smile; he knows I’m cranky.
Well, tough titties for him. What does he expect?
Bridget thankfully reappears through the crowd with a round of margaritas.
Good timing, Bridge. How in the hell am I supposed to stand two meters from him and not talk to him all night?
This isn’t punishment for him. I’m punishing my stupid self.
I look around the club and notice most of the female population eyeing our group of men.
I look back at the boys and I smile. Of course, they attract attention.
Look how gorgeous the four of them are. They are all very alpha male. My phone beeps again.
Nice dress
I read the message and smile as I bite my lip—this hard-to-get act is wearing thin on me already. I look up and very deliberately do a pirouette to show him the full package. He gives me a carnal smile, his eyes drop down the length of my body, and he cracks his neck. Jackpot, there it is.
Abbie pulls me by the hand. “Come on. We are dancing,” she says as she heads toward the stairs.
“I will meet you down there.” A bartender walks past us with a tray of drinks, and I have an idea. “Excuse me, can I ask you to do me a favor?”
He looks around. “Sure.”
I pull twenty dollars out of my purse. “Do you see that man over there in the navy blazer?” He looks around. “No, over there near the wall.” I point with my chin. “Pink checkered shirt.”
“Oh yes.” He smiles. “He’s hot.”
“I know.” I smirk. “Can you go over and discreetly give him this money and tell him the lady in the black dress and red lipstick would like to place him on layaway?”
He smiles at me as he frowns. “Really?”
“Yes, please.” I pull a whiny face at him.
He heads off toward Joshua and I stand still watching while he taps him on the shoulder and whispers into his ear.
Joshua dips his head to listen and then looks up as the bartender discreetly points me out.
He smiles as he takes the money from the bartender and sticks it in his pocket.
I smile and bite my lip as our eyes lock.
He’s giving me that look. You know the one, the one I love.
Come fuck me, it screams and, boy, it’s smoking hot.
I head toward the stairs to dance feeling quite proud of myself and halfway down the stairs my phone beeps again.
Layaway Receipt
I smile broadly and stop still. Ow, some idiot bangs into the back of me.