CHAPTER493
Picking up my size of bowling ball I wander to the perfect spot, limber up like a pro and wiggle my butt while glancing back at him watching me with a smile. He gives me an encouraging wink, eyes homed in on me like we are the only two people here. I lean into the swing, down low for the let go and give my practiced bowling throw, the ball sliding out at speed and a straight line down the center to a perfect strike that has an eruption of cheers from our group of friends. Inwardly I swell with a “YESSSS” moment, giggling to myself and acting like the cat who got the cream. I jump up and down in satisfaction giving a little squeal. I have not lost my touch, before turning and trotting back to Arry’s open arms. He’s equally proud of me, grinning crazily as he picks me up, planting a kiss on my mouth with a smile. His arms crossed and held tight under my butt, so I’m sitting at his abdomen level and so much taller than him.
“That’s my girl, perfect, as always.” He keeps me up with my arms around his neck, legs bent so my heels are kicked up and he carries me back to our table of junk food with his eyes on mine.
“Like there was any doubt?” I giggle, unable to tear my gaze from that face which melts me in every way. Something out of the corner of my eye catches my attention, spying someone over his head and I start tapping him subtly s my joy fizzles away with the recognition.
“Arry, put me down.” I nudge him again, instantly bristling then take hold of his chin and turn his face towards Natasha’s approaching figure across the back of the hall. Through the crowds of milling bowlers, like a bad mood walking into a happy day. Instantly feeling like we shouldn’t be flaunting ourselves like this as it just looks callous to everyone here, and last thing I need is her playing victim while spoiled brat Sophie acts like a jealous baby.
Arrick slides me down to my feet and lets me go slowly, sliding a hand over my dress to smooth it down and depositing a chaste kiss on the corner of my mouth. It’s obvious he feels uncomfortable about her presence too and I’m in too much of a state of surprise to react. I didn’t think she would come here, I guess it’s not hugely unbelievable though as these are her friends also and I guess someone had to tell her we would all be here tonight.
“I better go say hi or else it will be more awkward. You want to come?” He turns to me in complete seriousness that makes me almost blanch. I honestly blink at him for a full three seconds, like he has completely lost his mind. I don’t even have space for the hints of green eye hatred while my brain is on ‘What now?’
“Umm nope … Think I’ll stay right here.” I frown at him sarcastically, as though he has lost his mind, and can’t help the spike of anger when he walks off towards her and leaves me here. That spike of jealousy hitting hard because he did what he said he was going to do, and yet I clearly expected him not to when I said I wasn’t coming. I know I was the one who pointed her out, so we wouldn’t rub salt in the wound, so to speak, but I never thought he would willingly go over there and speak to her while he has me standing like a spare part over here. That inner erratic rage rises again, and I scowl at his progress across the floor towards her. All inner happy bubbles burst, and I’m back to thinking my boyfriend is the biggest idiot on the planet sometimes. I know it’s dumb … but right now, I am beyond livid.
Stupid Sophie, get a grip!
I glare at his back as he wanders off towards the group of people who have arrived with Tasha, relieved to see they’re not mingling with our friends and not part of this group after all. I guess there’s hope in the fact she won’t be coming over here to mingle and play, and we might lose her again, sooner rather than later.
“Is that the competition?” Christian slides in, dropping an arm around my shoulder and glares with me. He knows fine well about the Natasha thing and I guess the venomous look of ‘die bitch die’ probably crossing my face was been pretty obvious to him. I turn a scowl at him, his eyes fully zoned in on them across the room with a look of loyal hatred, clearly not impressed with either her or Arrick.
“Nope. According to him, there is no competition. Sure doesn’t look like that now.” I pout, turning back towards the group of chatting friends all taking the piss out of Nate as he makes a throw. He isn’t bad at bowling, he just likes to turn clown and make everyone laugh and is trying to throw the ball backwards, through his legs with a stupid expression on his face. Jenny is laughing too, despite herself and the wink he casts her way makes her blush and glance away rather obviously.
Nate wanders towards me after finally taking his throw and surprisingly smashing a strike, grins at me and pinches my cheek in passing.
“Green is not a good color on you, kiddo. Arry ain’t a guy that deals with it either.” He reminds me and wanders off to pick Jenny up and throw a kiss on her; unusual for a guy who normally keeps his dates hanging on him and acts like he doesn’t give a toss. I start to wonder how much he feels for her after all. Clearly happy with his crappy bowling score and being weirdly affectionate for a fuck buddy.
