Page 664 of Hell Hath No Fury
“I’m sorry, sweet lady, but I’m going to have to cut this short for a restroom break.” My partner grinned sheepishly.
I laughed and patted his shoulder. “No problem.”
Seconds later, I was alone on the dance floor, but I could still feel Foster’s eyes on me. I should ignore him. I knew I should. But curiosity compelled me across the room. He visibly tensed as I drew toward him. His shoulders (fitted perfectly inside atailored, dark-gray three-piece suit) pulled back and his eyes narrowed. That was probably my cue to veer off course, but I reminded myself that this guy was Colt’s best man, and we were going to be in each other’s lives.
I also remembered Jade telling me Foster had a five-year-old daughter with his ex, and while that was young to have a kid, I knew from personal experience that kind of responsibility made you grow up fast. Maybe Foster was a mature twenty-five.
I stopped before him, tilting my head to meet his eyes.
God, he was tall.
“Hey.”
He nodded warily at me.
My brows drew together. Why was he acting so strange? Determined to break the awkwardness between us, I gestured behind me. “Would you like to dance?”
Foster looked out at the dance floor, then back at me, his expression unreadable. He opened his mouth and replied, “Not really.”
For a moment, I was shocked and was pretty sure I stood there gaping at him like I’d never seen another human.
Then he added insult to injury by marching away without another word.
What. An. Asshole.
A half hour later, a very drunken Luna was pulled off a dining table by the party planner; Moon and Linzi, horrified by the scene, left early; and now Celeste and Luna were leading many of the guests in the conga and flirting outrageously with all the other drunks, no matter the gender.
The intoxicated revelers were really getting into it, but as my eyes wandered over the remaining guests seated at tables, I saw the exchange of mocking looks and caught a few peopletalking about what an embarrassment my sisters were for Jade. It made me angry, on top of the indignation Foster had incited. What was wrong with having some drinks and a good time? They weren’t doing any harm.
Needing a breather, I escaped from the ballroom, hurried down the corridor, and turned the corner to brace myself against the wall, out of sight. Fanning my hot cheeks, I tried to get a hold of myself. The last thing Jade needed was me adding fuel to the fire by losing my shit in front of some of her stuck-up friends. Plus, I reminded myself, it wasn’t all of them—just a few.
I wasn’t there long when the murmur of deep voices grew louder—and then I recognized to whom they belonged, and they were walking toward me.
“Why did you bring her if she’s pissing you off?” Colt asked.
“Because my father asked me to,” Foster replied. “It’s just easier to agree to the date and then tell him we aren’t compatible.”
“Or you could tell your dad to go fuck himself.”
“Oh, yeah, I’ll get right on that.”
“A parent should want nothing but happiness for his kid. You shouldn’t be at an engagement party with a woman who sets your teeth on edge. There are gorgeous, single women here, and you can’t approach any of them because you agreed to take Janet as your date.”
“Who are these gorgeous, single women?” Foster scoffed, and I stiffened at the insult, whether intended or not.
“Hey, watch the tone,” Colt admonished. “Two of them are my soon-to-be sisters-in-law.”
“Good luck with that. They’re a handful.”
“They’re a little drunk. And it’s just Luna and Celeste. Celeste is single. She’s cute.”
“Isn’t she twice divorced?”
“So?”
“Not exactly marriage material for a Darwin.”
“You sound like your father, i.e., a total prick.”
