I woke up the next morning on Erica’s couch with Alexa at my head and Erica at my feet, all three of us crammed for space on the tiniest of couches. I got up first, making sure not to move anyone. I was surprised that Erica hadn’t already woken up but, then again, she normally didn’t stay up until four in the morning drinking and eating.
I made my way to the kitchen to start the coffee and two cups of tea. I reached into the far drawer to grab some headache pills for Alexa because I did not want to deal with that today of all things. I didn’t need a grumpy Alexa.
I popped a few myself and then made sure to pour a huge cup of coffee for myself and fix the girls their mugs of tea.
“Mmmmmm. Tea.” Alexa came into the kitchen with Erica behind her. They both popped two pills and downed half of their teas. We looked like college girls who had partied all night, but in reality we binge ate and watched movies. “I’m thinking we do a spa day, but like, a real spa day, where we go get pedicures and then get our hair done. No guy talk, just us hanging out.”
“I’m down for that.” Erica agreed with Alexa and now, they were both looking at me. A day without thinking or worrying about Greg was exactly what I needed, and spending the day with my girls was probably the best solution any of us had thought of in quite some time.
“Do I have to look like a human?”
“Um. No.” Alexa was looking at me like I was a crazy person. “That’s the whole point of this, we are going to be bums today.”
“Bums for life!” Erica sang as she exited the kitchen to make her way upstairs for God only knows what. I pulled my hair to the top of my head in a messy bun and held out my hand to Alexa for her spare hair tie she always kept on her bra strap.
Don’t ask.
“I think this will be good.” She handed over the tie, but I didn’t answer her right away. I waited for Erica to reenter the room.
“I know we talked last night about Greg and me having to do this other-person date thing.”
“I’m still not ok with that.” Alexa made a sour face in her disagreement.
“I’m curious about it.” Erica chimed in again, playing devil’s advocate with agree with what Tessa had assigned Greg and I to do.
“Well,” I took another sip of my coffee. I love a good dark roast in the morning and savored the bitter taste in mouth for just a second before continuing. “After our spa day, why don’t we go out to a bar tonight? See if I can find some random transient who will be in and out of town and never in my life again.”
“Are you sure?” Alexa looked worried now. “I really don’t like this idea. Everything seemed to be going good with you two. I just think this will push you apart again.”
“Someone who isn’t from here is probably the best way to go.” Erica agreed with what I was saying.
“Well, what else do you expect me to do, Alexa?” I set down my cup and raised my hands in defeat.
“You could just not do it…” Alexa suggested.
“I don’t think that’s an option.” Erica chimed in.
“It’s not, Tessa said it isn’t.”
“And you’re just going to believe her?” Alexa asked.
“She’s the lifeline to this judge, so yea, I kind of have to.” I said in exasperation.
“Maybe if you hold off long enough, it will be time for your next session and you can say you forgot.” Alexa interjected.
“Ha!” I literally laughed out loud. “Yeah, I forgot to go on a date with someone else that wasn’t my husband.”
I gave both girls a serious stare and not even two seconds later we were busting out laughing.
“Alright, alright, we’ll see who we can find tonight, even though I am fully against this, but I would rather be there than you go alone.” Alexa gave in finally and I started to clean up our mugs.
“Deal.” Today was going to be an interesting one.
I was sitting on Erica’s couch in a lavender dress that had a sweetheart neckline and tight bust that went down to my mid-thigh. It flared out at my waist with layers and layers of tulle peeking out from underneath. I felt like I was about to go to a high school prom. My feet, propped up on the coffee table, were shoved into a pair of gorgeous, stark white heels that made me six inches taller than I already was. I felt like a giant, but a sexy one.
We had decided to go to the new club that had opened up last month in downtown. Alexa had messaged Max for suggestions and that was the first one he texted us about. I had made sure that Alexa made him promise that him and the guys weren’t going to be there. I didn’t want to run into Greg tonight.
When we went to get our hair done, I made sure to get only a little trim, since Greg loved my hair long. Then I got my nails done instead of my toes. I loved the white glitter frost nail polish I had on, it rounded out the whole outfit quite nicely.
I looked over to the stairs where Alexa and Erica were coming down in their dresses. Alexa wore a flowing coral dress that came down to her feet, with flats on. Erica wore a baby blue romper that made her petite figure have some of the best curves. I could never have pulled it off, so I had found the most ridiculous dress I could in her closet and went with it.
“Ready?” Alexa held my purse out to me. It was more of a clutch that she had put together to match my white accents.
