Page 11 of Should've Been Us
She was done with Derek Harper. Done. He’d made his choice a long time ago and she was finally going to moveon.
That still didn’t mean she was ready to hear about his sex life though, so she decided that between the alcohol and the panic attack she should probably find her way back to her room and call it a night. She’d had way too much to drink. That had been her plan but now that it was in full effect she regretted every ounce of the wine that now made her feel out of control andridiculous.
She had to keep her shit together this week. She could fall apart later if she needed to but not here and not now. Not in front of all thesepeople.
As her senses returned she caught snippets of conversation happening in the distance. She’d forgotten the guys had come out to have cigars and she peeked her head around the corner cautiously, checking to see if any of them had noticed her. They hadn’t luckily, but this close she could just make out the conversation the small group of men nearest her werehaving.
“No way man. I already put in the work with Nikki. She’smine.”
That voice belonged to Dean. Lulu would recognize it anywhere. It sounded a lot like Derek’s but was deeper. Her ears perked up as someone elsespoke.
“No way. You’ve got a history with her. We’re coming in cold. You gotta pick a differentgirl.”
“He’s right. You take the chick from Montana. She’s smokinghot.”
“Dude, she’s married.” Deansnorted.
“Not that one. The other one. You take her and Reed and I will toss a coin for the othertwo.”
“Toss a coin?” The second voice that must have been Reed whined, which made the other voice that of his older brotherRidley.
“We’ll coin toss for all three. First one to bang their bridesmaid wins.” Dean was grinning now, she could hear it in his voice, and as what was happening sank in Lulu felt another surge of anger and heat swirl with the alcohol in herveins.
They were betting on the bridesmaids. They were betting on which one of them would be able to sleep with their assigned girl first. They were actually wagering on sex. Not just random sex either. Sex with the bridesmaids that were supposed to be their friends and their partners this week. They were reducing the girls that Lulu had spent the last few hours finally befriending to nothing but a sexual conquest and she refused to stand by and let ithappen.
She was just drunk enough that she didn’t hesitate or think it through. She simply stormed around the corner and straight for the group of men. Her face was hot with anger and her nails cut at her palms with the urge to ball her fists and punch each and every one ofthem.
“Are you fucking kidding me?” The words rolled off her tongue much louder than she’d intended, but there was no taking them back because the three of them were already turning to faceher.
“Oh, hey Lu.” Dean shot her a goofy grin, “Didn’t see youthere.”
“Are you fucking kidding me?” She repeated, poking a finger in his chest, “Are you seriously out here making bets about which bridesmaid you’re going to sleepwith?”
Dean had the grace to look sheepish, “Uh…”
“You’re a pig.” She poked him in the chest again and then slung her finger around the semi-circle of Harper males, “You’re all a bunch of disgusting pigs. Taking bets about who you can get into bed? Those girls are supposed to be yourfriends!”
“Wait justa…”
But she didn’t wait, she kept righton.
“Tell me, how much is sweet, little Anna worth? It’s gotta be more than Amber right? I mean Amber is sort of easy. Everybody knowsthat.”
“Lulu.” Deangrimaced.
“Wait, did you tell them you already hooked up with Nikki? If not, you’ve got this one in the bag but if so, I guess you gotta hope there’s a bonus for hitting it twice right,Dean?”
Dean stepped back away from her. Reed and Ridley both dropped their guilty gazes. But before any of them could say anything another deep, commanding voice broke into the conversation and sent another swirl of heat through herveins.
“Okay, Lulu, I think that’s enough fortonight.”
She whirled on Connor, “You’re right. I think enough is enough too. This is bullshit and you knowit.”
“You’re right. It’s inappropriate.” Connor stepped closer to her, his voice low and soft, “I’ll handle the three of them but how about first you let me take you tobed?”
“Not if you were the last man on earth.” Shesneered.
Connor only chuckled slightly, “Smartass. I meant to your room. Let me get you back to yourroom.”
