As the car began to move, my phone vibrated with a text. I pulled it out and saw it was from Sonja.
So far so good and we’re not even drunk yet!
I laughed at her text and replied.
I think alcohol will only make it worse.
My stifled laugh had caught Taylor’s attention. She eyed me and then my phone. “Oh. Wow, you have, like, an ancient phone.” Her laugh was catty.
Kill her with kindness. I glanced over, spotting her diamond encrusted phone. “Oh. Wow, your phone’s bedazzled,” I retorted. Damn, that didn’t come out nice at all.
Liam and Taylor looked at me like I’d just kicked her designer dog. Lexi smothered her laughter behind her hand, but Ethan openly laughed. When our eyes met, I decided we could be friends.
I wrapped a towel around me and brushed my wet hair off my shoulder as I sat on a chaise lounge, eager for the sun to warm up my ocean chilled skin.
“The water is really rough today,” Lexi exclaimed, curling her legs under her as she sat on the lounge next to mine.
We sat along the beach at the Coastal Villas Hotel, one of Connor’s hotels. The shoreline was set up with umbrellas, lounge chairs, and tables. Servers floated around, providing drinks and food to guests at the beach and pool deck.
Lexi and I were the only girls swimming. The other four had been recounting events from last night, but after hearing that Taylor spent the night at Liam and Ethan’s, I tried to ignore the details.
Liam, Ethan, and Shane made their way up the long beach to our chairs.
“Finally the drinks are here,” Shane said, grabbing a beer from the cooler bucket the hotel provided.
“I’m going to stick to beer today. I’ve got to stop mixing my drinks,” Ethan said, laying back on the chair between Lexi and Taylor, beer in hand.
“What a pussy,” Liam said, sitting on the chair to my right. He took a sip of his beer and then turned to me. “Sorry, don’t mean to offend you.”
Lexi spoke up, “She’s grown up listening to my foul language. You can’t offend her.”
“It’s okay,” I assured. “So how are you feeling after last night?” As much as I didn’t want to know about his night, I couldn’t resist asking. Everyone else was openly discussing their hangover, but Liam had remained silent.
He stared at me for a moment, considering the question. “I’m feeling pretty good. I didn’t drink that much after the pool party.”
“You’re such a liar. You went shot for shot with me,” Taylor spoke up, directing her smile to me.
“And how are you feeling?” I asked her, trying to cover my annoyance.
“I’ve had better days. But last night was worth it. You two missed a fun night.”
“I’m sure there will be other nights. Next time,” Lexi responded with the same fake smile Taylor flashed my way.
Liam ran his fingers down my arm. “Hey, come with me to the water.” He picked up my hand and pulled me to my feet, leading me down the beach before I even responded.
As we walked, he slipped an arm over my shoulder. Conscious that we were probably being watched, I didn’t pull away immediately. I didn’t want the others to know I was mad, I wasn’t even sure I had a right to be.
Liam must have felt my reluctance because he laughed and asked, “Are you mad at me?”
“A little. I don’t like these games.” We stopped at the water’s edge, where only the foam of the waves reached our feet.
“I told you I like you.” He reached for my other hand, pulling me towards him so we faced each other. “Don’t you believe that?”
“How do you feel about Taylor?”
“I knew you were jealous. So, that means you like me too.” He grinned and rubbed his hand up and down the length of my arms, waiting for me to meet his eyes. “I want to see what you and I could be. I don’t want you dating anyone else, and I don’t think you want me dating anyone else. Am I right?”
If he was serious about dating me exclusively, I was willing to give it a chance. Why not give this a shot? Ethan’s cool eyes flashed in my mind, but I dismissed the vision. That would never happen; I’d already slept with his best friend. I focused on Liam’s gold eyes and his bare chest inches from me.
I nodded my head.
He kissed me with salt water lips. We both were smiling when we parted.
“Bitch,” Lexi squealed. I stood over her chair, wringing my wet hair out onto her stomach.
