Page 33 of Promise Me Nothing
I’m heading to my own table,I sign.I’ll see you later.
His eyebrows raise, but I look away and turn to Ivy.
You look beautiful in that dress, by the way. Blue is a great color on you.
A split second of shock makes way for a smile to break out on her face.
Then I turn to the handsome man to my left. “See you later, Pier Guy.” I give them both a wave, and wander off in search of Lucas.
And then, I can’t help it. I glance back over my shoulder, and a thrill runs through me when I catch him watching me as I leave, his eyes on me with laser focus. I grin, then turn away, allowing myself to get lost in the crowd.
Hopefully we’ll get a chance to talk again soon.
And if that does happen, I’ll try not to run off again.
Weaving through the crowd, I finally find Lucas at the bar talking to… I want to laugh. He’s talking to the aggressive brunette from the bathroom.
I let out a sigh. It feels like every part of being here so far has been about maneuvering land mines. So fucking exhausting. But I suck in a breath, then let it out slowly, and head in his direction, keeping a smile on my face.
“There she is,” he says, reaching out and pulling me closer. “Hannah, I want you to meet Adrina. Her mother is a friend of my mother’s.”
Adrina lets out a laugh, a nasally thing that sounds a lot different than her voice from earlier. “Oh, Lucas. We’re so much closer than that, wouldn’t you say?” Then she looks at me. “We’ve known each other since we were kids. Grew up doing so much together.”
I smile, though I’m sure it doesn’t reach my eyes. “How fun for you.”
“Adrina, this is my sister Hannah. She’s living with me for the summer.”
Her slightly bitchy expression pales, morphing into one that speaks much more of discomfort.
I feel just a little bit evil watching it happen, unable to help but enjoying her unease. “Adrina and I already met, actually. In the bathroom. She was really sweet. Helped me get rid of those horrible nylons.”
Adrina laughs, high pitched and strangled.
“Ready to go sit?” I ask Lucas, giving his thigh a pinch. “Because I’d love to find our table.”
Lucas winces and rubs the spot on his leg, but stands, grabbing his drink off the bar. “Adrina, good to see you.”
She nods, then scurries off.
A part of me feels bad, knowing that I just did something kind of manipulative and mean. But the other part of me still remembers the way she looked at me like I was pond scum. So I focus on that to assuage my guilt.
When I turn back to glare at Lucas, he chuckles. “I feel like there’s a story you should tell me.”
I nod. “Don’t worry. I will. But let’s go sit first. These heels are a bitch.”
"It doesn’t surprise me.”
“Well it surprised me,” I reply, spooning the last bit of soup into my mouth. “Who talks like that?”
Lucas rolls his eyes and takes a sip of his whiskey. “Adrina thinks she lives in a soap opera. And I’ll be honest, she kind of does. Her mother is friends with a few other Hermosa ‘socialites’,” he says, using air quotes. “I personally don’t put a whole lot of stock in it, but they certainly do.”
“So there isn’t a long line of women just waiting to jump into your bed?” I tease, giving him a cheeky smile.
Normally, I probably wouldn’t ask a question like that. But I’m feeling pretty good after having had two full glasses of the most delicious wine I’ve ever had. I think Lucas said it was a Syrah.
He chuckles and does a weird little shrug that makes me think it’s actually true. “I mean…” he trails off, a smile on his face.
“Oh mygod,it’strue.What she said is actually true?” Then I scrunch my face up. “Yuck. I don’t wanna know that.”
