Page 60 of Wingwoman
Annoyance flashed across her features as Hope’s gaze jerked to Vivian’s. Only it wasn’t Vivian’s gaze she found… it was mine. "What in the hell areyoudoing here?”
Wow, if I thought she was grumpy earlier today, that was nothing compared tothis.
“Josh is here? Again?!” The friend sitting next to her was the same client I had seen with her in the bar that very first night. Maggie, I think she said her name was.
“Yep,” Hope said, popping the ‘p.’ “He just keeps turning up.”
“Like a good luck charm,” Maggie whispered, a shy smile on her face.
“More like a dirty penny,” Hope answered. Unlike Maggie, she made no effort to whisper or conceal her words from me.
Maggie's wide eyes first fell to me, clearly starstruck. But then they shifted to my left, and her blush turned scarlett when her gaze landed on Matt.
I smirked at my buddy, fully expecting Matt to have not noticed her yet. If history was any indication, I’d have assumed he’d be staking out all the girls in the room, figuring out which one he wanted to talk to first.Firstbeing the operative word there, because Matt's MO was usually to get as many numbers as he could in one night.
Don't get me wrong, Matt was a good guy. He was always upfront about the fact that he wasn’t exclusive and he never cheated on the women he dated.
But still, if I had a sister, there was no way I’d ever let her within ten feet of the guy. And I loved him like a brother.
But when I looked to my left, I wasn't met with his wandering gaze or cocky smirk. Instead, he was staring directly at Maggie. And if I didn't know any better, I would have thought he'd been hit by Cupid's arrow himself.
Well hot damn. Had my best friend finally met the woman who could tame him? Maybe Maggie wouldn't be Hope’s client for too long after all. Selfishly, it would work to my benefit if Matt and Maggie started dating. Then I could have Hope’s attention entirely to myself.
"Well? Aren't you going to answer me? What the hell are you doing here?”
I'd been standing there like an idiot, staring around the room rather than answering Hope's question.
I opened my mouth to speak, only nothing came out. No smooth retort. No little white lie to get me out of this. It was like my grade-A bullshit generator had blipped out in my brain. "Uhhh…”
Vivan cleared her throat and squeezed my elbow. “I found these two cuties hanging around outside with nowhere to go. And I figured, what better way to liven up this bachelorette party than to invite Mr. Josh Gabriel himself along to party with us?” Vivian sent me a wink.
Pressing her palms to the table, Hope stood slowly, glaring first at me, then at Vivian. “You’re telling me that these two guys justhappenedto be loitering outside the very restaurant where your bachelorette party was happening?”
A server walked into the room with a tray of shots, passing them out to the party one by one. Hope took one glance and waved him off, declining the shot.
“That’s right!” Vivian said. “You don't mind if they tag along, do you? I mean, youdidsay you two were friends, right?”
Hope’s glare turned homicidal, tightening the lines framing her eyes. I don't know what kind of revenge she had planned for me, but it was clear she was cooking up some ideas.
“Friends,” she repeated, the glare vanishing faster than a snap of my fingers. In its place was a frighteningly cheery smile. A smile I didn’t trust… not for a second. “Of course I don’t mind. I was just surprised to see you. I thought you had adatetonight?”
Oh, she knew damn well I had a date tonight. The worst date in the world.
I shrugged and gave her my best charismatic smile. “Total dud.”
“Is that so?”
“Yep.”
The server walked by me, finishing up his round of passing out shots when Hope’s hand darted out, snatching the two remaining shot glasses off his tray.
“Something tells me that if you’re coming with us to the male review strip club, we’re going to need these.”
But instead of handing me one of the shots, she tilted her head back and downed them both within seconds.
* * *
“Wooooooo!”
