Page 48 of Fake Dating Adrian Hunter
“What are you talking about?”
“I’m sorry.” His fingers move slower, his breathing heavier. He’s so zoned out that I question whether he knows what he’s saying.
I watch Adrian for the remaining hour’s journey back to the resort. His eyes are closed and his breath smooth, but not once do his fingers cease to trace delicate patterns over my hand.
ChapterSeventeen
Once we’re back at the resort, I skip dinner at the restaurant and order room service for myself, wanting to monitor Adrian as he sleeps off his pain on the couch in our bungalow. My muscles are already starting to ache from stand up paddle boarding. I curl up at the end of Adrian’s couch with a bowl of Coco Pops and skim through this week’s schedule to prepare myself for tomorrow. I’ll be busy with the dress fittings for most of the day. There’s also the wedding ceremony rehearsal I need to attend. Tomorrow won’t be anywhere near as enjoyable as today, and Adrian won’t be around as much, but perhaps that’s a good thing, giving him time to recover from the bluebottle sting.
I’m about to take a shower when I realize there’s still one item listed on the agenda for today. The bachelorette party, which is scheduled for nine p.m.
I glance at the clock. It’s nine fifteen. I’m ready for sleep, but now I have to psych myself up to be in party mode and watch strippers. I consider texting Tory and apologizing for not making it to the party, with the excuse that I need to watch over Adrian. But I don’t want to let my sister down.
I leave a note beside Adrian, alerting him of where I am if he wakes. After a quick shower, I change into a short dress with long sleeves adorned in emerald gemstones, slip on some heels, and sneak out the front door.
Five minutes later, I arrive at a function room. Unlike the rest of the resort with its coastal themed interior, this place is lit by a dim red glow and the walls are covered in pink streamers, naked blow-up dolls, and boob balloons.
“Oh good, Tory’s sister has decided to arrive.” I don’t need to see the person’s face to know the voice belongs to Stacy.
When I look in her direction, I find all the young women at this wedding, plus a few game older ones, sitting in a group on the floor. Jannah is among the crowd, and I try my best not to let her presence ruin my mood. A blond, twenty-something-year-old girl stands in front of everyone, wearing a black corset and stockings. I guess she’s the stripper.
The moment she notices me, her eyes almost pop out of her head and she jumps up and down. “I was told there would be a celebrity at this bachelorette party, but I didn’t know it would be Verena Valentine! Wait until I tell all of my friends about this.” Out of nowhere, her excitement vanishes, and her shoulders rise in panic. “Sorry, I mean after the wedding, of course. I know I can’t say anything until the big day is over. Do you think I can get a photo with you?”
“Sure. I take photos with all my fans. Stacy, will you do the honors?”
Stacy rises from the group of girls with a glare, but keeps her mouth shut and takes the stripper’s phone.
“I’m Jessica, by the way.” The girl wraps an excited arm around me, and we smile for the camera. Once Stacy hands the phone back, Jessica addresses everyone. “All right, ladies, let’s get this burlesque dance class started.”
“Dance class?” I mutter to Stacy. “I thought you organized strippers for the bachelorette party?”
She swats my arm and looks at me like I’m a child who has stepped out of line. “Shush. Don’t spoil the surprise. We’re having two bachelorette parties. The strippers are tomorrow night.”
I swear under my breath. “You know, I could have helped out if you’d let me in on all the details.”
“Oh, don’t be silly, Vera. You’re a big celebrity with stressful deadlines and chaotic filming schedules. If you couldn’t take time off to come to your own sister’s engagement party, what makes you think you’d be able to organize a bachelorette party?”
It’s times like this when I wish I was gifted with Adrian’s quick-witted tongue, but Stacy takes her place among the women before I have a chance to say anything in return. Her words hit hard. Deep inside, I know the reason they hurt so much is because she’s right. Ishouldhave gone to the engagement party. Ishouldhave worked through my insecurities and pushed myself to attend. Instead, I was too scared and only thinking about myself.
Before I have a chance to seek Tory out and apologize for my ways, Jessica turns on a sultry tune and the dance class begins. The apology can wait. My sister looks happy, smiling with her friends. This isn’t the right moment to bring up a heavy topic.
Over the next hour, we’re led through a list of different poses and dance moves, taught the seductive art of a striptease, and shown how to use props like feather scarfs and paper fans. Jessica even gives us tips on how to look good naked—which I make a mental note to practice later in front of the bathroom mirror. When it’s time for us to split into pairs for the chair dance segment, of course I’m the odd one out, and am forced to pair up with Jessica.
“This is abacheloretteparty.” Phoebe’s voice projects over everyone’s noise. “Adrian, what are you doing here? No men allowed.”
Part of me wonders if I just have Adrian on the brain and am hearing his name everywhere, even when it’s not spoken. Regardless, my eyes whip in the direction that Phoebe is looking, and there he is. My first reaction is to smile, but reality hits when remembering the bluebottle sting, and I rush over to Adrian, placing a hand on his forehead to check his temperature.
“Why aren’t you sleeping?” I ask. “Is everything all right?”
“I’m fine, Vee. Feeling much better. I woke up and you were gone, so I came looking for you. What are you all doing?”
“Secret girl stuff. I’m not sure when we’ll be done. You should go back to the bungalow and rest.”
“Don’t be ridiculous,” Tory says, having snuck up behind me. “Adrian, stay. No one picked Verena to be their partner, so she has to pair up with the teacher.”
Adrian laughs. “It’s like high school all over again.”
I fold my arms. “Don’t be a dick.”
