“Now we’ve got plenty of drinks,” Ardsley says. His shirt is cluttered with red diamonds, a perfect contrast to Tyson wearing white clovers over a black tank top. “Hi, Reed.”
“Hi, Ardsley.” Reed turns to Tyson. “Nice to meet you. I’m Reed.”
“You’re Reed?” Tyson asks in disbelief. He turns to Ardsley. “Babe, you weren’t kidding. Skyler has good taste.”
My face burns up, and Ardsley slaps his boyfriend’s massive bicep. “Stop,” Ardsley murmurs with a grin. Meanwhile, I’m praying the music is loud enough that Reed doesn’t notice.
I turn to see more happy patrons dancing on the linoleum floor, and an idea strikes me. “Let’s dance, Sung.”
“Oh, no, I don’t?”
Ignoring him, I take his hand and drag the man forward. We’re in the middle of throngs of happy, drunk people, and I start doing what I do best. I shimmy and shake without abandon while the pop music ramps up in speed.
“I’m not much of a dancer!” he says. Noticeably, he’s still smiling and moving his shoulders.
“Just get loose with it!” I shout over the thumping percussion. “It’s a party!”
“I’m not even wearing a costume!”
I laugh and undo my cape while shaking my hips to the beat. In moments, I have Reed draped in the dark fabric. “There!”
“What am I supposed to be?” He moves to the beat, loosening up as I pull him around by the cape.
“Like a sexy, cape man!” I dance and try not to freak out that I let it slip about how attractive I find him. That one margarita I had must be hitting me hard. To his credit, Reed just laughs.
And we continue dancing. We’re swaying bodies to the beat, having a good time. I spin, and he laughs, and all is right in the world. It’s just him, me, and the music.
But all perfect moments must come to an end. A hand touches my shoulder, and I turn around. My smile falls when I recognize the guy in a white tank top and jeans.
“Hey, sex kitten,” he purrs.
“Andrew?!” My annoying ex-boyfriend stands before me.
“Your ass looks great in those leather pants.” He makes a grab for my butt, but I manage to dodge him.
“What are you doing here?” When I look past the crowd, my friends are engrossed in each other. Turning around, Reed stares at me in confusion.
“I’m at a Halloween party, dancing with the hottest guy I’ve ever seen.” He touches my shoulder, and I flinch away. Where was this affection all the times I wanted commitment? Hewanted to fuck around, I cut him loose, and now he’s suddenly enchanted by me?
“Is something wrong?” Reed asks over the music.
“No!” I smile at him, then turn to Andrew. “Can we take this outside?”
“Hell yeah.”
I guide the one person I never wanted to see again down the sidewalk, leading to the beach. The crashing waves are the only soundtrack around us while the stars shine down. “Do you wanna get naked on the beach?” Andrew asks in that smug tone.
“No!” I spin around at him, not caring that sand is getting in my shoes. “You said you didn’t want me, Andrew.”
“I didn’t want to be boyfriends.” He smirks and flexes his admittedly nice muscles at me. “But now that we’re here…”
“There is no we. You wanted other men; you can have them. Not me.”
“Come on, Skyler baby. You’re being ridiculous.”
He reeks of cheap booze. “Andrew, I don’t want to be with you.”
“But remember all the good sex we had?”
