Page 37 of Something Borrowed

One of her friends tries to pull her off the table and she swats them away.

A security guard steps forward and with his hands on her waist he lifts her off the table.

I want to punch him in the face for touching her.

No one touches her but me.

But I stand my ground. Now is not the time.

Verity is fighting with the security guard now, trying to punch him as well, but he’s much bigger than her and it looks like a kitten trying to fight a lion.

He sits her down on the sofa and steps away.

She huffs and tilts the bottle of vodka to her lips, drinking way more than she should.

As the evening goes on I watch her, waiting, calm, excited and nervous. The mix of emotions running through me are all overrun by my patience - which is wearing thin.

My brothers have given up trying to get me to sit with them and have left me at the bar. They still don’t know Verity is here, and that’s fine with me.

Then I see it.

My chance.

Verity gets up and makes her way towards the VIP bathrooms.

I push through the crowd ahead of her. I have to get into the bathroom before her security guards get there.

It’s the only place they don’t go, but they will wait right by the door once she is inside.

I move aggressively through the crowd, pushing people out of the way and sending them stumbling and shouting in annoyance.

I run down the passage towards the end where it splits left towards the females side.

Bolting around a corner I pin my back up against a wall, waiting.

Verity is arguing with the guard escorting her as she stumbles towards the corner.

“Ugh. Just wait here.” She huffs.

“I need to check inside the bathroom.” He says.

“Are you crazy? There are girls in there. Don’t be a savage.” She says in horror.

There is a moment of tense silence and then he sighs. “I am waiting right over here. Try nothing.”

“It’s the only way out, idiot. I will not stay in the bathroom all night just to escape you.”

He lets out an agitated growl and I chuckle, trying to imagine how little patience he has left after having to deal with a drunk, out-of-control Verity all night.

She walks straight past me without seeing me.

Stumbling into one stall she closes the door and I hear her sighing.

When I’m one hundred percent sure the security guard will not change his mind and follow her in I move away from my hiding place and grab the door of her stall and yank it open. The little slip lock snaps free of the wall far too easily and I am suddenly staring down at Verity, sitting on the toilet with a shocked expression on her face.

Then she giggles.

“I’m trying to pee here.” She sniggers.