Leighton is… I don't fucking know what.
"Thanks." I sit next to Leighton.
She slides onto my lap. Curls her arm around my neck and rests it on my shoulders. "Doesn't he look amazing in this?" She fingers the collar of my suit jacket. "I can't get over it."
"Like high school graduation." She smiles. "But more hair."
"Ryan had short hair?" Leighton runs her fingers through my locks. "Really?"
"Oh, yeah. A buzz cut. And the glasses—do you still wear those?"
Leighton runs her fingers along my cheek. She looks down at me. "A buzz cut?"
"Penny likes short hair. She was really upset when he grew it out. Which is kind of ridiculous. Honestly, you look way hotter with long hair, Ryan." Kristen blushes. "I mean…" She clears her throat. "Don't worry. I have a boyfriend."
Leighton turns back to her. "I'm not. You'd have to be blind to miss how smoking hot Ryan is."
Kristen smiles. "Where'd you find someone so fun, Ryan? I expected to see you with someone more like you."
Leighton laughs so hard she doubles over.
I slide my arms around her waist. "Baby, that hurts."
"I know. I'm such a bitch for laughing at that. But—" She bursts into another fit of giggles. "You know what vodka does to me." She turns back to me. Stares into my eyes with every ounce of earnest in the world. "You're fun. You just don't let anyone else know it."
Her eyelids flutter closed.
She leans in.
Brushes her lips against mine.
It's soft. A kiss for show.
But my body demands more. My palm plants on her soft thigh. My fingers dig into her skin. My tongue slides into her mouth.
She tugs at my hair as she kisses me back.
Fuck, I feel her everywhere.
The taste of her. Vodka and lemon and something distinctly Leighton.
The smell of that coconut shampoo.
Her nails against my skin.
I need more.
I need all of her.
I need her naked under me.
She pulls back with a sigh. "Fuck."
Fuck is right.
In too many ways.
Kristen stares at us dumbfounded. She clears her throat. "I guess that's one way to make it up to him."
She's still as tactless as ever. I'll give her that much.
Leighton squirms in my lap as she laughs. Her cunt brushes against my cock—there's too much and not enough fabric between us—and her cheeks flush.
Her eyes bore into mine.
They beg me to rip off her clothes.
But this is still fucked.
She's still not mine.
Even if it feels like she is.
Even if every fucking second of this feels real.
"You, uh… how's the shop?" Kristen snaps a potato chip in half.
"Good. Ryan's a co-owner now." Leighton slides onto her seat. Presses her knees together. Fights a blush. "He's basically the boss."
"Oh, wow. Good for you. I always thought you were a good fit for tattoos," she says.
"Feels like I should take offense to that," I say.
"It's clearly a compliment." Leighton looks to Kristen. "Though I'm not sure what it means."
"You're just so… counter-culture, I guess. I could always tell you wanted to be somewhere besides our stuck-up school. And you have that look. Like a damaged musician or something."
"I love damaged musicians."
"Oh my God, what about that one guy who moans twenty-four seven? With the blue eyes? Kind of like Ryan's. But hotter. No offense, Ryan."
"I know exactly who you mean." Leighton winks at me then turns back to Kristen.
"He's so hot, isn't he?"
"And so damaged."
"He's a recovering drug addict, you know?"
Leighton nods oh, I know.
"Did you hear their latest album? It's dedicated to his wife. And it's just so… OMG." Kristen fans herself.
"Fuck. I miss something good?" Dean's voice booms through the kitchen.
"Yeah. We just finished a threesome. It's too bad. We were desperate for a fourth. So desperate we considered you." Leighton winks at Dean.
Kristen laughs. "It's good to see you too, Dean. You're so tall now."
"I was this tall last time you saw me," he says.
"Really?" She taps her shoes together. "Maybe I'm shrinking. It sucks being short."
Dean nods maybe and moves closer. "You want to do something fun tonight, Kristen?"
She beams over him remembering her name. "Sure."
"Twenty minutes. Out front. Limo." He smiles.
"Do I even want to ask?" Leighton shoots him a cutting look.
"You don't have to come to the real party if you'd rather go home," he says.
I'd rather take her home and fuck her senseless.
Which is exactly why I need to go.
"What's the real party?" I ask.
"There's one thing you need to have at a bachelor party." Dean smiles. "Everyone's coming. And maybe some people will be coming. It's supposed to be a classy joint, but you never know." His smile gets wicked.
Leighton whispers in my ear. "He doesn't mean—"
"Yeah, he does."
Chapter Twenty-Six
Leighton
There's a limo idling in the street.
An actual stretch limo.
I suppose there's nothing strange about a limo on a Beverly Hills street, but this…
Dean is insane.
He smiles wide as he slides his arm around Kristen. His eyes catch mine. He nods to her like he's showing off his conquest.
I stick my tongue out in a show of disgust. I don't object to Dean's manwhoring ways. But bragging about a conquest? Gross.
A chauffeur steps out of the driver's seat and pulls the door open for us. He motions after you and extends his hand. "May I help you, madam?"
I let him whisk me inside. Purple lighting casts the maroon velvet seats in an eggplant glow. But that hardly matters when Iris and Walker are sitting on the bench in the back.
My shoulders relax.
I've been swallowing this for a week. I can't take it anymore. I need to talk to her. To explain everything. Even if it comes with a just tell him the truth.
I plop on the bench next to her and throw my arms around her.
She squeezes tight.
"This something I'm gonna want to watch?" Walker chuckles.
"You're not invited." I release her and settle onto the bench. Turn to the door to watch Kristen, then Dean, enter. "Aren't we going to a bar?"
Dean takes a seat on the bench on the right. Pulls Kristen onto his lap. "Sorry, but this is the end of your vodka train. California law. Booze or full nudity."
"Good. I won't have to cart your plastered ass home." Ryan steps into the limo and takes a seat on the bench to the left. His eyes meet mine. They ask for something, but I'm not sure what it is.
Iris leans in to whisper. "What the hell did you do?"
I break eye contact with Ryan to whisper back. "I kissed him."