Maybe I should?
“Sorry, Amber. I guess I just don’t trust him. Not after everything he’s done to you.”
Eddie’s eyes widen. He looks from me to Amber and then back at his drink.
“Eddie?” Amber’s voice trembles a bit.
He guzzles the rest of his beer in one long gulp and jumps up so quickly I get whiplash. “I’m gonna check on Wesley.”
We both watch him leave, and I know what’s about to come next. I really shouldn’t drink alcohol when I’m angry.
“Alright, bitch,” she whisper yells, eyes narrowing down on me. “What the fuck aren’t you telling me?”
“I’m not getting in the middle of this already imploding circus of a relationship. If you can’t see how wrong he is for you, that’s your problem.” The crowd is starting to grow, and from over Amber’s head, I notice a guy staring at me near the bar. He’s tall, with light brown hair, and is wearing jeans and a soft red flannel that hangs haphazardly over a plain gray T-shirt. There’s a slight goatee on his chin, and his eyes, from over here, look strikingly blue. He salutes me with his beer and grins, showing off his broken smile.
“What the hell has Eddie done to you?” Amber seethes, forcing me back to our conversation.
“Nothing. And thank God for that. But I see what he’s doing toyou.”And to Pippa. But I won’t say that part out loud. That’s not my secret to spill.“He’s a liar and a cheater, Amber. You should wash your hands of him before it’s too late.”
“I love him, Poppy. You’re supposed to be my maid of honor, not my executioner. Besides, I’m just as guilty of cheating as he is.”
The fact that she believes this gaslighting bullshit is insane. “I hate how you try to justify his infidelity by comparing it to your own. You fucked another guy. So what? You did it because even your subconscious knows how wrong Eddie is for you.” My eyes roll before I can stop them, my laughter filling the booth. It’s filled with mockery, but she doesn’t pick up on it.
“Eddie’s not wrong for me, Poppy. I’ve never felt this way about anybody before.”
“It’s because you don’t give yourself a chance to move on. Besides the Australian hottie, he’s the only guy you’ve ever been with, and you’ve told yourself that this is the kind of relationship you deserve. It’s not, Amber. You’re above this. Above him.”
She looks down at her drink like she’s taking in every word I’m saying. Maybe deep down, she knows I’m right, or maybe she’s just afraid to say the things she’s thinking out loud.
To my dismay, Eddie and Wesley are back at our booth, ending our conversation almost immediately.
Wesley drops a drink in front of me with the biggest grin on his face, his gaze pinning me in place. That smile dismantling. I do my best to shake it off, but then he speaks, messing up everything.
“Here you go, beautiful,” he says with pride.
My eyes move to the drink he ordered for me. It’s my favorite. A bartender's special concoction mixed with fruit juice, a bit of rum, and a punch that could put hair on your chest if you’re not careful. “Thanks.” We briefly make eye contact before I break it. “How much do I owe you?”
He laughs. “Come on now, what kind of guy do you take me for? Your drinks are always on me.”
I eye my glass; the red liquid looks mighty tempting to throw. He is wearing a crisp, light blue button-down shirt. It could use more color. Red would be perfect. “That can be arranged.” My lips slide evilly into a smirk, one that doesn’t bother him at all.
“If you want to see me with my shirt off, all you have to do is ask, Poppy.” He unbuttons the two top buttons of his shirt, showing off his sculpted chest.
Look away, Poppy. Don’t fall for his charm again. He broke you last time.
“You’re delusional.”
He leans in, his slightly alcohol-tinted breath hitting my skin like a wave of euphoria. My skin prickles with endless goose bumps, and I shift in my seat, trying to fake how attracted to him I really am. “Maybe. But I’m also very determined. I’ve seen the way you look at me when you think I’m not paying attention.”
“I was checking to see if your ankle monitor was still on.”
“Touché,” he says, grinning. “Still, I like a woman who keeps tabs on me. Feels like foreplay.”
Rolling my eyes, I playfully push his shoulder, making sure it seems more disgruntle than it really is. Honestly, this kind of banter does things to me it shouldn’t. “You aresogross.”
Ignore him.
Deny his advances.
