Something Wonderful (17 page)

S
HAKING MY HEAD,
I frowned at Becky. “I’m not even going to try that dress on. It looks too skimpy. I might as well be topless.”

“Max would love that,” Becky teased. “Come on. Just try it. If you don’t like it, just take it off.”

“You always tell me that and somehow I end up wearing what you chose.”

“’Cause I’m always right.” She handed me the black dress and gave me a little shove into her bathroom.

I felt like a neon sign that screamed, “Look at me!” However, looking at myself in the mirror, with my hair and makeup already done, I had transformed into a diva. Although I was still a little uncomfortable with so much cleavage showing, I had to admit I looked pretty good. “So what do you think?” I shrugged my shoulders as I came out of the bathroom.

Becky’s eye glistened, as she looked me over from head to toe. “Oh my God. Well, I am proud of myself. I’m right again. You know, you have that innocent, angelic face, but with the right makeup and a hot dress, you look gorgeous.

“Thanks,” I said shyly.

“Okay.” Becky dropped her phone on her bed, and opened her closet door. “Now I’d better get dressed while you go get your shawl. I just got a text from Nicole saying she’s almost here.” Walking into her bathroom, she looked over her shoulder at me. “I can’t wait for Max to see you. We’re going to have an awesome time.”

T
HE TRAFFIC WAS HORRENDOUS
, not to mention the parking. Thankfully, Nicole’s fiancé opted to valet park. He was all sorts of handy today. The owner of the club, Stellars, was one of his good friends, so even though it was grand opening night, he was able to reserve a table. It was good to have friends with connections. Max texted to let me know he was already at the table with Matthew. We just had to get through this line to show them our IDs.

As soon as we entered, excitement filled the air as we passed by several intimidating bouncers. The music pounded against my chest and I wanted be on the dance floor already, but first things first. I was starving, and I knew Becky was too, since we both had a light lunch. Peering up, I noted there were two levels. They designed it so the people on the first floor could see the people on the second level. The second story had a big gap in the center, protected by bars for safety.

The décor was simply stunning. It was dark, but the neon lights and the surrounding white lights that dangled from corner to corner were just enough to keep from bumping into people. The place was huge, and it would have taken some time to search for Max on my own. Thankfully, he had texted me again to let me know he would wait for us at the bar instead of at the table. However, the bar was ginormous!

I had never seen a bar that size before. Off to the side, people were checking in their coats, which we decided to do as well. Becky took out her credit card and her driver license before she handed hers over. She didn’t bring a purse. She said she didn’t want to bother bringing one since she wasn’t driving. There were only two places she could hide her cards, and I wondered where it was going this time.

Tugging Becky along as she held onto Nicole, we searched for Max. Carefully avoiding others, we weaved through the crowd of people. They all looked like they had a head start drinking. Someone suddenly bumped into me from the side.

“Watch it!” I heard her say. Turning my head, I spotted the person who smacked into me. She was tall and blonde, with a tight red dress. She looked very familiar, but I couldn’t place her.

About midpoint on the bar, I spotted Max. He was all dressed up in a crisp shirt, sleeves rolled up half way. One of his legs was propped up as he leaned forward on the bar, holding a drink. My heart skipped and flipped, taking him in, just like the first time I saw him; then we set our eyes on each other. He was dangerously good-looking, too good to be true in every way, and I was the lucky one who got to say—he’s mine.

Instead of approaching him, I waited. I saw he was talking to the lady beside him. Actually, she was talking to him, but I could tell Max was being polite, trying not to lead her on by his posture. He was leaning away as she was leaning toward him. It was time to rescue my man, and time to tell the lady to back off. Becky nudged me, letting me know she was seeing the same thing. “Wait right here,” I told Becky.

“Max.” I placed my hand on his back.

Max swung around and was all smiles, embracing me. “Babe, you finally made it. You look beautiful.” He looked so relieved. When he released me, his eyes twinkled and his face radiated blissfully. It was comforting to know that I could make him look this happy. I was also quite relieved to see that the lady he had been chatting with disappeared into the crowd. After, he hugged Becky and Nicole and shook hands with Craig, he led the way to our table.

Holding Max’s hand, I followed behind as we weaved through tables and people. Finally, we ended up in a cozy corner, with a big reserved sign. It was a big kidney shaped table with a plush, black cushioned booth seat. It was definitely big enough for all of us. The volume of the music was lower in this area, too. When Matthew spotted us, he excused himself from the crowd of women who surrounded him and came to our table. Then, we spotted Kate and Keith. Now everyone was here.

After the introductions and greetings, we ordered our dinners. As we ate, we laughed and talked about our jobs, Kate and Keith’s daughter, and Nicole and Craig’s wedding. It was the first time we were all together having a great time, and getting to know each other. Occasionally, it seemed as though Matthew and Becky held their own private conversation. They were getting along very well, compared to the first time they met, but surprisingly they acted as if they were old friends. I wondered what had changed and what Becky was keeping from me.

Still feeling self-conscious because of the dress I was wearing, I looked at my friends’ attire. I was the only one with a shawl draped over my shoulders. Becky’s dress showed more cleavage than mine. Kate wore a dark gray spaghetti strap dress, but didn’t show much cleavage and Nicole wore a snake print tube dress, which was way too much for me to handle. I felt like I was looking at a sexy serpent. I swore I would never wear a dress like that, but to each her own.

