Chapter 11
Ria
“Lily, babe?” Grace shouts over the beat of some R&B classic that has transported me back to my teens and memories of very bad decisions. “I love this costume but I don’t love the idea of a yeast infection. I'm heading back to change into something more freeing.”
“I’m with you there. This costume is hot in every sense.” She spins, grabbing a very tipsy Jade. “We’re heading back to the hotel to get changed into something more roomy,” she screams in her ear.
“Yes!” Jade squeals. “But first I need to find Captain America. He promised me I could peel his suit off him.” Slurring, she scans the club for Hunter.
“Hun, I love you but too much.” I laugh.
“Oh.” She clasps her hand over her mouth. “Sorry. I forget that you don’t want to hear about how hot your brother is and the things he’s able to do with…” I cover her mouth with my hand.
“And I forget that when you’ve been drinking, you like to overshare.”
“Sorry,” she mumbles around my hand before I remove it. “Oh, there he is. God, look at him. I get to ride that face for the rest of my life.”
“Jade!” I shout, but she’s already walking toward my brother, one thing on her mind. “I think we’ve lost her, ladies.”
“She’s definitely dick drunk.” Trixie hiccups next to me, her arm wrapped around Lily’s waist. “Come on, let's get changed and hit up that club you mentioned, Grace.”
“The one with the strip club or the one with the bar staff who dance on the bar top?”
“Wasn’t it the same place?” She stumbles slightly but Lily rights her. She’s been drinking a lot tonight, a worrying amount if I’m honest, but Lily’s been looking after her. I noticed she switched to water over an hour ago and hasn’t left her side.
“No, babe,” Grace corrects Trixie as she hooks her arm around her on the other side and we start to move out of the club. Catching Leo’s eye, I motion that we’re heading outside, and he nods, talking into Deacon’s ear.
Mom and Dad and Henry and Olivia left a while ago, claiming they’re too old for this many late nights. Now it looks like the bride and groom won’t be making it back out as I spy them in a heated kiss before falling into a cab. “We’re another couple down,” I tell the group as they all watch the cab head off down the Strip.
“God, do those two ever have a day off?” Trixie giggles.
“Doesn’t seem that way.” I roll my eyes and flag us a cab.
“Trixie!” A familiar deep British accent has me whipping my head around, and the carefree atmosphere quickly shifts, as we all watch Ezra storming toward us.
“Shit,” Trixie mumbles.
“Trixie, come here,” Ezra demands as he grabs for her, but Lily pulls her closer while glaring at the man I used to think hung the moon. “I can’t believe you’ve gotten yourself into this state again,” he growls.
“It’s my best friend’s bachelorette party. I’m letting loose,” she says quietly.
“I can see that and so can every other person here. I knew these women would get you in trouble.”
“Hey! She’s her own woman; you don’t own her,” Lily snaps, baring her teeth.
“Keep your nose out of this.” He moves into Lily’s space and she lifts her chin, not backing down.
“D-don’t s-speak to her like that,” Trixie slurs.
“Look at you. You can barely string a sentence together.” He tips her chin up roughly with his fingers as his lips curl in disgust. “You’re a disgrace. You either come home with me now, or you’ll face the consequences when you get home because I will not be made a fool of.”
“And what fucking consequences are they, St. Claire?” Lifting a questioning brow, I stare up into the face of my ex. “I think you need to back off.” The way he takes me in, slowly trailing his eyes up the length of me, pausing briefly on the curves the costume doesn’t hide, sends a shiver through my whole body, and not a nice one.
“Back off?” His voice rises as Trixie shuffles out of Lily’s hold, her eyes never looking up as she grazes her palm up his chest. The movement has Ezra’s shoulders sagging, and he pulls her to him. “You’ve corrupted my girlfriend. She doesn’t drink anymore.”
“What the fuck? Since when?” Lily rears back at his outburst.
“Since she agreed she makes terrible decisions when she drinks. Isn’t that right, Trixie?” He brushes her hair off her face before cradling her cheek, leveling a soft gaze at her.
