Amie

Deacon makes a grab for the fabric square in Lex’s hand. A square I recognize as a pair of panties he gnawed the crotch out of and subsequently stole. He’s the creepiest of creepy.

I snatch the scrap of fabric from Lex before Deacon can. I’m sure he already knows what they are. Undoubtedly he’s seen many pairs of lacy, satin panties up close and personal. At least those are the rumors.

“Those are mine!” Deacon shouts.

I get right up in Deacon’s face. “These are mine, you creepy, perverted bastard. I didn’t want to date you because you do bizarre things like carry around pairs of old, chewed-up panties.” I whirl around, hike up my giant, stupid skirt, and grab Lex by the elbow before he can punch my ex in the face. “Come on, Lex. Let’s go sell you to the highest bidder.”

“You have interesting taste in guys.”

“He was one of the better ones, if you can believe it,” I mutter.

Lex barks out a laugh. “You’re just full of fun surprises, aren’t you, Cinderella.”

“You don’t know the half of it.” It’s actually probably a blessing that Armstrong isn’t here, otherwise I’d have to explain this insanity.

Ruby rushes to catch up. She slips her arm through mine. “Are you okay?”

“I don’t know.” I’m scanning the room as we go. “God, how mortifying was that? I shouldn’t have said anything about the damn panties. I made a scene. What if people noticed? What if it gets back to Gwendolyn?”

“No one noticed. You’re fine. It’s fine. Bane is going to make sure he leaves right now,” she reassures me as we pass through the curtains that lead backstage.

Why the hell did Deacon, of all my short-term hook-ups, have to show up here? This is the exact reason I’ve generally avoided dating people who run in the same circles as I do—they all know each other. And they all gossip like thirteen-year-old girls at a sleepover.

“What if Deacon says something to someone? What if he does something else to embarrass me—” I spin around, ready to go back, but I slam right into a bare chest. Lex’s bare chest. He grabs my arms to steady me.

“Bane’s got it. You’re good. He’s not going to make another scene.”

“I don’t understand why the hell he was here in the first place!” I throw my hands up and lose my grip on the panties. They fly into the air and Lex manages to nab them before I can.

They were a great pair of panties once, before the crotch went missing. Pale blue with navy lace accents; sexy, classy, a little naughty. With the matching bra and garters I looked pretty damn fantastic.

He raises a brow as he fingers the material. “Nice.”

I can feel my face going red. “Thanks. I’ll take those back now, since they’re mine and all.”

“There’s a hole in them.” He slides two fingers through the tear.

Oh my God. This is not happening. My best friend’s boyfriend’s brother is not sticking his fingers through a hole in a pair of my old panties. “I’m aware,” I barely choke out the words.

“It looks like they’ve been chewed.”

“That’s because they have.”

His furrow deepens. “Does he have a dog or something?”

“No.” Dear lord. This is seriously the worst conversation I’ve ever had to have. Well, maybe not. That time when I had to explain to my father why I was being held for questioning at the airport in Mexico was worse, and at least I’m not having this conversation with Armstrong. Not that this is much better, mind you. I’m sure I’m making one hell of an impression right now.

“You’re a bit of a wild one, aren’t you?” Lex’s eyebrows lift, a wide smile breaks across his face and I wait for the next question, because I know it’s coming, in three, two, one . . . “Wait, are these dirty?”

And there it is. I literally have to fight with my mouth not to smile back at him. “I believe they are, yes.”

“You think I should check, just to make sure?” He starts to lift them to his nose.

Ruby jumps in and snatches them from him, but his fingers are still stuck in the hole, which tears more as she yanks them out of his grasp and tosses them to me. She points a finger in his face. “That’s just fucking gross. He’s probably had those for a year. I bet he jerked off with them.”

Lex makes a gagging sound, then turns to me, looking concerned. “Is he a serial killer? Do you need someone to escort you home tonight?”

“I sincerely doubt it. He faints at the sight of blood.”

“That guy’s a whack job.”

“Uh-huh. I sincerely appreciate you posing as my fiancé and punching him.”

“Anytime you need me to punch out an ex, or even your current fiancé, you just let me know and I’m there.” He winks, but I have a feeling he might be serious about my current fiancé.

“Okay, well,” Ruby claps her hands together. “I think you’re channeling the spirit of gladiator perfectly tonight, Lex. Keep that up when you’re on the stage so we can make some serious money off of you.”

Gwendolyn comes rushing backstage, looking as if her head is going to explode. “Amalie! There you are! You won’t believe what just happened. Some man dressed as Peter Pan was in the foyer, screaming about having his panties stolen. Can you even believe it? Bancroft is escorting him off the property. I don’t even know how he managed to get on the guest list.”

Ruby and I give each other a look. Of all the nights for Armstrong to miss a party, this is definitely a good one.