“So…?” he whispered. He couldn’t possibly mean he liked me better than that woman. No, the idea was absolutely absurd.
“You cannot prefer me to her.” I shook my head. I could not be what he wanted. Whatever happened between us, Neil would always be attracted to other women, women like the total smokeshow who had just come in. I wasn’t delusional; I knew he didn’t feel the same way about me as I did about him.
“Did you know men don’t like it when a woman’s too insecure?” He smiled at me, and it actually seemed like Neil Miller was flirting with me.
“Doesn’t matter. I don’t want you to like me.” I hoped I sounded convincing. His eyes slipped down to my hands, which couldn’t stop shaking, and he instantly had all the confirmation he needed.
“Such a liar,” he said in a soft, amused voice.
I found myself squirming awkwardly on my stool because my body was apparently responding to the siren call of his stare.
He could have stripped me naked right there on the spot.
“Look who we have here. Hey, Miller.” A feminine voice broke the spell. I immediately turned to see the gorgeous black-haired girl giving Neil a casual smile.
It hadn’t occurred to me that these two might have already known each other, and my shock was obvious.
She touched Neil’s side, and he did absolutely nothing to remove her hand.
“You’re here, too, Megan?” He heaved a sigh of annoyance and finally moved away from her touch. Megan checked him out just like every other girl in the club had, but Neil remained cold and apathetic.
“You remember Britney?” The beauty gestured to the small blond girl at her side, and as I examined her huge eyes, sensual lips, and long, light hair, I remembered precisely where I’d seen her before: in the pool house.
It was her. The same girl who’d given Neil a blow job right in front of me.
A sudden storm of emotions had me wobbling on my stool. I tried to project indifference, but the dark-haired girl saw how upset I was. Her gaze moved to me and immediately slid down my body. Was she actually checking out my legs? Embarrassment washed over me.
“I gave you my number. I thought you’d call.” Britney faced Neil directly, clearly disappointed. Neil, however, just kept wearing the same grim, uncaring expression.
He had already used this one. Once was enough for him.
“Must have lost it somewhere,” he answered vaguely. “Maybe in the toilet? Who can say?” He was truly sneering at her now. I couldn’t help but pity her even as I also felt relief. Neil hadn’t seen her after the pool house so they’d never slept together again.
I knew I was being irrational, but that discovery pleased me. Fortunately, I couldn’t recall any of this girl’s specific gifts because I’d been trying not to look in the pool house specifically, so I wouldn’t have those obscene images burned into my mind. Still, I felt a burning sensation in my stomach at the knowledge that this girl had touched Neil.
She knew his taste that we’d discussed earlier while I’d never experienced that particular intimacy with him. The very thought of it made me tremble with jealousy.
“See, Britney? Never put your faith in assholes, because this is what happens,” Megan cut in, shaking her head.
Neil stood up from his stool and managed to make them both flinch with the sheer imposition of his body. These women both feared and desired him, and it was frustrating to watch them become so enthralled with his presence.
“I can’t stand you, and I can’t stand these stupid theatrics,” he snapped at Megan.
“I’m going to the bathroom; I’ll be right back,” he said to me, his voice softening. The other girls furrowed their brows, perhaps wondering why Neil Miller was bothering to tell me where he was going. I just nodded and watched him walk into the crowd.
“Are you his girlfriend?” Britney asked me.
I turned to her and caught her watching me haughtily.
“You must be Selene. My sister has told me so much about you.” Megan, unlike her friend, stuck out her hand for me to shake. I gave her a puzzled look.
“Yeah, that’s me. Have we met?” I reciprocated her handshake, and she smiled at me.
“No, I’m Alyssa’s sister,” she explained. Oh, sothiswas the famous Megan whom Alyssa had told me about so often. I felt my attitude toward her shift immediately and become much more friendly. She was my friend’s sister, after all. The only friend with whom I’d really established a close relationship here in New York.
“Oh yeah! We’re really good friends.”
“She told me.” She approached the bar and signaled for the bartender to bring her two beers. “You want something?” she added kindly.
