Page 13 of Saving Ren
“What?” I snap, annoyed at her distraction. My gaze still locked on the man staring at me from across the dance floor.
“Your mouth, Lauren. Close. Your. Mouth.”
“What?” I repeat.
“Your mouth, woman. Every time you answer me, you leave it hanging wide. . . Oh. Well damn. Who is that?”
I clamp my mouth shut. Blue eyes laughs, shakes his head, and finally looks away still smiling.
Even though he’s no longer looking, I find myself smiling right back.
“Surely she didn’t knockhimback. That man is gorgeous,” Lou questions as Jo moves towards us with a tray loaded with drinks.
“Do you know him?” Jemma asks.
“No, I know his face though. I’ve seen him around; I think they’re his brothers he’s with,” Lou replies.
I remain silent as Jo puts the tray down on the table.
“Please tell me you didn’t say no toallthat is that?” Jemma waves her arm up and down in the general direction Jo just came from.
WhenIfollow the direction of Jem’s arm wave, I realise he’s looking over again, so quickly steer my gaze to meet Jo’s.
“Do you realise how loud you are?” Jo questions Jem.
“Sorry,” Jem silently mouths.
“Despite what you might think, I don’t sleep with every man that buys me a drink. And yeah, as easy on the eye as that particular man is, he’s also a client. I do not fuck my clients. . . even if they do haveall thatgoing on.”
There’s a gabble of noise and questions as Lou and Jemma clamber for information. You’d never believe these are the two who are happily married out of the four of us.Notthat my friends are aware of the demise of my marriage yet.
My head spins for a second, and my stomach churns as my reality once again hits me. My entire life is about to implode, and here I am, getting drunk and making eyes at someone probably half my age.
“So, he’s a client? What does he do?” Lou asks.
I sneak another peek and feel ridiculous when he catches me and smirks. Why am I embarrassed when he’s the one still blatantly staring?
“He has a construction company that he runs with his family; two brothers, one sister. Their dad, Joe, started it when he first moved over here from the UK. He retired a couple of years ago, and now the kids run it. Jay probably knows of them Lauren, Wild Construction and Development.”
I’m not sure if she was asking me a question or just stating a fact. We live in a relatively small, beach-side town just outside of Melbourne. If he worked in construction, as my husband does, chances are, he would know, or at least knowofhim.
Still feeling a little out of it, I take the shot glass Jo places in my hand, realising the others are already holding theirs.
“He was very curious about you, Loz. He told me to make sure you knew this round of shots is on him.”
Snapped back to my senses, I bark out aloud, “What? Me? Why?” My eyes widen as I stare at Jo.
“What the fuck, Jo? What did you say? What did you tell him?”
Nervous paranoia bubbles Inside me. I’m not sure if it’s panic or anger I feel at the thought of them discussing me.
“Calm down, I didn’t tell him anything. I wasn’t about to break his heart and tell him you’ve been happily married forever.”
Heat rises from my belly, spreads across my chest, and climbs my throat before settling on my cheeks. This is it. This is the moment I say the words out loud and admit to my friends the truth about what my life has become.
“To friends and floors,” Lou again declares.
Choking back my emotions just long enough to knock back my shot, I slam my glass on the table, and burst into tears.
