My head is light, the alcohol working through me, warming my blood and loosening my nerves but I’m struggling to stand up straight.
“Okay,” Willow holds me up in the bathroom, “No more wine for you.”
“What?” I slur, “Why not?”
“It’s three p.m. You didn’t eat any of your food and can barely stand up. I’m pulling the card, no more drinking.”
I pout, “Boo.”
She shakes her head, manipulating my body until I’m leaning on the counter so she can wash her hands before we exit the bathroom.
She has her arm around me as we make our way to the room still brimming with people, but she suddenly stops, pulling me to a halt with her.
“Water,” I tell her, “I need water.”
“Hold on!” She snaps. “Who isthat?”
With blurry eyes, I search the space in front of us until I can just make out the shape of two people. Malakai stands outside of the room, with a woman.
A very pretty woman. In a red dress, her lips painted the same color. Strawberry blonde hair and a body to die for, yeah, this woman is a knockout. And she’s standing really close to Malakai, her hand on his chest.
“Bitch.” The word slips out before I can tell my tongue to stop, and I slap a hand over my lips. But too late, Malakai is staring at me, a frown tugging on his brows, and I have the strangest urge just to smooth out the crease that forms between them. He grips the woman’s wrist and tugs her hand off him before he stalks toward me, head cocked as if trying to keep my eyes since I’m tilting.
Strong arms band around me and I feel Willow let go, giving me to him. Traitor.
“Who’s she?” I ask, unable to stop myself.
“No one you need to worry about,” He hoists me up, his arm around my waist strong and firm but he turns us away from the hall and toward the stairs.
“Where are we going?” I ask, stumbling over my words.
“You’re going to bed.”
“No.” I dig my heels in.
“What do you mean, no?” He groans.
“I’m going back in there. We’re putting on a show.”
“No, you’re making a fool of yourself,” He snaps.
“Oh, fuck you too,” I snatch out of his arm and stomp toward the hall. But his arm is there again, dragging me back until my spine hits his chest.
“Olivia,” He warns.
“You’re not scary.” I tell him.
His laugh is like smooth whiskey, so deep and warm it sends a zap down my spine that then coils low and hot in my stomach. It’s the alcohol, I tell myself. It isn’thim.
“If it’s not fear making you shake, kitten, please enlighten me to what it is you’re feeling right now that is making your body tremble so badly.”
I flare my nostrils, dragging in air, trying to clear this fog out of my head. The wine was a bad idea, I should have been smarter, now my thoughts are lagging, and my body is betraying me.
I wiggle out of his hold, point my finger in his face and promptly do… nothing. I’ve got nothing right now. In a huff, I spin on my pretty strappy shoes and beeline for the hall, making it all the way to find Willow getting comfy in Sebastian’s lap.
“Hussy,” I grumble, “They’re the enemy!”
She rolls her eyes, “Drink your water.”
