Nico: I hear you’re going to the Drillers New Years Eve party with Chase and Lucy.
Me: Yeah. She guilted me into it. Be safe with the guys. I’m happy to hear you three finally made up.
Nico: I don’t know that I’m going to NY anymore. Too many people. I just want to stay in and cuddle up.
Me: Oh. And who are you cuddling up with?
Nico: You, if you say yes.
Me: Well if you end up in NY, be safe. And try to stay out of the headlines.
Nico: I love you, Valentina. My new year’s wish will be to have you back in my arms.
“Lucy, I really hate you right now. Why did I let you talk me into coming to this damn thing?” The crowd of football players, their significant others –or not so significant– and Drillers donors is growing by the minute.
Monty and Killeen really went all out, yet again. Gold and red decorations touch every surface of their luxurious home, and an abundant amount of waitstaff walk around with trays of food and drinks for guests to gorge on. Apparently those are just the apps because they have a fabulous meal planned for everyone.
“Because I was not about to let you stay home by yourself and pout into a bowl of spicy dill pickle chips, wishing you could be with Nico but being too bull ass stubborn to do so.” We walk side by side, cocktails in hand and searching for Chase who disappeared into the sea of people.
“I would not be–” She pans me a knowing look. “Okay. I’d probably be sulking. But at least I wouldn’t have to be stuffed into this dress.”
I look down at my body and run a hand over the velvet fabric but can only feel the inside of my matching red gloves. Somehow I let Lucy not only talk me into coming to this party, but she also convinced me that a wine red strapless velvet gown with matching elbow high gloves were necessary.
Like the last over the top party the Montgomery’s had, this one had a theme for the night. And while it’snot as creative asAll That Glitters,Royal Goldis pretty impressive. Gold being that of oil, and royal being the color red. Since I already wore a gold gown, I thought it was only fitting to wear red this time around. However, the dress I originally had in mind was nowhere near this extravagant.
“Once that clock strikes twelve, I better see some smiles from you or so help me Valentina, I will sock you right in the vagina.”
I clench my thighs and cover the area with one hand. “Ouch. Why so hostile? Geez.”
Lucy sticks her tongue out at me and we continue to move through the crowd until we spot Chase
And Nico.
“Did you know?” I grit through clenched teeth.
“Know what? I’m not sure what you’re talking about.” She sashays in their direction, ignoring me and sipping her drink.
With a heavy sigh, I follow her and continue to squeeze my thighs for and entirely different reason.
Nico stands next to Chase, eyeing me from head to toe as I do the same to him. A three piece suit in a very familiar deep red paired with a black button down shirt makes him look like we were cut from the cloth. The top few buttons are open and he fingers the gold chain that always hangs from his neck. When I reach his face he licks his lip then bites it to really drive the nail into the coffin that is my sanity.
When I finally come to stand toe to toe with him, Lucy grins and exclaims, “Oh look! There’s…someone we know. Let’s go talk to them, Chase.” She grabs his hand and tugs him away before either Nic or I can blink.
“Wow. You are ravishing.” Nic takes my hand in hisand kisses the back of it. “You take my breath away, mi Reina.”
I smile and hide my face, turning it down, to disguise the buzz that flows through me. “Thank you. You look very handsome yourself.”
When I look at him again, he reaches out and touches my necklace. The one he gave me that matches the earrings he gave me. The pulse in my neck jumps from his touch and I’m sure he can see the goosebumps that roll across my shoulders.
“So I guess you didn’t make it to New York,” I joke.
With a small shake of his head he says, “How could I go to New York when the only place I want to be is next to you?”
I gulp down the squeal and stomp on the girl who is kicking her feet inside of me. She’s jumping on the bed in her nightgown and begging me to please let that boy sneak in our window and do naughty things to us. I try to put up a fight and tell her now is not the time to give in, but my voice is sounding a little more like Charlie Brown’s teacher and less like that uptight woman that I’ve known for so many years.
My knees quiver and my thighs quake.What am I waiting for?
“Nothing,” I whisper and Nic looks at me confused. That quickly changes when I say, “Fuck it,” and wrap my arms around his neck.
