Page 85 of Selfless

“Do what?” I ask confused.

He smiles. A drunken half-smile. “Look better than the bride.”

I chuckle, and he pulls me tighter. “I’m serious,” he whispers. “You’re the most beautiful woman here.” He stops dancing, and I look up at him through my dark lashes. We stand in the middle of the dance floor, people all around us probably staring, but all I see is him. All I hear is him; the music has faded away, and I’m lost in his dark green eyes.

His hand leaves my back, and he cups the other cheek. “I’m so in love with you, Ashlyn.”

I can never get enough of those words. “I’m in love with you too.”

He smiles, and I feel like my world just turned upside down. My knees threaten to buckle, and I suck in a deep breath. He steps closer to me and lowers his lips to mine. He whispers, “I’m in love with you, Ashlyn, and I want the world to know that you’re mine.” Then his lips are on mine. He kisses me deeply. I kiss him back passionately. Showing him everything that I’m unable to say at the moment as I hear the first fireworks explode in the sky above us.

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

RYDER

“Get a room.”

I open my eyes and pull away from Ashlyn to look at the woman who just walked by us. And I think I’m seeing things when I see who said it. “Yes, they’re here…” She says into her phone. “Yep. They’ve moved in together.” She rolls her eyes bitterly. “I don’t know. She’s drinking…” She snaps as her eyes look Ashlyn up and down. They linger on her belly for a second longer and then her eyes meet mine. “It’s pathetic,” she says and then hangs up.

“Vicki!” I slur her name. She must have been talking to her mother. I’m sure Debra has a lot to say about me and Ashlyn.

She then looks me up and down with disgust. I laugh. “Finally, we feel the same about one another.”

“Ryder,” Ashlyn says my name in warning and glares at me. “Please stop. She’s not worth it.” I giggle snort and she looks at me like I’ve lost my damn mind.

Vicki walks over to us and stops right in front of me. “You are pathetic,” she spits in my face.

“And you’re a bitch!” I say with a shrug. “What’s new?” I ask swaying on my feet.

Vicki gasps, and Ashlyn places her hand on my chest and shoves me backwards. I stumble but manage to stay upright. “He’s drunk,” she informs Vicki as she stands between us. “Walk away, Vicki,” she warns.

She gives Ashlyn an evil smile, then tosses her drink at her. Ashlyn takes a step back gasping in surprise, her arms out wide. The champagne runs down over her face and onto her blue dress. I should be pissed, but my first thought is I want to lick it off her chest.

Vicki simply says, “Don’t worry, honey, shit floats.”

Ashlyn wipes some of the excess drink off her and flings it down to her sides and lets out a laugh that makes Vicki raise her brows in question.

“Everything okay?” Becca asks as she and Jaycent join us. She looks at Ashlyn and gasps. “What the …?”

“Yes,” Ashlyn answers, interrupting her. “We were just leaving,” she adds, turning to face me, and grabs my upper arm. “Let’s go.”

“How does it feel to have my sloppy seconds?” Vicki shouts.

I come to an abrupt stop when Ashlyn yanks on my arm. She lets go of me and spins around. “What did you just say to me?” she demands.

“Not everything is about you, bitch,” Vicki snaps.

Ashlyn fists her hands down by her sides. “You piece of—”

Jaycent grabs Ashlyn’s arm as she takes a step toward Vicki. “As I said, not everything is about you,” she interrupts her. Vicki looks over at Becca, and she licks her lips and gives her a big smile. Then her eyes land on Jaycent. “Give me a call when you’re done with your little toy. I’d love another round …”

Becca gasps, and Ashlyn shoves Vicki back.

“What the fuck …?”

“Shut your mouth!” Ashlyn snaps at her.

Vicki just laughs at that. “What are you gonna do?” she asks with an arch of her brow. “Gonna make me? Maybe I should call Bradley …”

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