“As ready as I’ll ever be.”
We made our way towards downtown in the Uber Erica had called for us. Max had offered to send his driver to pick us up, but I wanted nothing to do with a car that could potentially take to me where Greg might be.
I looked up at the club once we were dropped off. The line to get in went around the block. But of course, there was Max standing at the front door waiting for us and the bouncer ushered us into the loud music. I rolled my eyes and looked to Alexa who had this shy smile on her face, like it wasn’t her fault that her husband was standing at the very club I asked him to promise he wasn’t going to be at. I followed everyone in and ignored the groans of the patrons who were left in line behind us.
The club was dark, but lit by a dim blacklight that lit up my whole outfit like the fourth of July. The girls turned around to see what the other club goers were staring at since I was at the back of the group.
“Wow...” Erica spoke first and then whistled low in appreciation.
“Wow doesn’t even begin to describe that.” It was Jack’s turn to comment as we made our way to the bar where the rest of our normal group was hanging at. Jack made his way towards me, bringing me into a bear hug. “He’s an idiot if he doesn’t steal you out of this club so no one else can see you.”
I pulled away and I was thankful for the darkness that hid my rising blush.
“Two shots of Jameson and your best bourbon.” Jack leaned over the counter to place his order, and for some reason it was like we were the most important people in the club because we got our drinks in record time.
“That was fast.” I tried to talk over the music, but Jack leaned in closer so I wouldn’t have to shout.
“That’s Holden, he works at the bar down the road that Chase and I go to sometimes.” I nodded while taking the shot from him. We clinked our glasses together and tossed the Jameson back. The glass was taken from my hand and soon replaced with a glass three fingers full of a dark bourbon. “Don’t drink it all at once now.”
Jack shot me a wink and backed away so that we were now a part of the whole group. I looked around, and the only person who seemed to be missing was Greg.
“He’s not here yet.” Erica leaned down to whisper in my ear. Why wasn’t he here yet? Why would he come alone and not with the guys? Not that I was wanting to see him tonight, since I was supposed to be on the prowl for this date, but curiosity was peaking my interest.
I tried to peek around to the door to see if I could see him coming in, but nothing. I stood in the same spot for almost an hour, hoping and praying that Greg would walk through those doors.
“Sorry, we’re late. Dinner took a little longer than expected.” I heard Greg’s shouts and, somehow, I must have missed him coming in or he had somehow snuck in the back. And then it registered. We’re late.
I looked to his side where a tall blonde was standing. She looked stunning in her fifties-style dress and with her hair rolled and pinned back and bright red lips painted on. My stomach dropped seeing them together— her hand on Greg’s chest with his arm wrapped around her shoulders.
My grip on the glass in my hand felt like it should have broken it into a thousand pieces. All eyes were on me and then back to Greg. The smile on his face was one I wanted to wipe right off. That fucking piece of shit.
“Hi, I’m April.” The girl took her hand off Greg and waved to all of us. Muffled and mumbled helloes circled the group, except when it got to me. I didn’t know what to say, but the smile that was on Greg’s face soon fell as he made eye contact with me.
I licked my lips and shifted my feet, taking another sip of my bourbon before it was about to be wasted. I took a step towards the two and it was almost like the club fell silent. I paid no attention to anyone else, if they were saying something to me or not. My focus was on the April girl and Greg.
“Oh, darling.” I stood in front of them, my full attention on her. It wasn’t her fault she had ended up in all of this, but my temper was mixed with alcohol and I didn’t care at that point. “Bless your heart.”
I held my hand over my heart with a not-so-sympathetic look on my face that was quickly replaced by a knowing smirk. Her face fell and her mouth popped open like she was about to say something. I ignored her and turned on my heels to Greg; I was much taller than him in my heels, so as I looked down on him I felt like a scolding mother, but I wasn’t. I was a scorned lover instead and I wasn’t about to regret what I did next.
“Thanks for the text,” I lifted my glass, and tossed what was left of my drink into Greg’s face and turned to leave, slamming the empty glass down onto the bar. I ignored the yells of my name and slipped out of each hand that tried to grab for me.
I made my way to the dance floor. I needed a way to get rid of this anger that was coursing through my body, because I knew the moment I was alone, it wouldn’t be anger anymore. It would be heartbreak. Greg had done the one thing Tessa had told us not to do. He didn’t communicate with me. He showed up with a woman after going out to dinner with her and then had the audacity to bring her here and introduce her to everyone.