I laughed and took my seat next to her. She gave me a questioning look as she glanced between Liam and me.
“The waters perfect. Not too cold but refreshing.” I said.
Sonja held up her drink. “I prefer to just look at it. This drink and my spray bottle are all I need to stay cool.”
“Where did everyone go?” Liam nodded at the empty seats. Sonja, Sydney, and Lexi were the only three here.
“They walked to the shops,” Sydney explained.
Liam looked around. “I don’t see our server. I’m going to the bar to refill our beers.” He picked up the empty bucket and walked toward the hotel.
Sonja didn’t waste time. “You should have seen Taylor’s face when you two kissed. What happened?”
My stomach dropped, recalling that Liam never actually said what his feelings were for her. Damn. But he was willing to be exclusive. I couldn’t expect a person to drop all their past feelings the instant they met me.
“He asked if we could exclusively date.” I shrugged, trying to convince myself everything was okay.
Sydney’s eyes widened. “Serves Taylor right, leading him on and playing her silly games.”
I leaned back in my chair, focused on the ocean, frustrated that Taylor was the main topic of conversation. Maybe I was being foolish and putting myself in the middle of drama.
“Hopefully, the games are over,” I said.
“I wouldn’t count on it. You’re just an added challenge now,” Sydney warned.
Sonja nudged Sydney and then turned to me. “Maybe things will be different with you. Liam seems to like you. Just don’t put your guard down yet, sweetie, okay? Let’s wait and see how this goes.”
“Fuckin’ A. She’s just going to date the boy, not have his babies. Kate’s in no danger of losing her heart, believe me,” Lexi interjected.
Sydney and Sonja looked doubtful. But I knew Lexi was right, and they would all find that out soon enough. I like boys, and I like dating, but I always kept a safe hold on my heart. It’s mine and always would be.
~Carly ~
Carly had assumed the dinner reservations were for him and her.
When Connor laid a stack of papers on her desk and ordered her to file them before she left for the night, she knew that she had assumed wrong. He was not taking her to dinner. He was leaving to go to an exclusive five-star restaurant with someone else, and she had set up the reservation.
He left now with no more than a wave over his shoulder. It was Saturday evening and Carly had been working her ass off to impress him. Now he was going to dinner with someone else.
Her heart sunk to her stomach. Had she been reading the signs all wrong? She suddenly doubted everything.
Was this headed in the right direction? Was she playing this right? Was she too available to him? Or did none of this matter.
She knew who he was probably meeting, a woman whose family had all the right connections and was on the same social level as him. Carly doubted she would ever be enough to be on his arm publicly.
She wondered if this was enough for her. She looked down at her diamond encrusted Cartier bracelet that he had given her and decided, for now, it was.
Chapter Nine
Don’t let your life be controlled by your past, people, or money.
“Stop tugging at your dress,” Sonja ordered through her smile as she grabbed my hand to pose for the photographers calling to us.
After we left the beach, we’d made plans to go out tonight. I hadn’t expected the photographers and was thankful for Sonja�
��s team of stylist that she insisted I use. When they had finished pulling, plucking, and brushing me, I looked like I stepped off the red carpet, which was exactly where we were now. My dark hair was styled in glossy curls down my bare back; my short, dark blue dress didn’t have one, except two belts that crisscrossed holding the dress in place. I fought the urge to tug at the bottom of the fabric again as we walked towards the entrance of the club.
Music engulfed us as we walked through the doors to the club, and Sonja pulled my arm as we followed an employee to our VIP area. “Chelsea will be meeting us later. Ethan and Shane are here with Sydney and some others. Is Lexi going to be coming out?”
“No, she has to work,” I yelled over the dance beat.
The employee led us through three rooms already, and each one had a distinctly different look and feel. The one we were in now had stone walls with waterfalls and bamboo covering them. Black sofa booths lined the far end of the room with large wooden blocks as tables. We were guided to the largest of the booths. Liquor bottles and drink mixes were already set up. The four guys at the table stood as we approached; the girls stayed seated.
