Page 343 of The Tempted

“Yeah, but I don’t think I want to go,” I blurted.

“Oh you have to go! You’ll break his heart if you’re not there on his big night,” she exaggerated.

“Mia,” I warned.

“No, Lauren, you’re an idiot if you don’t go. It’s not like you have anything better to do anyway,” she pointed out.

Way to kick a friend when she’s down. My best friend was better than yours. Not.

“I like Riggs, Mia,” I said, feeling frustrated and honestly a bit naïve.

“More of a reason to go to his party,” she suggested.

“No, more of a reason not to go,” I argued. I knew enough about men to know the type of man Riggs was. He probably invited every girl he ever banged to his patch party. I wasn’t stupid enough to think I was the exception, and I wasn’t ready to face that truth head on. I didn’t want to give up on Kitten and Tiger just yet and still wanted to hold onto the dream of us.

Maybe I was naïve.

Maybe I was just plain stupid.

“You’re going to the party,” Mia insisted. “And you will make Riggsy’s head spin when he sees you,” she said with a grin. “I have the perfect outfit for you!”

“Fine, I’ll go but you’re coming with me to make sure I don’t do anything stupid,” I conceded, knowing very well that deciding to go was the first of many stupid things I would do. But hey, life was about taking detours, right?

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