I found the first tall man I could on the dance floor. I grabbed ahold of his shirt and pulled him away from the woman he was dancing with. He didn’t have a ring on and, by the way he looked me up and down and grabbed for my hips, I could tell the woman clearly wasn’t his girlfriend. Even in my heels he had a good few inches on me. My body fell against his, his hard-on grinding against my stomach as we matched our rhythm to the beat of the song blaring through the club.
I turned around in his arms and shoved my ass against his front, sliding up and down. The moan that echoed in my ear just egged me on and I looked up from under my eyelashes towards where I had left Greg. There he was, staring at me with hooded eyes, but April was nowhere to be found.
I opened my eyes, making full eye contact with Greg. I grabbed for the man’s hands that were on me and brought them to my front, setting one on my thigh and the other on my breast. He nudged my head to the side and let his lips linger on my neck.
But, even though there were shivers running through my body, it wasn’t because of the man touching me, but the one staring me down. The one who had my heart and body and knew he fucked up because he was standing off to the side of our group of friends, alone, awaiting his punishment.
I turned around in the man’s arms again and brought my face closer to his. I turned my head around just slightly to see Greg making his way towards us. The man had both his hands on my ass, slightly lifting me off the ground, and his lips were lingering dangerously close to mine.
I was about to go in for the kiss, just to send Greg past the point of no return, but I was ripped out of the guy’s arms before I could do anything more. With one arm braced under my knees and the other securely wrapped around my waist, Greg hoisted me up in a bridal hold. The guy looked on as Greg pulled me closer to his chest where there was no room left between us. The guy tried to take a step towards us, but Greg growled at him. He sounded like a fucking bear, and I knew then that I might have pushed a little too far.
“Put me down.” I tried to shove at Greg to release me from his hold, but he wouldn’t budge.
“Never.”
“I’m not going anywhere with you.” I looked him in the eyes but there was no wavering. “I’ll scream.”
Before he set me down he made sure to slip off my heels and place me on his feet, so that I wouldn’t be able to go anywhere barefoot. I narrowed my eyes at him and looked over his shoulder to see our group of friends intently watching us. I knew most, if not all of them, knew about Greg and me. How much they knew, I had no idea.
Alexa and Erica were in a fit of giggles and I shot them a death glare. Jack raised a glass to me and nodded his head in approval. Max and Chase both looked worried, and whether it was for Greg or me, I had no idea.
It didn’t matter, though. They could all see us together, so whatever happened happened and we were officially the next couple of the group and I wanted nothing more than to run away from it.
“Let me explain.” Greg leaned in to whisper to me, but I pulled back, not wanting to hear his excuses.
“Don’t.” My voice was weak, but my words were firm.
“Lilly.”
“Fuck you,” I screamed at Greg and slapped him across the face. I threw my hands in the air and stepped off his feet, making my way across the club on the nasty-ass ground, not caring how crazy I looked.
I could hear his footsteps come up behind me. His arm wrapped around my waist.
“With pleasure.” He spun me around, bringing me flush against his body, my hands reached for him on instinct, gripping his hair. Greg’s lips crashed against mine, sucking the air out of my lungs. Holding back this time wasn’t an option. It shouldn’t have ever been an option between us. I let the kiss devour me, devour us, as we slipped into oblivion, not caring who the fuck saw.
Cheering could be heard around us as Greg lifted me high into his arms and I let my legs wrap around his middle. He carried me out of the club and down the road. I released my lips from his to look around and saw his car parked not too far down.
“I have your shoes.” I hadn’t even cared if Greg still had them or not. “I have a plan for them later.”
He nipped at my earlobe and my body sparked to life again. I moved my lips to his neck devouring the taste of the oak soap he always used.
He didn’t move me from his grip as we got to the car. He adjusted me so that I sat in his lap while he moved the car seat back and buckled the seat belt over us. It was an awkward drive home, but worth it. I sank down against Greg’s chest and let the tears fall freely to where he couldn’t see them.
I so wanted this to work, but it felt like every time we took one step forward, it was just ten steps back, and tonight it was worse than that. We were back to the beginning, where we started. Me not being able to trust him and him keeping everything a secret. But if there was anything I did take away from tonight, it was that this man was all mine, and I wasn’t letting him slip through my fingers again. That was a promise.
The car came to a stop and I looked up at Greg’s face. I knew he could see the black streaks on my face from the tears, but I didn’t care and it wasn’t a conversation I wanted to have tonight.
“We’re home.”
His words came out as a whisper and I relished them.
Home.