Page 73 of Play Fake
“You will pay for this,” I whisper as I walk past her.
“I really am sorry,” she whispers back.
But the damage is done because the awkwardness between Waylon and me is so palpable it might have a heartbeat of its own.
TWENTY-TWO
Waylon
I helpMac put the ice cream away in the freezer. It’s a game of Tetris as there’s barely any room with all the beers and drinks shoved inside. As I tuck it in, my eyes don’t miss the fact she’s brought the beer she and Ben both drink. My stomach clenches at the thought of them.
I’m not actually that worried about it. I’ve told any of the guys who will listen Mac is off limits, and they better not so much as look at her wrong. But the fact she might still be entertaining the idea grates on my nerves and threatens to ruin the fantastic mood I’m in. We won our game. Mac is here, and whatever she says, she brought me cake for my birthday.
I pull the last item out of the bag and set it on the counter. Noticing it’s a fifth of whiskey, I hold it up to her.
“Planning to go hard tonight?” I wave it in the air.
“Oh. Yeah. I just thought it might go well with the ice cream. A little whiskey float or something.” She smiles and holds out her hand to take it.
I give it to her, letting my fingers brush against her knuckles in the process, and she winces a little. My stomach twists harder because it looks like more evidence of regret. Maybe I should have listened when she made it very clear the cakes were not her doing. Like it was repulsive to her she might be involved in any of the planning for my birthday.
As she tucks the fifth in her purse, though, I notice a little package inside. It’s wrapped in brown paper like she might have gotten it at the grocery store. But it definitely looks wrapped. My mind is struggling to try to read all these mixed messages.
“What’s that?”
“What?” She plays stupid, but she shoves it further down in her purse with the whiskey bottle, so I know she knows what I’m talking about.
“That little wrapped package. Did you get me something Mac?” I tease.
“Oh that. Uh yeah, just something I picked up while I was there.” She shrugs, but there’s a blush on her cheeks that gives her away.
“And then wrapped?” I lean forward, pretending to peer into her purse.
“I was bored waiting on the cakes,” she snaps back, taking a step away from me like I might bite.
“Why don’t I believe you?” I smile at her, hoping she’ll see I’m just playing with her, trying to coax her out of whatever shell she’s put herself in tonight.
“I don’t know, but I wish you would,” she sighs. “I need to find Olivia.”
And with that she turns away and disappears back into the crowd.
An hourlater and I’m already well and truly drunk after several rounds of birthday shots the guys insisted on. The last round hasn’t hit yet though, so I’m at least still standing.
Olivia has summoned me into the kitchen to light the candles and make a wish before she cuts the cakes for everyone. She has them all set up, spread out on the kitchen table and a bunch of the guys are surrounding them, raising beers in my honor. And Holly is at my side, her hands running over my arm and abs as she smiles up at me.
“Happy birthday, sexy!” she purrs.
“Thanks,” I give her a halfhearted smile.
“I got you something, but I’m already wearing it. So, you’ll have to unwrap me later,” she grins, and her fingers climb their way up my chest.
“Oh, yeah?” I try to feign desire. She looks beautiful tonight, but she’d be nothing but a consolation prize, which wouldn’t be fair to either of us.
I wonder a little at what she might be wearing under the skimpy dress she has on. I wonder what it would look like on Mac, and I wonder even more about what was in the package Mac had in her purse. If she’s even still here.
I turn around while Olivia lights the candles, looking to see if I can find her. She obviously didn’t come here for me, and wasn’t interested in talking to me tonight, but I’m hoping she’ll at least pretend to be a friend that gives a fuck it’s my birthday. I think I see a flash of Mac in the corner, but I’m jolted when a warm female body jumps me, practically climbing into my arms. Her mouth is on mine before I can react, her lips delivering an enthusiastic kiss.
“Happy fucking birthday, Waylon!” London laughs, wrapping her arms around my neck.
