“I’m Tilly, anyone wanna help me get some more shots?” I switch into flirt mode, glancing around the circle of beautifulwomen. The busty blonde jumps up, her tits almost knocking her friend over.
“I’ll help!” It’s clear they’ve all already been drinking tonight, but no one is more drunk than I am. And I’m in a very happy, tipsy space.
“A beautiful woman helping me, I must know your name.” I wink at her, and she turns pink.
“Sophie.”
“Well, Sophie. Are y’all from around here?” I ask, already knowing the answer. They’re renting an Airbnb nearby, and their pregnant friend drove them over.
“Nah, we’re from the city but wanted a weekend away.” Sophie smiles.
“Well, have you ever been up here before?”
“No, but it’s so nice. We’ll definitely be coming back sometime.”
“Well, Sophie, I might just have to convince you to try something else new tonight.” I wink again, and this time she giggles.
“What’s that?” She leans in closer, her breasts almost escaping her low-cut top.
“Why don’t we get your friends their drinks, and then I’ll show you?” I suggest as we reach the bar. Bill is looking at me with envy because Sophie can’t take her eyes off me.
“Sounds good.”
We bring the shots over. This time I take one, then take Sophie’s hand. I press a few buttons on the old jukebox the bar has hooked up. It doesn’t use coins anymore but plays whatever people want. I pick an old song with a good beat and catch Bells looking at me as I lead Sophie to the makeshift dance floor. I spin Sophie around a few times, then pull her in close so our bodies are touching while we dance. Out of the corner of my eye,I see Bells watching. I can’t help it—it’s like my eyes are magnets to her. I’m dancing with Sophie, and all I see is Bells.
Her beautiful curls cascade down her body like a waterfall, her curves teasing me in her achingly tight clothes. She pulls her beer to her lips, and I watch her lips wrap around the opening of the bottle. Fuck, what I wouldn’t do to have those lips on me again. I spin Sophie around, and Bells bites down on her bottom lip. Flipping her hair, she goes back to talking to my friends, and I internally growl. Does she have to take everything from me? Yeah, I know she isn’t literally stealing my friends, and maybe I’m childish, but I don’t want to share them tonight.
The song is about to end, but just as it does, Sophie pulls me in for a kiss. For a moment, I’m so surprised that my eyes are wide open as she plants her lips on mine. She sort of licks my lips and is more chewing my face than actually kissing. Is it possible that this woman is a bit more intoxicated than I thought? All I know is there’s definitely no way I’d bring her home. If she’s this bad of a kisser, I can’t even imagine how bad the sex would be. I have a feeling she’d be worse than my yearly pap smear. I attempt to pull away from her, but she doesn’t get the hint and keeps kissing me.
“Babe?! I leave for the bathroom and you’re kissing someone else?!” Bells appears in front of us, yelling. My eyes go wide in confusion, but Bells winks, and I realize this is her attempt at saving me.
“Is this your girlfriend?!” Sophie gasps.
“I’m her fiancée! We just got engaged last night, and just because the ring didn’t fit doesn’t mean you can go kissing other women!” Bells turns on the theatrics, and Sophie is eating this up.
“I’m so sorry.” I hang my head in shame.
“I’m the one who kissed her. She asked me to dance, but I’m so sorry,” Sophie starts apologizing, but Bells holds up her hand.
“Can you just go? I think my fiancée and I need to talk this out. Who knows if there will even be a wedding after this!” Bells waves Sophie off, who runs toward her friends at full speed and Bells pulls me outside.
“Holy shit. You were scary good in there,” I say in awe.
“I could tell you needed a save and your friends were worried they wouldn’t be believable enough.” She shrugs.
“You could tell I needed help?”
“She looked like she was trying to lick something off your face, and you had pure terror in your very OPEN eyes.” Bells laughs. “I just figured you could use an easy out.” She shrugs.
“Thanks.” I smile.
“Plus, I knew you wouldn’t be taking her home if that’s how she kissed. So how else would you get out of that?” She winks. She remembered I said that the night we met? Maybe she wasn’t as terrible as I originally thought.
ELEVEN
Bells
Tilly is the first thing on my mind when I wake up. Well, actually she’s the second, after the stinging hangover headache. But that’s her fault too for recommending those tequila sunrise drinks Bill kept making. After our little performance, I had to pretend to be Tilly’s fiancée all night, so we sat together and drank with her friends. It’s nice seeing a different side of her—the side I might have gotten to know if Aunt Blake had left her the orchard instead of me. She has this amazing smile that I try committing to memory, just in case last night was a case of beer goggles.
