“Okay. I’m sorry.” He stepped closer, his hands on her bare arms. Her skin was soft and smooth as his hands brushed against it, and he noted the way goose bumps spread along it. “I pushed too far. But the dude is a douche.”
“No, he’s not.” She jerked his hands off her arms. “Kyle is…the full package. Every girl’s dream.”
“But notyourdream.” He leaned forward and met her stubborn eyes. “I can tell. You’re not yourself around him. I really hate that.”
Flustered, she glanced at her silver heels. “No. We’re great together, and I like him a lot.”
Like, not love. Yes. He lifted her chin, checking out her short, silver dress. “Wearing matching outfits doesn’t make you great together. He calls youbabyfor crying out loud. Since when do you let anyone call you that other than Nick? You broke up with other guys over it.”
“You call me Kiddo all the fucking time.”
“To tease you not to…say I love you.” He swallowed. “I know you too well to know that every time he says it, you’re in physical pain.”
She shook her head, her fingers dipped in the back of her hair, pulling then fluffing. “You know what? This, coming here tonight, was a bad idea. We should leave.” She turned away.
He grabbed her wrist. “What? No.”
She twisted. “When you invited us both I thought you wanted to get to know him better. To get along. I didn’t know your plan was to pull this shit.”
“That’s not… Maggie, C’mon, please.”
“I can’t just watch you being mean to him.”
He let out an exasperated sigh. “Okay. Just look me in the eye and tell me that you’re happy with this guy, and I won’t say anything again. I promise.”
“I’m happy.” She blinked.
He scoffed at her lie. “Can you be any more convincing?”
“Fuck you.” She stalked to the weed table, where H, Mike’s personal party planner and weed supplier, sat rolling joints. “Hey, H. What you got?”
“My girl, Maggie.” He selected a fat joint from the tray in front of him and handed it to her. “You’ll love this.”
Mike got his lighter out of his pocket and lit the joint for her. She fist-pumped H as she inhaled.
“You’re friends with the dealer now?” Mike smiled.
She blew in his face. “Yes. H is my new best friend.”
He coughed and laughed at the same time, his palm at his burning eyes.
“Get the shit.” She started. “And if you open your mouth with one hurtful thing toward Kyle, I’ll chop your balls off and feed them to you.”
He burst into laughter, getting the tray. “God, I love you.”
“Did you just say something?” she yelled.
“I said you’re one hell of a woman.”
Scene13
Maggie
I took a long sip from my cocktail, my head on Kyle’s shoulder, as I stared sideways at the skinny bitch in the golden dress practically giving Mike a lap dance.
“So this is how celebrities party,” Kyle whispered.
“Seems like it.” I ground a toothpick.