Sonja gave each boy and Sydney a kiss on the cheek and then introduced herself to the three girls at the table. “Hello, I’m Sonja Baycroft.” She shook hands with each girl before sitting down.
I waved at the unknown girls as Ethan, Shane, and Sydney each took a turn hugging me. Ethan turned to the other boys to introduce me, and I froze. They looked familiar.
The tall blonde guy cut Ethan’s introduction short, “I know Kate. I met her the other night at The Beacon. There was an after party at Liam’s. Bryce, remember Kate?”
Bryce nodded in greeting as he poured clear liquor into shot glasses lined on the table.
“Come take a shot with me,” Sonja said as she stretched her arm out to me in invitation.
I gratefully took the empty seat next to Sonja, hoping that would be the end of the talk about the other night.
“Is Liam coming out tonight?” the blonde asked Ethan. What was his name? Daniel?
Ethan met my eyes. “He’ll be here later. He was held up with some work stuff.”
I frowned before I could control my response. The last I heard was that Liam would meet me here. But I guess he counted on Ethan passing on the message for him.
The blonde nodded. “What are you drinking lady’s, besides the shots? I’ll make you a drink.”
“Something sweet,” Sonja said.
I leaned towards the table. “Thanks for the offer, I’ll make my own.” I poured very little alcohol into my drink. I knew Sonja enough to know we would be taking shots again soon.
Two shots later, Sonja pulled me and the other girls onto the dance floor. We danced in a circle and pulled each other away from guys that tried to get too close. After a while, the boys from our table joined us. I watched as Ethan danced with the other girls, and they all jockeyed for position around him. I could tell why. He was confident and took control, his body moving smoothly with the music. He never came near me though. Sydney took most of his attention, dancing fluidly around him.
Sonja locked hands with me and raised our arms over our head while we twisted our hips to the music. Hands slid to the sides of my hips and a warm, firm body pressed against my back. Turning my head, I recognized the blonde hair of the guy from our table. I continued dancing with him until his hands slid up my torso and grazed the side of my breast. I stepped away and shook my head, laughing to ease the dismissal. I wanted him to get the point, but not take offense.
He put a hand on my shoulder and leaned in to my ear to be heard over the music, “Let’s go back to the table and get another drink.”
“No, thanks.” I was thirsty, but the look in his eyes didn’t seem innocent.
His other hand slid to my back to keep me from walking away. “How about we go back to the table and just talk?”
A hand slipped in between us and pushed on the blonde’s chest, forcing him to release me and take two steps back. “Back off Donovan,” Ethan warned.
“It’s okay,” I interjected in an attempt to diffuse the situation. “He was just talking.”
Ethan turned to me with narrowed eyes.
Donovan, the blonde, ignored me and stepped toward Ethan with his hands up in repentance. “I didn’t realize she was yours.” His smirk turned into a sneer as he glanced my way. “Ethan was always the first to jump on Liam’s scraps though, so I should have guessed.”
My hands squeezed in fists as I attempted to reign in my anger. His implications infuriated me. “That’s enough. You don’t know me or—”
“She’s no one’s scraps.” Ethan stepped in front of me and cut off my words. “Don’t talk about her like that again. Don’t even fucking look at her for the rest of the night.” His voice was low and laced with warning.
Sonja and Sydney were at my side the moment the altercation started. Sydney stepped forward now to make sure Donovan saw and heard her, “She’s not Ethan’s. She’s Liam’s. Ethan was just looking out for his friend. So stop being an asshole and just apologize.”
Donovan nodded and stepped around Ethan to look directly at me. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to offend you. Take it as a compliment.” He shifted his gaze to Ethan, “We good here?”
Ethan’s nod was stiff, forced. But it was enough.
We all seemed to exhale at once as Sonja pulled me back to the table. “I need a drink after that.”
Sonja mixed a pink drink together and poured it into three shots. “Let’s see if we can save this night with some fun.”
After our shots, Sydney turned to me. “Don’t stress, Donovan is an asshole. That’s not your fault.”
