Page 40 of Once Upon A Player
She sweeps her own glance over me, obviously can’t find any fault, so gives me another of her smiles that are designed to wither her opponent. “Lucas Carter?” There’s a fake friendly tone in her voice. “Where did you manage to findhim?”
She might pretend she doesn’t care, but I know Monica from years back, and she’s consumed by curiosity. What a shame I’ve no intention of confiding in her.
“Wouldn’t you like to know?” Okay, it’s not the most original comeback, but I’m concentrating on applying more lipstick. On second thoughts, I might just leave it, as my lips are still pretty impressive, considering I’ve just eaten. It’s gotnothingto do with my oddly uncoordinated hand and the fear I might end up looking like a clown.
Monica gives a tinkling laugh, which I happen to know she cultivated only after years of practice in her bedroom with me and the other girls as her audience. I don’t know why she bothered. It’s as fake as her bloody pledge of friendship was.
I sigh, not because I care any longer that she stole my boyfriend, but because weweregood friends, once.
“Honey,” she says, and I steel myself for her inevitable put down, until I remember that I don’t care what she thinks anymore.
Go, me! Yay!
“Don’t get your hopes up. We all know what Lucas Carter’s like, don’t we? And he hasn’t changed much from when we were fifteen and you were so hot for him.”
Wow. She just can’t let it go. It shouldn’t sting, but it does, and what’s worse is it brings back the bitchy thing she said in front of Lucas, when I’d managed to push it to the back of my mind.
When I found out about Geoff and Monica, it was such a shock I was literally speechless. Our paths never crossed afterward, and I never had the chance to tell either of them how much I hated them.
Funny, I don’t hate them anymore. I just think they’re two horrible people who deserve each other.
And then I catch the satisfied smirk on her face. She always got the last word. It was her thing, and she always bragged how nobody could ever get one overher.
As we turn to leave I stop right in front of her, and in my heels we’re almost eye-to-eye. Maybe thereissomething I need to tell her, after all.
“Yes, I know about Lucas’s reputation. But we’re having fun. And at least I know he’s with me tonight because ofme, and not because he wants to suck up to my dad.”
The blood drains from her face, and I almost regret my stabby words. I suppose they were abitmean, all things considered, but when she draws herself up and looks at me as though I’m muck on her shoe, I’m glad I threw that in her face.
I toss my hair and stalk out, and any lingering nostalgia for the way things used to be die an indifferent death.Finally, the closure I’ve needed.
I drop my lipstick back in my bag. Monica and Geoff can have each other. I’ve got Lucas, even if it’s just for a short time.
Condoms, I so can’t wait to use you.
Chapter Thirteen
Lucas
Damn. Talk about the best laid plans…
My original idea of taking Violet onto a nightclub after we finished here is a nonstarter, as she can hardly keep her eyes open.
I stifle a sigh and as we stand up I wind my arm around her waist, not just because I love the way she snuggles against me, but because I’m a bit worried she might trip over. If I hadn’t been so fascinated by the way she drank champagne, I would’ve realized how much it was affecting her. There’s no way I’ll be snapping any strings tonight.
She wraps herself around me as we take the lift, and although my brain is one hundred percent behind doing the right thing, my dick, obviously, has a dirty agenda of its own.
“Lucas,” she breathes against my cheek, as her hips sway in a seductive dance. I grit my teeth. I know she’s not doing it on purpose. Christ, she can barely stand, and I don’t need to be a Nobel laureate to figure out why she drank so much. I send another silent, expletive-laden curse directed at HD into the universe.
I messaged Chad twenty minutes ago, and as we leave the entrance he’s driving up the road toward us. Violet’s clinging onto me and while I’m not complaining, would she be doing this if she hadn’t crossed swords with her ex?
As soon as we hit the pavement, there’s a flash of light from across the street. Instinctively my arm tightens around Violet. Not that the photographer would’ve seen her face, considering she’s nuzzling the base of my throat. Jesus, the hits just keep on coming tonight.
I’ll always give the paparazzi a smile, sometimes a wave. After all, they’re only doing their job, but tonight the only thing I want to give this jerk is a black eye.
Chad has the car door open, and I help Violet inside before following her. At least they won’t get any more photos through these windows, but that doesn’t improve my mood.
I virtually assured her we wouldn’t get hassled tonight. Fucking famous last words.
