“I don’t,” she snaps, her head turning back to me.
“Good.”
“Do you come to these parties to feel better about yourself?”
“What?” I almost laugh at the question.
I have no idea who she thinks she is, but crying or not, I’m not putting up with crap from anyone. Ever. Did enough of that through my youth. No way am I doing it with some girl I barely know.
Even if she is clearly nearing a total mental breakdown. And wearing a very short skirt.
“Do you hang out with the smaller bands so you can show off what a big shot you are?”
“No.” I chuckle. It’s not every day a girl insults me back.
“Oh. I just assumed.” She slides off the porch rail, turning to face me. “You could be at the big clubs hanging out in the VIP section. Or throwing a party of your own for all your famous rock star friends. Instead, you’re here.”
“I like these people.” I take a drag off my cigarette. “They aren’t half bad. Maybe you should take a fucking chill pill, get off your high horse, and try to get to know them.”
She looks stunned by my comment. Part of me hopes it stung a little. Don’t care how well off her family is, or what she went through. She doesn’t get to judge anyone else.
“I don’t think I’m better than them,” she snaps. “I’m not some stuck-up bitch.”
“No?” I let the corner of my lips curl up, eyeing her up and down. Drinking in the short-pleated skirt, that shows off just enough leg to pass as sexy, but still conservative. The turtleneck covers her top half, but sticks to her like glue, leaving little to imagination. Teasing in all the right ways, but letting every guy know she doesn’t sleep around. “Could’ve fooled me.”
Her mouth opens but no words come out. Quickly she snaps it shut, staring at me like she can’t believe what I just said. Her hands squeeze into fists, as she shakes her head in frustration.
“God!” she exclaims. “Guys like you are such assholes.”
“Spoken like a stuck-up bitch.” I laugh.
Her mouth drops open again, but then she is marching up to me. The glare on her face makes my cock throb. Her light blue eyes remind me of the clear sky before a storm. A part of me is tempted to let that storm consume me for the night.
But that would be a bad idea. Unless…
“You don’t even know me,” she fires back. “I am not stuck up.”
She is fuming and it shouldn’t make me happy to have gotten under her skin, but I can’t fight the grin that comes over my face. I’m in trouble and the self-destructive addict that lives inside me is excited to see where it takes us.
“Maybe stuck-up isn’t the word, but I bet a good chunk of change on the bitch part being true.”
“Why?” Her question comes out in a grumble. Trembling with rage. It shouldn’t make me happy, but it does.
I’m digging myself into a hole here. I’m just drunk enough not to care if she goes and sells the story of how Ben Parker is an asshole. It’s a badge of honor to me at this point. I do like her brother’s band, though. I would like to tour with them again. So, the right thing to do would be to walk away.
But my feet stay planted. An arrogant smile plastered on my face as I stare down at this very angry hot chick, trying not to get an erection.
“Your brother lets you tag along to a fun party, and you spend the whole night trying to make his life a living hell, while sulking around like a stuck-up bitch.”
Her eyes go wide, and her lips tremble, despite being too stunned to speak.
“I mean, I get it. This isn’t your scene. Obviously.” I glance down at her brown and cream outfit. “But for your brother’s sake, you could at least pretend to have a good time. These parties lead to connections. This kind of thing could be great for his career, but instead of being supportive, you keep nagging him. That’s pretty selfish. And very bitchy.”
In a fraction of a second, her clenched fist opens, and her hand collides with my face. There is a good amount of force behind it, but it barely leaves behind a sting. The act of it takes me by surprise, though. I didn’t expect physical violence from her, but I don’t hate it.
I laugh when she pulls her hand back. My hand rubs over the spot she hit. I’m in shock and my cock is now officially partly hard.
“Not helping your case, Prue.”