I smiled at her attempt to reassure me and wondered if my anxiety and embarrassment showed on my face.
Sydney yelled across the table to Ethan as he sunk into a chair. “When is Liam getting here?”
“He’s going to be another hour.” His bright green eyes met mine as he leaned back, unbuttoning the top button on his collared shirt. “Sorry about all that. I didn’t mean to cause a scene.”
I shrugged my shoulders. I didn’t know what to say. He had caused a scene, and why? Because he thought of me as Liam’s and he was protecting his friend’s property. The entire event pissed me off. I could have handled it myself with much less drama. He’d overstepped.
Sydney poured a drink and then got up to sit by Ethan, handing him the beverage. She leaned in to talk with him, but I couldn’t hear their conversation over the noise in the club.
I poured myself another cranberry and vodka; I was a little more liberal with the vodka this time. I leaned back and sipped my drink, hoping to relax and release the tension that had built inside me.
The others slowly returned to the table and began drinking again. Conversations returned after a while, they all seemed to move on from the drama on the dance floor. Our booth turned into a mini dance floor as the girls danced around the chairs with their drinks in hand. As the alcohol flowed their inhibitions decreased.
Sydney stepped up onto the table to show off her moves, and Sonja laughed at her friend, attempting to catch her when she appeared to lose balance.
I stood to help Sonja who was now uncontrollably giggling at Sydney’s attempt to pull her onto the table.
Liam intercepted Sonja first. He held her hand while she climbed onto the table. Chelsea and Taylor followed him, eyeing the girls dancing. They took the seats beside Ethan and went straight for the liquor bottles to pour their own drinks.
Liam walked around the table towards me, eyes on the girls gyrating around. He kissed my cheek as he reached my side. “Are you going to get on that table too? Or were you hoping to do that?” He asked pointing to the girl rubbing herself on Donovan’s lap.
“None of the above.” I shook my head.
“That’s a shame. Maybe later, just for me?” He waggled his eyebrows at me but walked away before I could respond.
He took a seat beside Ethan
and unbuttoned his gray jacket as he leaned forward to pour himself a drink from the never empty bottle. Servers had been seamlessly restocking our table all night, and, even now, they shifted our drinks to a tray to keep them safe from the dancing girls on the tabletop.
Left alone, I resumed my path to the table to help Sonja and Sydney keep their balance while dancing to Rihanna. But I kept an eye on Ethan and Liam. They were laughing with each other at first, but then Liam’s face slowly transformed to serious as Ethan talked. His jaw tightened, and his gaze settled on Donavan. He clapped Ethan on the shoulder while he spoke into his ear.
I had to pull my attention back to Sonja as she tried to climb off the table. I reached my hand up to support her, and she stepped onto a chair and then the ground, laughing at her clumsy efforts. We both turned to Sydney to help her down.
“No. I don’t trust you skinny bitches to catch me,” she slurred. “Ethan, come help me down,” she yelled in his direction.
He obligingly stood and lifted her by the waist, placing her easily on the ground.
“Thanks love,” she said as she patted his cheek.
Taylor rolled her eyes and stood linking her arms through Ethan’s. “Come dance with us.” She pulled him away and Chelsea, Liam, Shane, and another girl followed.
I tried to greet Chelsea, but she avoided eye contact.
Sonja sat down with a frown and made another drink. “Don’t take it personal. Chelsea doesn’t even talk to me much when Taylor’s around.”
“Buck them Fitches.” Sydney stumbled on her words as she held up her drink.
“Have a seat, Sydney.” Sonja laughed.
“You saw who Liam walked in with didn’t you?” Sydney’s words slurred as she questioned me.
Sonja turned serious. “We don’t know anything yet. Stop instigating Sydney.”
“Wake up.” She rolled her eyes at Sonja. “It’s Liam and Taylor we’re talking about.”
I sat next to Sonja and grabbed the vodka. “Buck it,” I teased. “Let’s drink.”
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