Page 57 of Book Boyfriend
We sit through a slideshow presentation, speech, and a dinner. I glance at my phone several times. Still nothing from Fisher. It’s after nine and deep in my soul, I know he’s not coming. I feel it.
The band begins to play and couples make their way to the dance floor. “Do you mind if we dance?” Luna asks nervously.
“Gosh no. Please go for it.” I smile brightly because I don’t want her to feel sorry for me. As soon as she’s distracted on the floor, I decide to make a run for the bathroom so I can avoid watching the dance fest for yet another year. Maybe my couch is open.
Just as I stand, I feel a tap on my shoulder. “May I have this dance?”
I spin excitedly, thinking Fisher made it after all.
“Hello, Greer.”
My mouth drops and I feel like I may lose my chicken dinner. “Ollie? What are you doing here?”
He points across the dance floor to a skinny blonde in pink as she laughs with a group of men by the bar. “My girlfriend asked me to come. How could I say no?”
I cock my head to the side. Did he just say what I thought he said? “Aww, did you break up with grandma?”
“Don’t call her that. And if you mean Wanda, then no, I still see her from time to time.”
Wanda. What a name for a whore. He broke up our marriage over an old fish. “Does little Suzzie Q know you’re playing the field?”
“Why, are you jealous?”
I roll my eyes and turn away.
“You look good. Have you lost weight?”
I sigh. “What do you want?”
“I heard about the book and movie deal. Congratulations. I always knew you’d be successful. You’ve always been so talented.”
“How would you know? You never even read one of my books.”
“That’s water under the bridge now, isn’t it?” He takes a step closer and rubs my bare shoulder with the tips of his fingers. “The truth is, I miss you. How about we step outside and catch up in my car?”
I’m going to spew. “Eww. No. Didn’t you say you had a date?”
He glances over at her and back at me. “If we make it quick, she won’t notice. Come on. Once more for old time’s sake?”
“I’d rather have my head chopped off, shit poured down my neck, and my head placed on backward for the rest of my life than let you touch me one more time.”
He snickers and takes my wrist in his hand as I try to walk away. “Okay, then I’ll settle for a dance. You owe me that, don’t you think?”
I hear him before I see him. “I’m afraid all her dances belong to me.”
He’s still a few feet away when he says it and I watch him strut over to me in slow motion. He’s got that Kevin Bacon “Footloose” thing going on as he crosses the dance floor in his black tuxedo and perfectly coiffed hair. I moan lightly in approval as I hum the song in my mind.
“Hey, sweetheart, sorry I’m late.” He kisses me directly on the lips and pauses to stare into my eyes before he turns his attention to Oliver. “Would you like to introduce me to this douchebag who apparently thinks he has the right to touch you?”
I snicker as he holds out his hand to Oliver, who refuses to shake it back while I introduce them. “Oliver Buckner, this is Patrick Fisher. Fisher, meet my ex douchebag.” Fisher recoils his hand and smirks.
“I’m sorry did you say Oliver Fucker? That’s appropriate.”
“Buck-ner,” Oliver corrects angrily. “Or maybe you should just call me Greer’s husband.”
“You forgot the ‘ex’ part. You’re shorter and uglier than I imagined. Huh. I’d like to say it’s nice to meet you, but that would be a lie. Would you like to dance?” he asks, turning to face me.
“I’d love to.”
