Just as I didn’t recognize him, he clearly doesn’t recognize me either. Not if he’s looking at me likethis. In his eyes, therealme amounts to little more than gum stuck to the bottom of his shoe.
A vibration cuts between us, and the sensation has never felt so good in my entire life.
His phone’s going off inside his suit jacket.
It’s my lifeline. My ticket out of here.
“You should answer that,” I blurt, the words clogging my throat even as I paint on a smile. “I’m going to see if I can borrow a you-know-what from a friend so we canbothenjoy ourselves. Meet back here in ten?”
His guard must be down, becauseMichaelJase doesn’t question the excuse or look at me with any degree of suspicion. Still, he groans as he pulls out his cell to look at it, and I catch the name “Martin” on the call screen before disappearing inside.
Let’s see howhelikes having to wait for a change.
It’s a miracle I make it down the hallway, let alone back to the engagement party, seeing as how my legs have been reduced to jelly.
Is it possible to die from humiliation?!
Jase.
I kissedJase!
Every laugh and loud voice from the crowd sends chills racing up my spine, and my building panic attack makes my decision for me. I bolt to the front of the country club, only to find Sienna Hawthorne and Trent Easton standing not five feet from the door. They’re talking with Vanessa’s friends, the whole group blocking me from my freedom!
I can’t get past them without being seen, and it’s the only way to the parking lot where I can flag down the valet to get my car back. I make it three steps before spotting my stepmom approaching that very same group.
Shit, shit, shit!
You know what? Fuck it.
I’ll come back for my baby later. I need to get out of here, now!
The side exit to the golf course is off to my right, and I fly out the doors as if the Devil himself is nipping at my heels.
Not until I’ve trudged my way past the eighth hole and down the hill to the roadside can I truly process what the hell just happened.
Shock hits me like a cold shower, sobering me up as I stagger barefoot down the sidewalk. I don’t have a destination. All I want is space. Lots of it.
But after a half hour ticks by with me wandering aimlessly around some suburban streets, I overhear the answer to my prayers. Blaring music carries through the air, and I take notice of the closest street sign to me.
Graceland Avenue.
Since Maggie couldn’t go to the country club, she decided to go to a house party not far from here. Following the sounds of the music, I headed one street over to find partygoers gathering in front of a certain house.
“Ali?” My roommate’s voice carries far enough to catch the attention of everyone congregating around the front porch, because an entire sea of eyeballs suddenly swings my way as I head up the driveway.
Sure enough, it’s preceded by a chorus of catcalls and whistles from a bunch of drunken frat guys as they all look me up and down.
“Damn, girl!” one of them hollers. “Get your sexy ass over here. I’ll show you what a real man’s like!”
“What? Are you taking her upstairs to meet your brother?” Maggie laughs, pushing the idiot out of the way as she climbs down the porch steps.
“Aww, Mag-Pie.” He pins a hand to his chest in the most theatrical fashion, as if wounded. “Why you gotta be so mean, baby?”
Maggie loops her arm around mine and leads me up the porch to face the heckler. “Don’t pretend you don’t like me nasty,” she purrs, giving him a playful smack in the ass. He must be familiar with her banter, because he laughs off the exchange as she guides me through the front door.
“What’re you drinking?” I ask.
“Vodka soda. You want some? I just need to get some lime juice and—”
