Chapter 19 #2
I turn to find Victoria. “Rox is here,” she says. “We need to say hello as well as take some photos.”
I nod as I attempt to keep up with her as she pulls me.
“Oh, and that cute guy from her wedding is here as well,” Victoria beams. “We should do some candid shots of the two of you since the press have been loving the new marketing campaign with him. We need to make them think you’re hooking up with him again.”
“O…okay.” I glance back to find Luke, but he’s gone in the sea of bodies.
For the next hour, Victoria and I are chatting with Rox and her entourage.
Rox does most of the talking, thank God, keeping me engaged.
The guy who was the groomsman that I did the advertisement with is just a few feet away.
On occasion, I glance in his direction, especially when Victoria discreetly taps me as an indication to flirt with him.
It seems he never takes his eyes off me and is always smiling.
I don’t remember his name, which makes me feel a little bad.
Someone said his name a few times tonight, but I keep seeming to forget it.
He and I never officially hooked up at the wedding.
I considered it, but knew that mixing business with pleasure never bodes well.
When I get the chance to head to the bathroom and get a break from everything, I text Mandy to find out her location.
It takes just a few seconds for her to let me know that she’s back on the dance floor, as should be expected.
I text Luke to see if he’s still here and notify Tony that I’m interested in slipping out quietly.
He gives me a rendezvous point to meet. Mandy’s easy to find; she’s one of the main girls with a bunch of guys hovering around her on the roof.
When I ask her where Luke is, she comments around.
My head turns, hoping to catch sight of him while she continues to dance with the three closest men.
“Hey,” I greet Luke as I approach, finding him leaning against a wall.
“Hey.”
“We’re getting out of here,” I state. “You want to come or?—”
“Come,” Luke blurts.
My head snaps back and I can’t help but smile.
“Don’t say it,” he warns with a grin.
My smile widens. “That’s….”
“Don’t,” he laughs.
“What….”
“Dei.”
“She….”
He glares at me.
“Said!”
He bites back a smile. “How are we going to get out of your party undetected?”
“You underestimate the power of the force within me.”
“The force is strong within you,” he says. “But it is not as strong as mine.”
“Oh, a pissing contest now, is it?”
“Never,” Luke replies. “I’m just more skilled. I’m happy to teach you.”
“Promise?” I ask with a more flirtatious tone than intended.
“Hey,” Mandy’s voice calls from behind me. “Are we going or what?”
“We’re going,” I reply. “Just seeing if Luke was joining us.”
Mandy giggles. “What man wouldn’t want to join us?”
“You’re nasty,” I say.
She smacks my ass. “And you like it.”
The three of us are able to make our way through the crowd pretty easily.
I have Mandy leading, helping block me from being seen by people as we pass with Luke just behind me to prevent anyone from slowing us down.
Mandy and I are holding hands as she guides us through the sea of bodies.
When I look back to see Luke, I notice that he’s been blocked temporarily by a few people.
My free arm extends to him, hoping we don’t lose each other.
After a few sidesteps, Luke gets hold of me.
“That was a wicked party,” Mandy laughs after Tony closes the limo door behind us.
“And you’ve had a bit too much to drink.”
“No,” Mandy denies.
“Yes.”
“I’m fucking horny,” she whines.
I suppress a snicker.
“I should have had a random hookup like you did tonight,” Mandy states as she lies down on the seat across from me.
My mouth opens slightly, embarrassed by the fact that Luke will think that I fucked someone. For some odd reason, I look over at him and he offers me a nervous smile.
“Do you think you can go get one of the guys I was dancing with?” Mandy asks.
“No. If I go back in there…I’m never coming out.”
“That’s what he said,” Mandy giggles.
Luke and I can’t help laughing.
Mandy rests for most of the ride back to our place until she reaches across for me to join her on the seat.
She tries to get handsy with me, but I don’t let her put on much of a show for Luke.
Mandy’s completely into guys, but on occasion, likes to play the same team in times of need.
She’s a bit selfish and insecure, which restricts her interactions with men and other women—especially her boyfriends.
Even if curiosity got to me, I don’t think I’d have the courage to do it—not after I’ve already been with her brother.
When we arrive home, Tony carries a passed-out Mandy inside.
I hadn’t noticed that he didn’t join us in the limo, following us home by driving Luke’s car.
Luke offers to leave so I can tend to Mandy, but I tell him that I just need to get her changed.
I’ve seen Mandy drunk before, but she’s not as bad as she’s been in the past. This is mostly just from being tired and it being almost two in the morning.
“Do you have anything with you?” I ask Luke when I find him in the living room.
“What do you mean?”
“Clothes?” I state.
“Just what I have on,” he informs. “Why?”
“You can stay if you don't want to drive back,” I offer. “I’m sure Mike’s left some stuff here at one point or another that you can use.”
“Sure. I usually sleep naked, though, remember?”
“Right,” I reply with a slow breath, imagining what he’d look like.
I change in my bathroom, giving Luke privacy to do the same in the bedroom. I crack open the door, wanting to catch him completely naked. A pout takes over my expression the moment I find him still clothed. He washes up while I check my app and emails.
As the door opens, I say, “You can stay in here with me…that is, if you want.”
“You sure?”
“Yeah,” I agree. “It’s not like we haven’t before. Plus, drunk Mandy snores. You’ll hear her all night.”