I turn back to him and catch him rearranging himself in his jeans. I want more time with him. He seems different tonight, more relaxed, softer than I’ve seen him before. If he asked me to, I’d leave with him right now.
“Okay, you giant horn bag. No gazing deeply into his eyes either. Let’s get you a drink,” Megan says, dragging me downstairs with Luce not far behind.
We stumble up the steps after what feels like hours later, Lucy crawling up in slow motion with her heels in her hand. The girls have been buying my drinks all night, but to keep it hidden I’ve been downing them on the spot—even though we would spot either Mase or Charlie watching us from above every so often. It’s like I’m seventeen again, sneaking into nightclubs, trying to get served.
We’re laughing our way to where the boys are seated with not a care in the world when Lucy stops short in front of us, throwing her hand out to stop me from walking any farther, her heels slapping against my chest.
“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 instead. Embarrassing myself is the last thing I want to do.
“Nina.” Mason stands, stepping up to me so he’s 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 look at 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 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’s 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.