Every so often, Becky would gesture for me to take off my shawl. I would reply by shaking my head and giving her a “you can’t make me” smile. By the time we’d finished our dinner, two hours had passed. Since we had this table all night, we kicked back and relaxed with the cocktails the waitress brought back from the bar. I knew my limitations, so I only took a few small sips of my drink. It totally sucked to be allergic to alcohol.

The dance floor was packed, as was the second floor. Nicole and Kate had already joined the fun. Matthew went to the restroom and never came back, so I figured he went off with a girl. Not wanting to leave Becky here by herself, Max and I stayed behind.

“Well, I see an old friend from college. You two go have fun and I’ll meet you back at the table before the count down.” Becky took a last sip of her drink and scooted out. Just before she was out of my sight, she yanked on my black shawl, exposing me. She dropped the shawl on top of Max, and left giggling. OH, she was going to get it!

Pulling the shawl off his lap, Max reached for me. Backing up as far as he could, he bit and sucked my lip. His naughty hands glided all over my body as he engulfed me, unashamed of where we were; but then again, we were in the far back corner, with a lot more privacy than any of the other tables.

“I’ve wanted to do this since you first came in. Seeing what you’re wearing under that shawl, I can’t help myself. I missed you last night,” he said between pressing his lips to mine.

“I missed you too, Max,” I breathed heavily, feeling his lips travel down to my breast. The lower he went, the faster my pulse raced. Tugging the dress to one side, Max’s tongue found my nipple and I exploded. He didn’t stop there, as one of his hands slipped up my dress to rub between my legs. If we were home, I would’ve been begging him to take my clothes off.

Max suddenly stopped as my urges raged out of control. “I think we need to stop now,” he panted. “I’m practically molesting you.” Max fixed my dress and kissed me on my forehead, making sure I was still in one piece, and sitting properly. “If your friends weren’t here to ring in the New Year with you, I would’ve picked you up and taken you home. Now I need a drink.”

I was dazed and dumbfounded as I watched Max gulp down a full glass of ice water. The waitress left several glasses just in case, so I took one and gulped it down too.

“Let’s go dance, babe. If we stay here, I won’t be able to keep my hands to myself, and you already know how my hands can be.”

“Let’s go,” I said, following him to the dance floor.

I
LIED SO
M
AX
and Jenna would go dance without feeling guilty, but when I spotted Aaron from college, I was more than happy to greet him. Not that I expected Matthew to hang around with me since we were just friends, but I wondered where he was. I was pretty sure he had to be with someone at the bar or dancing. I didn’t care anymore. It was New Year’s Eve and I was going to party the night away.

“Aaron.” I wrapped my arms around him, raising my voice over the loud music. He was with a group of his friends and they looked way too happy. It had been several years since I last saw him, but he still looked good. He had shorter hair this time around and he was dressed to impress, so he looked mighty fine.

“Becky…Becky…Becky…Where have you been hiding?” Aaron squeezed me tighter, making me feel his hard chest. He probably could crush me with his hug. Not to mention, he reeked of alcohol.

“I’ve been around.” Aaron’s smile was contagious.

“You look great.” He turned to his buddies, “This is Becky. And boy can she…” he stopped, giving me an impish grin. “Did you come alone?”

“I came with Jenna, Nicole, and Kate. Do you remember them?”

“I remember Jenna. She was your roommate, right? After Amber.”

“Yeah.” Aaron bringing up her name, I suddenly became somber. “I could use a drink,” I said, looking toward the bar.

“How about shots, the way we used to?” Aaron suggested. “If I win, you owe me a dance and a kiss.”

"I don’t think so. I need to get back to meet my friends before midnight.”

“You still have an hour,” he winked, begging me with a flirtatious grin. “For old time’s sake.”

I was just about to say no again, when I spotted Matthew surrounded by a bunch of other women, laughing and having a great time by the bar. One of them was rubbing Matthew’s thigh. He looked like he was enjoying himself way too much. I don’t know why a spark of anger ignited in me, but I agreed to do shots with Aaron.

“Here you go.” Aaron placed a shot on the bar in front of me, as his friends surrounded us. I closed my eyes and chugged it down. Feeling the burning sensation was not pleasant. I had forgotten how that felt. It had been a while since I had done shots. Slamming the glass back on the bar, holding a bold stare and cringing, I yelled over the loud music, “One. Your turn.”

Aaron chuckled, doing the same. “One. Looks like you’re out of practice.”

“Maybe. But if memory serves, I’ve whipped your ass every time.” Squirming and wondering what the hell I had gotten myself into, I swallowed again, banging the shot glass in front of him. “Two.”

Wondering if Matthew was still there, I glanced in his direction, but quickly turned away when I thought he might catch me looking. Oh God, why was I trying to get his freakin’ attention? I hated that.

Obviously, he had no feelings for me or he would have been here instead of flirting with every woman in the place. Why did he have to say I made him forget about his late fiancée? I totally sympathized with him regarding her death, but he made it sound like he thought I was special. Something I didn’t need to hear.

Aaron’s friends were loud. Matthew had to have seen us. A couple of the girls he was with looked our way, I was almost sure of it. Whatever!

“Three,” I challenged, wiping the side of my mouth with the back of my hand. Hearing Aaron’s friends cheering me on got me all pumped up, and glad that Matthew was slowly getting out of my thoughts.