“Never. We were friends so long before dating. He knows I’d never cheat. And besides, I’m out with his sister. That’s a surefire way for him to virtually babysit me if he wanted to.”
I smile in agreement. “What are the guys doing tonight?” It feels funny to ask since I’m the one who lives with them, but I left shortly after I finished yoga, so Amanda could start on my hair, and I haven’t spoken to either of them.
“Half the team’s at your place actually. There’s a game on, so we picked the perfect night to go out. When the Angels play, it’s like the rest of the world ceases to exist,” she says as she puts the other earring in. “You ready?”
“Fuck yeah.” Amanda is at the door with her purse in hand.
Walker’s is only a few blocks from their apartment, so we head down the street, walking instead of hopping on the bus or driving and having to deal with parking. Thank God places around here have coat check, so you don’t have to worry about your jacket or freezing your ass off with the unruly weather from the San Francisco Bay.
When we arrive, there’s a line out the door, but Amanda pulls us to the front, giving the bouncer a sexy smile and flirt-filled banter. He instantly undoes the rope that blocks the entrance and lets us in. I hear people moan and groan behind us, but Amanda just smiles and blows a kiss to the bouncer.
“Do you know that guy?” I ask in her ear as we pay the entrance fee.
“Nope! When you’re as hot as us, you don’t wait for anything around this place.” She grins and nudges us with her hip before walking into the club.
Loud bass radiates around the dark walls as beams of lights bounce around the room, which is covered with bodies moving everywhere. We head straight for the dance floor. I reach my arms over my head, swaying from side to side with the biggest smile on my face as the music washes over me, relieving any and all stress I’ve held for the last week.
After a few songs, Nicole is fanning herself, and Amanda motions to get a drink. As we head toward the bar, I stop in my tracks, grabbing Nicole’s arm and making sure she doesn’t move any more.
“Why is Wes here?”
“Where?” She searches around the club.
“At the bar.” I point to where he’s sitting on a barstool with a redheaded girl trying to get his attention. “Do you know who he’s with?”
She looks where I’m pointing. “That’s a good sign. He’s here to check in on you, and he’s obviously not into her.”
Amanda turns around then and steps back to us to see why we didn’t follow her. “We getting drinks or what? Why are you two over here, gawking? What are you staring at? Oh, look. It’s Wes.” Her eyes dart from Wes to me, and a shit-eating grin covers her face. “Ohhh. Wes is here. He’s totally the guy you’re messing around with.”
“No one is messing around with anyone. I’m proving her wrong, and so far, I’m winning,” I say.
“Nope, too soon. Are you honestly saying there’s never been anything between you two?”
I shake my head but can’t hold her gaze.
“Never?” Nicole asks with crossed arms.
I raise my eyes to the ceiling and lament, “Okay, so one time when I was in the seventh grade, we played Spin the Bottle. Chad doesn’t know about that, so zip it.” They’re still looking at me like I’m full of shit. “And there might have been this moment before he left for college.”
They’re both smiling like fools.
“We can work with this,” Amanda says as she pulls my top down a little to show more cleavage.
“What are you doing?” I slap her hand away.
“Getting you ready.” She pulls some lavender strands over my shoulder.
“For what?”
“Retribution!” Nicole says. “If you still believe I’m wrong—which I’m not—it doesn’t matter right now because your rules say he can’t date if you can’t either. I’d say you have a lesson to teach him, and acting like he’s a cheating boyfriend will always make the girl walk away. Plus, I totally hate her. She stole my blow-dryer freshman year and still lies about it.” She steps back with a smile and a nod, telling me I’m ready to go after him.
“Cheating boyfriend?” I ask as I piece together what she’s saying.
The mischievous expression covering her face makes me want to hug her. I square my shoulders and hold my head high, readying for the performance of a lifetime. This is so ridiculous, and yet I’m excited to play the game.
“Just be careful. Aquariuses are not to be messed with. They hit back pretty hard.” Amanda slaps my ass as I walk by, and I have to bite my lip not to laugh or panic.
Wes and the girl are still talking. Her fingers are creeping up his arm like a spider as she pushes her breasts against him and pouts.
The sight of her hand on him has my blood simmering underneath. My body seems to be getting ready to play the role of protective girlfriend because, right now, I want to sucker-punch this girl in the face.
What’s gotten into me?
I look back at Amanda and Nicole and see them grinning and shooing me closer. I take a deep breath, clench my fists and march over to Wes.
“What the fuck is going on here?” I yell, yanking his shoulder back, pulling him away from her to swivel on his stool and face me.
Wes’s eyes widen in surprise and then narrow to slits when he sees it’s me. He stands to get closer, his size towering over mine. “I don’t know what you’re doing, Stacey, but it’s not cool.”
The redhead places a hand on her hip. “We’re having a private conversation, and clearly, he doesn’t want you here.”
I throw my arms in the air and keep my eyes trained on Wes. It’s easy really. They’re so damn pretty. “You told me you loved me. You said I was special. That’s what you do, right? Get in my panties and then move on to the next easy target?”
His jaw twitches, and I struggle to keep a straight face. He inhales and grits out, “You can stop now. You’re making a scene.”
“A scene? Not as bad as the fact that you stole my virginity hours ago, and now, you’re here, macking on some girl?” I point my finger in her direction just in time to see her eyes widen and jaw drop.
“You what?”
“She’s lying. Don’t listen to her.” Wes tries to grab her elbow.
“Isn’t that what they all say after they get what they want?” I stare directly into her eyes, putting on one hell of an act. Grabbing Wes’s arm, I sigh. “I should have known a guy with an arm like yours would have an ego to match.”
“Yeah, I’m out of here. You took her virginity and said you loved her? That’s low, dude. You’re a total creep,” she says as she pushes away from the bar.
I raise my hurt expression to her. “Thanks. And you have nice hair. I bet you have an awesome blow-dryer.”
The girl is a mix of disgust and confusion as she walks away. Wes, on the other hand, never takes his eyes off of mine.
“You happy now?” He crosses his arms and glares at me.
I inhale and hold my breath. I didn’t think this all the way through. I guess I thought he would chase after the girl and try to explain. I didn’t expect for him to challenge me.