Chapter Thirty-Four
Carina
The unplanned trip to Nordstrom had seemed like a good idea at the time, but now, not so much.
Carina stared at her ass in the mirror and grimaced. What the hell had she been thinking? Well, she hadn’t been thinking clearly, that was for certain. Who did when they were hopped up on pure, unfiltered pain and jealousy?
She looked down at her watch and back at her legs. These jeans looked like they were basically painted on. But it was too late to change and the two pairs she already owned were at the bottom of her hamper.
But she did have control over the fuck-me heels she had purchased to go with the jeans. She tossed them back into the box and opted for sandals, which were much more appropriate for a barbeque. Carina turned and studied the plunging neckline of the black blouse she had chosen. She was just about to secure her top button when an image of Amanda and Josh screwing six ways from Sunday flashed before her eyes. Not only did she leave the top one unbuttoned, she went ahead and disengaged two below that. She felt strangely liberated and ready to stick it to Josh.
That was until she arrived at Erin’s house and she meekly knocked on her door. All Carina’s confidence melted away and she suddenly felt constricted by her own pants. Chase opened the door, interrupting her downward spiral into self-doubt, and welcomed her in.
“Carina, you look amazing!” Mia came over and hugged her. “What the hell did you do different?” Mia turned her around and studied her outfit.
“New jeans. But I think I bought a size too small,” Carina said, mortified that her friend had called her out so quickly.
“Hell no! They look perfect! And I’m frickin’ jealous. I won’t be wearing jeans like that for a while.”
“Neither will I!” Erin said, obviously overhearing their conversation. She ran up and also gave Carina a hug.
Carina returned the gesture. “You two can make a girl’s self-esteem skyrocket.”
***
Josh
Josh had been nursing the same beer Chase had given him over an hour ago. He wasn’t in the mood to throw a few back with friends and let loose. He would have stayed home and slept the night away if he didn’t think there was a chance Carina would be attending the party. But what was he going to say to her? Was there anything left to talk about at this point?
Josh was just about to help himself to a pig in a blanket when he saw her. But she was not alone. Stunning in a black shirt that displayed that perfect valley between her breasts and jeans that were made for her body, Carina was talking to Paul’s friend, Rick. Pangs of jealousy tore at him as he watched her laugh at something Rick had said. The rational side of him told him that Rick was a nice guy who wasn’t working her and making a play to get in her pants. But the caveman side ruled tonight. Carina belonged to him and there was no way Rick or any other man was going to claim what was and would always be his.
He slammed his beer on the kitchen counter and started to walk in her direction. Josh watched Rick take her empty drink from her hand and wander off, most likely to retrieve a refill, and leave her standing there alone. He didn’t know if she heard or felt him, but she turned around right as he came upon her.
“Are you with him?” he asked.
Her eyes grew wide. It was obvious she had no idea he had been watching her from across the room. “With who? Rick?” she asked.
“Yes. Are you or are you not planning to sleep with him?” He was losing control quickly.
She leaned in. “You’re an asshole,” she whispered. Carina stormed away toward the front door.
He caught up with her just before she entered the foyer and grabbed her hand. “Are you with him?” he asked again.
She wiggled her hand free. “You don’t get to ask me questions like that. And you sure as hell don’t get to touch me!”
“Are. You. Fucking. Him?” he demanded through gritted teeth.
“Are you fucking the blonde from the coffee house?” she asked, just as quick.
“No.”
“But you have. She has agreed to your stipulations in the past. Am I wrong?”
“No, you’re not wrong. But we’re not together now. What you saw was me trying to…”
She put her hand up. “You know what? I don’t care. I don’t want to know.”
“I don’t want her.” Josh took her face with both hands and trapped her against the wall. Thankfully everyone was outside enjoying the nice weather, not that an audience would have stopped him. “What I crave is you. What I need is you!”
She shook her head. “No, I’m not the woman for you. You said so yourself.”
“Carina, do you regret…being with me? The night we had together?”
Her eyes filled with tears. She looked him square in the eye. “Yes.” His heart sank. “Because…I…I can still feel you.” She broke free of him and bolted out the front door.