“Ahh, Luce, your shoes,” I whine, rubbing at the spot.
“Who are they?” she asks.
I glance over at the boys. They all sit in the same seats only now, three women decorate the area—beautiful, long-legged, perfectly groomed women.
A blonde sits on the arm of Mason’s chair, another on Elliot’s lap, and the third is currently rubbing Lance through his suit pants. It’s clear to me that they are hanging off the girls every word, Mase included. His arm is thrown around the blonde’s back, disappearing at the other side of the chair. I imagine his hand running up and down her leg, sending a rush of adrenaline coursing through me as I approach them.
Elliot spots me first, looking over at Mason with wide eyes, and it’s at that moment I know I should leave.
I grasp Megan’s arm just as she says, “Well, haven’t you boys been busy.”
I probably shouldn’t have drunk so much, and I have to fight the urge to pick up their ice bucket and dump it over Mason’s head, planting my feet to the floor. Embarrassing myself is the last thing I want to do.
“Nina.” Mason stands, stepping up to me so he is all I can see. “Are you ready to go?” he asks, pulling at his collar as he squirms under my glare.
“Not with you.”
His eyes spark with a challenge as he turns to the women at his back. Their eyes travel the length of me, Mason and the girls, judgement in their stares.
“You’ll leave with me,” Mason tells me, sensing the animosity.
“You’re delusional.” I shoulder past him, opting to sit on the bench seat next to Charlie. He is the only one who hadn’t been showing any interest in anything going on around him. I look to the woman who had been sitting with Mase. She is watching him as he watches me. Her gaze follows his, our eyes connecting.
She is beyond beautiful, and that only makes me even angrier. I don’t belong here, with these people. She openly glares at me, her lip curling up into a disgusted snarl.
Well, that’s not so pretty, is it.
“She isn’t worth your time,” Charlie speaks into my ear.
“Has Mase slept with that girl?” I ask, unsure if I even want to know the answer.
“I don’t know. I won’t lie to you, Nina. Chances are he has, but he wouldn’t have left with her tonight, that much I’m sure of.” He looks down at me with a knowing smile. “I think you know that too.”
“Do I?” I question sarcastically, crossing my arms.
“You wouldn’t be sitting here if you thought otherwise.”
I ponder what Charlie has said. It’s true, I wouldn’t be sitting here if I truly believed Mason would have left with her. But I can’t help think that the only reason is that he’d already secured me as a solid fuck for the night.
Little miss perfect wasn’t needed.
I seek out Mase. He is leaning against the railing, looking down at his phone with his feet crossed at the ankles.
I don’t notice the blonde approach me, and it’s Charlie’s elbow inserting itself into my ribs that has me snapping out of my angry stupor.
“Do you have a problem?” the blonde spits out.
Lucy and Megan appear out of nowhere, planting themselves behind me.
“No, I don’t, but I think you might.” I swipe a finger along the end of my nose, gesturing to the remnants of white powder on the underside of hers. Charlie chuckles beside me.
“Fuck you, you ugly little bitch!”
I shake my head and smile, her words not penetrating my skin. I lean into Charlie, plucking his drink from his hand and take a sip, needing the liquid courage to deal with the delight before me as she continues.
“God, which one are you fucking? I’d have guessed Mase for sure. Although you seem a bit cheap for him, I suppose you’d suit Sullivan’s budget out of the lot.”
Arms come around me before I can make a move to hit her, and I would have. With no thought or feeling, I would have hit the bitch. Her implication that I could be bought has rage burning through me. I have no idea who has hold of me, but my legs flail as I try to get free.
