Page 61 of A Little Bit Reckless
“The big deal is you left Bow when you’re supposed to be escorting her tonight,” Sloane cut, and Bow shook her.
“Sloane, it’s fine,” Bow said, and Sloane shook her head.
Sloane pointed at me. “It’s not fine. That’s not what an escort does.”
“She was with my parents. Chill,” I said, but I got another look from Dorian. I shrugged. “She was.”
“Well, not when I found her.” Sloane folded her arms. “Even if she was, you’re supposed to be sticking with her.”
I wasn’t Squeak’s fucking keeper.
Saying nothing, I grabbed another champagne glass, and I think I made things worse by choosing to drink instead of engage. I loved Sloane like a sis but she was straight trippin’ right now.
My drinking obviously annoyed Sloane. Her eyes blazed, but when she looked like she was going to come at me again, Dorian finally stepped between us. He tried to talk her down in that calming nature only she could bring out in him. He rubbed her arms as he spoke to her, but she clearly wasn’t having it.
Sloane’s jaw tightened. “No. He thinks he can treat people any way he wants. First Bru. Now this?”
I was alert now and probably reacted too quickly when my head shot up. “The fuck did Bru say?”
Dorian shot a finger at me. “Eh. Check your tone.” I got him defending his girl, but she was being so out of line right now.
“Bru doesn’t say anything to me,” Sloane said, frowning. “No matter how hard I push he doesn’t, butI knowyou did something, Wells. My brother doesn’t fight anymore, but suddenly he and you are throwing down?”
“Not to mention avoiding each other. Which you have been for weeks,” Ares said, cutting in. His shoulders lifted. “What is the deal? You guys used to be hella close.”
I didn’t like all this heat on me, the spotlight.
And Squeak was looking at me.
She had that pleading look in her eyes again. Like, once more, she needed something from me, but she didn’t. Not really.
She didn’t even wait.
The swallow was hard in my throat, and, blinking, I faced away from my friends.
“I’m getting a drink,” I mumbled, needing something stronger than fucking champagne. I had zero to give to anyone right now. Not Bru, and especially not Bow.NeverBow.
I headed straight for the open bar after leaving my friends. It’d be a miracle if I didn’t get drunk tonight.
In fact, I was all but determined.
I didn’t get wasted because my parents were here, and I was still trying to be on my best behavior for my dad. He hadn’t cut me off yet because of school, but that didn’t mean he wouldn’t.
I also refused to make tonight about me when it was supposed to be about Dorian and his achievements. Because of that, I kept to myself, which was easy to do. The room was filled with influential people and, later, speeches. Dorian’s father, Royal, had a really good one around the time dinner was served. He said how proud he was of his son for living out his dreams.
Tonight was about Dorian, but I didn’t make myself suffer voluntarily. I avoided my friends when I could, and, at dinner, I opted out, saying I had stomach issues. My mom was hella concerned about that, but she let me go to get some air. I took alotof fucking air and returned just in time for dancing and socialization.
I found Squeak then. She was watching the dancing, and I held out my hand for hers.
“Come. People will expect it,” I said, and ignored the heat in my hand when she obligatorily took it. I brought her close then and made sure we were in front of my parents who were also dancing.
Dad smiled at me with a nod before directing my mom’s focus over to Squeak and me. Mom smiled too, seriously looking radiant. She and my dad were the perfect pair and complemented each other so well. They found their soulmates in each other.
So many soulmates were on the dance floor now: my parents, Thatcher’s, and all my friends’ parents. They were all holding each other close during the slow dance.
My friends also had their partners out on the dance floor. Dorian was gazing down at Sloane like she was the only thing he could see, which was probably the case. Those two were ultimately headed down the aisle, just like Ares and Fawn. Ares held Fawn in such a mighty embrace I felt intrusive watching them.
I gazed around for an ally, but all I found was Thatcher. I missed him at dinner, but that was probably because I’d left. He’d obviously joined us in the ballroom at one point. He was currently by the bar but was on his phone again.