I scowl his way, catch sight of Natasha throwing a hug on Arrick in the background, all smiles and doe eyes and he seems to endure it rather than give one back, but I spin away regardless, in a rage again. This time I really cannot control the wave of hate towards her, for even touching him, the urge to stomp over there and kick her multiple times in the face overwhelms me.
“Fuck you.” I spit back under my breath, not sure which male it’s intended for and seething so bad I almost pierce my palms with my nails. Christian lets me go, throws me a pained expression of solidarity, and turns too.
“Calm down. He is one hundred percent head over heels for you. She’s history and it’s pretty obvious to everyone. Arry would never go back there.” Claire cuts in, coming back to my side and nudges me softly, flanked by the two of them and Christian smiles at her.
“Smitten kitten alright, he manhandles this puppy more than most men handle their family jewels.” Christian beams at me with that deliciously wicked face and then saunters forward to retrieve his drink, leaving us momentarily alone. I frown a smile after him, not sure if what he said is meant to appease me. He is a funny one.
“I hate that he was with her in the first place.” I admit stupidly, suddenly realizing this is the first time I have come out and said it to someone. Strange that I pick Claire, she’s never been someone I confided in really. I always liked her and felt at ease with her though.
“We all know Arry, all saw what they were like as a couple. You have nothing to worry about, babe. He’s just being him, not an asshole like most of the men are in here. Right, Nate?” Claire tosses Nate a challenging look; no doubt an ex conquest of his from years ago, and he grins back, throwing an arm around Jenny’s shoulder with an uncaring shrug.
“What was he like with her?” Christian asks innocently, returning to my side with a pink fluffy cocktail in his hand that is dripping with glitter and I elbow him in the ribs; warning him with a scowl that this is not a cool topic, especially when I am in head ripping mood. I’m brimming on the psychotic here with a torrent of heavy rage waves ripping through my soul, despite the calm façade I have going on.
“Ooh, me, me, me.” The small blonde girl named Anna, sitting nearby and obviously listening in shamelessly, jumps up and joins our little gossip group, sniffing out a hint of turmoil no doubt. She seems like the type of girl who is always in the fold of a good drama.
“I’m totally in on this.” She giggles childishly, leaning in conspiratorially and very clearly in her element. I regard her coolly and realize she’s one that I have met before but hasn’t been around for long stints at a time. I wonder what she could know to be honest.
“Anna is the gossip queen.” Claire eye rolls with disdain, then laughs as Christian switches his arm from me to her and smiles wider, giving her the ‘you are my new BFF’ devious look and smarming over her a little too obviously. He is a shameless flirt when he has someone to extract information from and probably even more of a drama lover than Anna here.
“Spill it, Sista.” He winks at her and hits her with his sexiest ‘I know I am hot’ jaw-dropping smile that seems to melt her into a gooey puddle. She obviously missed the ‘I am Gay’ T-shirt he is wearing and the pink cocktail to hand. If James were here tonight, I am pretty sure he could be straddling him, and Anna would still fail to see the signs.
“Completely not happy. I mean, look at him, and look at her. Totally unmatched in every way. Arry is a wild little thing, seriously good in the sack ... According to rumors.” She blinks at me innocently, blushing a little and looking a little panicked that I may beat her around the head. I seriously do not want to know if he did, or didn’t, bang any of these women in here. I don’t want that thought to cross my mind at all, but I know it’s probably likely that at one point he has. Most of the girls in this group came from dating one of them and stayed when they either formed real friendships or started dating the one they stayed with. His past is his past and it is not going to get to me at all. I have no desire to be upset over stuff he did before me. Ironic really, seeing as I can’t seem to do the same with Natasha.
“Why have you never given us these details lady?” Christian frowns my way dramatically, demanding to know why I’m holding back how good he is in bed when I really don’t know. Not that I will ever admit it to any of them. I shrug coyly and make a locking motion across my mouth as if to say ‘A lady never tells’ and he narrows his eyes at me brutally.
“Go away.” I turn and try my best to ignore them as Christian prods Anna for more details, coaxing and questioning her with his eyes. I try to turn off my ears, avert my attention because I do not want to be a part of this, but I can’t help but listen in.
“She totally hated that about him, she’s a bit of a prude, not that into sex. It’s a wonder he stayed loyal for so long, considering he went from almost daily kinky banging to probably monthly, dutiful missionary style, judging by how pissed off he always seemed.” Anna seems to be relishing the audience she has and now another new girl has joined the mix, someone I don’t know. I think her name may be Susie or Sandra. I try and ignore them all crowding in for the juicy tidbits over my boyfriend and his ex and gawp at the fact that none of them thinks this is inappropriate in the slightest."
