Page 99 of That First Night
She smirks back at me. “So do you, handsome.”
There’s no doubt in my mind that I’ve made the right decision with her.
Tonight, is going to be the best fucking night.
“I am not cut out for this shit, Avery,” I murmur into her ear as I scan the room and realize we are surrounded by very powerful people.
This is a holiday charity event and Thomas is here to represent his company. The event happens to be at the same place I came all those years ago, the Edison Ballroom. But tonight, is to raise money to purchase toys for the families who can’t afford to give much this holiday season. When I used to live in New Jersey, I helped organize a much smaller fundraiser every year that was similar to this. Working in daycare, I’ve seen a lot of children go without for the holidays and I always wanted a way to help give back to that.
“Oh, would you relax?” Avery scoffs. “You’re made for these events now. You’re not the same shy and timid girl you were the last time you were at an event like this.”
I don’t reply, instead just simply nod and smile. Because she’s not wrong. The last time I was ever at an event this fancy was the night I met Thomas. I feared social environments and the last thing I wanted to do was to be seen in an evening gown. Over the last several months, I feel like I have grown into my own person. The truth of the matter is, Thomas has a lot to do with that.
I know the whole,you don’t need a man to make you feel like thatbullshit. Trust me, I get that. But when you have someone in your life that makes you feel comfortable, confident, sexy and loved, you learn to feel it yourself.
For the first time in my life, I don’t feel scared, either. My last few relationships, I was constantly worrying. I was always waiting for the nail in the coffin of the relationship and to be cheated on. I truly dated some pieces of shit. But Thomas has erased all those fears, though. There isn’t a doubt in my mind that would lead me to believe that he would ever cheat on me. I don’t feel like I’m waiting for a ball to drop and be led straight to heartache.
I’ve never felt more confident that he’s it for me.
“Let’s grab a drink,” I say to her.
“You read my mind, sister.” Avery chuckles.
We make our way over to the bar together. Thomas and Marc are mingling, with whom I can only assume are some powerful people in their line of business. I grab a tequila and lime and Avery gets a glass of champagne. I feel my phone buzz in my purse and when I pull it out I see an unknown number and silence it because it’s probably a telemarketer trying to sell me on lowering my cable bill or some shit.
“This is really some event, huh?” I say as I scan the room and take everything in.
“It is.” She nods. “And probably the dumbest fucking thing I have ever done in my life.”
“How’s being a fake fiancé going?” I wiggle my eyebrows as I lean my head in, so no one overhears what I say.
“Marcus is a pain in my ass, Peyton.” She groans in annoyance before taking a sip of champagne. I can’t help but notice the giant rock on her finger. That ring had to have been insanely expensive. “He’s lucky he’s so fucking hot, otherwise I wouldn’t be doing this.”
“Are there benefits to this arrangement?” I raise a single eyebrow.
“Doubt it,” she scoffs. “But I’ll do whatever I can to get a chance to ride that hot bologna pony.”
“You’re incorrigible.”
“I’m horny as fuck, Pey.”
“I can see that.” I laugh at her.
“I have to go to the bathroom,” she announces. “I’ll be right back.”
Avery leaves and I take a sip of my drink while scanning the room again. My eyes find Thomas on the other side of the room where he’s listening to a man speak. As if he can feel my eyes on his, his gaze turns to meet mine. I feel a heat pool in my center and a shiver run down my spine. A small smirk forms on his face as he lifts his glass of whiskey to take a sip while maintaining eye contact with me. I feel myself shift just the slightest in my seat, rubbing my thighs together. When he notices my slight movement, he shoots me a wink and runs his tongue along his bottom lip.
He’s eye fucking me from across the room andfuck me,if that doesn’t turn me on.
He turns his gaze back to the man quickly as if it’s his turn to speak so I twist my chair around to lean on the bar to wait for the bartender to come back around. To my side, I feel the presence of someone sitting next to me. I tilt my head the slightest to take note of who it is. I already know it’s not Thomas because my body knows when he’s close and this wasn’t that. However, my body shifts into high alert mode as if it knows something is off.
The woman next to me orders a gin and tonic. I turn my head a bit more to get a good look at her. She is stunning. Long blonde hair that cascades down her back with loose curls that reach her ass. She looks like a model or an actress of some sort wearing a long black gown that hugs every curve of her body. She has the type of body that women would kill for.
When she catches me staring, her gaze shifts to mine. I simply smile and turn my head back to my drink to avoid social interaction with this beautiful woman. But she speaks anyway.
“You must be the new woman that Thomas is fucking,” she announces.
My eyes widen in horror as they snap her way, “Excuse me?”
