19–Joey
The party was a little dull, the two families barely mingling with each other, and you could have cut the tension in the air with a knife. Maybe the overly elaborate small sword, which was sitting on the edge of the cake table. Speaking of the cake it stood in the corner of the room, at least five tiers tall, loaded with garish flowers and the ugliest wedding toppers Ed ever seen. I swore I heard that Phoebe’s mother had made it and knew, no doubt it was either going to be dry as fuck, or hideously sweet.
I blinked at my own internal criticism of the cake and stared at the floor.
I’d had too much to drink.
I could feel the buzz from the alcohol, dulling my senses and I knew it was a bad thing. It wouldn’t take me much to go over and topple that damned cake.
Staring at the bridal table, each time Jake and Phoebe kissed, or touched, all I wanted to do, was walk up and stab her in the eye. And I knew if I drank much more, I would have the bravado to do just that. I’d gotten over my pity party after the third drink and was ready to throw down anyone.
“Thinking of ways, you can off her? I know a guy. I turned my head, looking at Alex, who plonked his perfect ass in the seat next to me. I rolled my eyes, looking back at the happy couple, as he continued: “It’d be free for you I can put it on my tab.”
I bit my lips together, lowering my gaze for a moment before I turned my attention back to him
The look he gave, the tone of his offer. I didn’t know if he was joking or not. “Oh yeah? Might have to take you up on that one day.”
Alex chuckled and leaned forward, his arm going around the back of my chair, as he whispered in my ear. The scent of his aftershave washed over me, encompassing me and taking me straight back to Thursday night..
“This dress definitely looks better on you, than that piece of green slime she had you wearing.”
I looked down at the dark blue dress I’d changed into. “Thanks.”
Phoebe had had a fit when she saw that I had changed, but I made up some bullshit excuse and said I’d gotten my period early and there was blood all over the back of it. Her face had been one of horror and she had muttered profanities at me. but in the end, she couldn’t do anything about it, and she had all but puked when I offered to show her the dress. I was just glad she didn’t call my bluff. The other dress was fucked.
Mascara, lipstick and tears would do that to green silk. 1 had an idea to leave it where Phoebe could find it, but I knew Jake wouldn’t be impressed.
“You’re welcome, doll.”
God… why was him calling me that such a turn–on! Was it because I’d been so touch–starved for over a year, and in love with someone else, that a soft word, or night of passion, instantly turned me to mush? Or was it the idea that this beautiful man. regardless of who he was, was genuinely attracted to me?
“Do you want to dance?”
I blinked and turned, looking at him.
His face was so close it wouldn’t take much for me to lean across and kiss him right then and there.
Now wouldn’t that cause a s
2 str.
“I don’t think that’s a good idea.”
Alex blinked, his gaze shifting to the bridal table, then back, a slight tinge of anger hitting his voice. “Why not? As you’ve said, you’ve lost him now. Why not have a bit of fun!”
Wow. Thanks for ripping my heart open again.
I sucked my tongue over my teeth and glared at him, earning a wry smirk. “Oh, doll. Have I hit a nerve?”
“I’ll hit you.” I spat back, trying to sound more confident than I actually was
Alex leaned in, his dark gaze the only thing in my field of vision and my heart kicked into overdrive, as my stomach contracted with a sudden spake of desire. “What did I tell you? I would do naughty things to you, if you lut me
19 Joey
I blinked at him, realizing he might actually be goading me on, to see how far he could push me, before I snapped. Was this a game to him? Was he enjoying this? “You wouldn’t..”
He smirked, his gaze lowering to my lips, before lifting to mine again. “Try it and find out. You just might like it.”
Nope.
I would be doing no such thing.
I was already pushing my luck with Alex now as it was, just sitting here, talking to him. I’d been avoiding Alex like the plague since the ceremony
Jake had asked about us. Why one of his friends had seen us coming from the car park, my dress dirty and the smug look on his brother’s face.
I’d told him his friend was a lying twat and Alex had helped me when I’d fallen over, after I’d gone to be sick, because I hadn’t eaten since this morning, because Phoebe had told me not to, so the dress would fit properly.
That hadn’t gone down well, but I was beyond caring now. He had no say in anything I did anymore. Jake had a wife now. Alex’s smooth, sexy voice came back to my ears again and I had to stop myself from swooning, remembering what it did to me the other night. “Come on, Jolene. Come and dance with me.”
I turned my head, looking back at the bridal table, to Jake watching me, a confused look to his features. My face heated with embarrassment, and I was about to tell Alex to shove it when Phoebe leaned over, turning Jake’s face to hers and purposely kissed him, glaring at me the whole time.
For fuck’s sake, this woman was an all–consuming jealous bitch, and I’d had enough.
My jaw clenched and I turned back to Alex, seeing his eyebrow raise with my obvious change. “You know what? Fuck it, let’s
