FOUR LIV #2
Leaving the happy couple behind, Mason pulls me behind him, gently nudging his way through the full dance floor.
A small spot is open, and he takes the opportunity to pull me close to his body.
My skin instantly heats as his right hand grasps my left, and the other wraps around my back. We’re body to body, chest to chest.
“You look amazing, Liv.” His lips brush my cheek again. “This dress is putting so many thoughts into my head. Ones that aren’t anywhere close to G-rated.”
A blush creeps up onto my cheeks, and I look down at our touching bodies. “Thank you.”
A fingertip captures me underneath my chin, bringing my eyes up to clash with his. “Don’t look down. Accept my compliment like a strong woman. You are beautiful. You know you are.”
His thumb begins to run along my lips, the collision with his own imminent. I close my eyes, bracing for the kiss. The one I know needs to happen to make this appear real. The one I’m dying for. It’s just a breath away, and there is nothing that can stop…
“May I cut in?” Trey’s voice, the one I used to love but now cringe at the sound of. “Well, we. Evelyn will dance with Mason.”
“I don’t know…” Mason starts, but my pushy sister steps between the two of us.
“Don’t be silly,” she interjects. “She’ll be fine. It’s not like he wants to steal her away from you.”
This causes both of them to laugh, and despite being against this, we allow it to happen. Trey takes me into his arms as Mason does with Evelyn, only this time, I keep my body far away from his.
Once we float away from the other couple, Trey begins to talk. “So, Mason is your boyfriend?” Trey asks, attempting to get closer to me.
Annoyed, I stiffen my arms to keep him at a distance. “He sure is. A pretty amazing one at that.”
“You know.” He leans into me. “Everyone who has seen this little charade thinks you’re lying.”
“Really?” I scoff. “I don’t give a shit.”
“Yup.” He pops the “p”. “Everyone but me. I KNOW it’s a lie.”
Praying to the God above that Mason decides to reclaim me again, I ask, “How do you know?”
He slithers closer, like the fucking snake he is, and whispers, “Because no one could ever compare to me, Liv.” His slimy finger trails down my arm. “You could have had it all with me, but you gave it up.”
I push him off me, gaining as much distance as I can within a crowded dance floor. “Don’t touch me.”
“My God, Liv. She looks just like you,” he repeats his earlier statement, stepping closer. “I should have gone after her first. It would have made for less wasted time.”
Tears begin to prick at the sides of my eyes. He was never so callous before. “I’m sorry I wasted your time, Trey.” I turn to walk away. “Now, if you’ll excuse me.”
He grabs my arm, pulling my ear to his mouth. “It wasn’t all wasted. You definitely give better blowjobs than she does. At least you swallowed.”
I snatch my arm away, slapping him across the face. “You’re fucking sick.”
My feet can’t carry me away fast enough.
I can hear gasps and Trey calling me a bitch as I run toward the door that leads me to a staircase.
Lifting my dress so I don’t step on it, my heels click against the metal stairs.
I glance into the windows of the overfull second level, bypassing it and continuing my trek up the stairs.
The realization hits that I am stuck on this damn cruise for the next one hundred eighty minutes, surrounded by those I love who don’t think I’m good enough, those who betray me, who are overly opinionated, and sick fucking ex-boyfriends.
I just don’t get it. What the hell is wrong with these people?
Stepping onto the top deck of the Spirit, I find it’s completely open.
Only a couple of people are up here. I spot another bar in the corner and make a beeline for it.
I’ve never been much of a drinker, and I know just two more drinks will have me tipsy, but it will help the tension I feel.
When I’m stressed, I have a glass of wine, but that just won’t do tonight.
“Gin and tonic, please?” I request for the second time tonight. The bartender nods and starts to make my drink.
I look around the wide space as I wait for my beverage.
There are tall tables with chairs, some couches, and beautiful views of the city that looks smaller the further we drift away from the shore.
A couple stands at the edge. I don’t recognize them, but they look happy, and it makes me feel so very lonely.
I don’t understand why I feel this way. I’ve done just fine for the past year or so without a steady relationship.
Maybe it’s Mason. Maybe it’s because for the first time in a long time, I want that extra connection with someone now in my daily life. God, he is a pain in my ass, but when he isn’t around, I miss him.
Jesus. I can’t believe I just had that thought.
I miss Mason? No, I don’t miss him. I’m just still reeling from his touch this afternoon.
It’s been a long time since I’ve had someone’s hands caress my body.
The callouses were everything I’d imagined, but it’s not Mason I miss, even if he is a great guy.
If you pull back the layers of sarcasm and a sexual harassment lawsuit waiting to happen whenever he is in the same room as me, you get a pretty amazing guy.
From what I can tell, he is smart with his money, does everything I ask him to with one hundred percent effort, is fully focused on his career, but will drop everything to help someone who needs it.
He’s good-looking and takes care of himself mentally, by always brushing up on the latest education, and physically, by eating healthy and going to the gym.
He is independent. I’ve never seen him ask for any favors from his father, and he loves his mother.
I’ve heard him send her flowers a few times.
He’s dominating when it comes to sex, based on what he demonstrated to me this afternoon, and he showed up for me tonight.
In a world where almost everyone I know seems to be letting me down, he showed up, and that makes me want him more than anything else.
“Uhm.” I turn to the bartender after that last thought. “I’m going to need a shot of tequila with that.”
The bartender places it in front of me. My fingers grip the small glass of amber liquid, forgoing the lime and salt, and pour it down my throat.
It burns, but the heat takes the edge off that I have tonight.
I grab my unfinished gin and tonic before making my way over to the railing to look out toward the water.
More thoughts of Mason penetrate my mind.
I can’t want Mason, can I?
I can, and I do.