“Thank you, dear.”
She whispers to her friend, “They always have such nice help.”
She hands me a five as she leaves the room. That’s when I decide it’s time to go. I bypass the hall and head straight to my car. I’m just about to climb inside when I hear my name shouted across the lot.
“Macy! Macy, don’t you dare!”
I cringe as guests eyeball me and Luna as she sprints toward me in her gown. I can see from her date’s expression that he doesn’t know what to think.
“What the fuck?” she huffs as she approaches. She stops and bends at the waist to catch her breath. She’s holding her shoes in her hand. “Were you really leaving?”
“I don’t want to do this. I don’t belong here. Some lady thought I was staff and tried to tip me.”
“You don’t look like staff to me. Is that Fisher’s dress?” she asks, eyes wide. “That man is going to bust a nut when he sees you. Is he here yet?”
“I have a feeling he’s not going to show. He had to work late. There have been nights he didn’t get done until two in the morning. Knowing my luck, this will be another of those nights.”
“How many times have I told you about the law of attraction? Think positive, sister.”
“Yeah, yeah.”
A man walks up next to Luna and she leans on him as she puts on her shoes. “Tiger, Macy. Macy, Tiger.”
“Tyler?” I ask for clarification.
“No, Tiger,” he corrects. “Like a lion.”
“Got it. You two go ahead. I’ll be there in a minute.”
“Oh, hell no. If I turn my back, you’re going to leave. Come inside. Now.”
I sigh and walk with her because she’s right. I would have left. I wish this night were over.
Luna knows a lot of people. She stops every few feet and introduces me to everyone she knows. If the pronunciation of Tiger’s name was a drinking game, I’d be wasted by now. I pass the time making mental note how many times he has to correct people from Tyler to Tiger. At one point he claws the air to get the point across to an older woman. She nods politely and then cringes as she struts away. I find myself actually having fun. It might be at Tiger’s expense, but he doesn’t seem to mind.
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.”
He takes my arm and wraps it in his but turns back to Oliver before leading me away. “And for the record, if you ever touch her again, I’ll break every bone in your body. Have a good night.”
My lips press into a fine line to avoid laughing, but as he spins me gracefully onto the dance floor, I can’t help but let it loose.
“I leave you alone for one second . . .” He smiles as he pulls me against him. The band is playing “Fly Me to the Moon,” but Fisher sways with me like it’s much slower, placing my hand in his against his chest. “I’m so sorry I’m late. Can you ever forgive me?”
“You were forgiven the moment I heard your voice.”
He steps back and twirls me around. “Is this my dress?”
“It is. I thought I’d finally see if it fit.”
“It fits. You look absolutely stunning. Oh, your surprise just arrived.”
He nods off to his right and Chloe waves in the distance. I gasp and run off to hug her. “What are you doing here?” I ask.
“Fisher mentioned a gala for a good cause and I’m all about dressing up, so here I am!”
“You look beautiful!”
“So do you. Oh see, Fish, I knew this would fit her.”
He shrugs. “I had no idea what size you were.”
“Girl, I knew the minute I saw it that this dress was made for you. Now what was all that I missed? You looked like you were about to pounce on that creepy dude over there.”
“That’s my ex. He brought a date but was trying to get me to leave to have sex with him.”
“What?” Fisher asks, gritting his teeth. “That deserves a punch in the mouth.”
I pull him back and Chloe says, “Why don’t you let me take care of him? You two have fun.” She rolls her tongue around her teeth and scowls like she has a horrible taste in her mouth. Then she plasters a fake smile on her face and struts over to him.
“I don’t know if that’s a good idea.”
“Don’t worry. Chloe can take care of herself. She’s probably tougher tha
n I am.”
I watch as Oliver falls all over himself to talk to her. After a few minutes he’s dancing with her. Never mind that she’s taller than him. She winks at us as he twirls her around the floor.
“Are you all right?” Fisher asks. “I hate that you were here all alone.”
“I was for a while because I got here way too early. I was about to leave, but Luna stopped me.” I motion to her and Tiger on the dance floor. She sees me and waves to Fisher. She licks her finger and touches it to her hip like it’s hot.
I roll my eyes and gaze down at the floor. Fisher lifts my chin with his fingers. “I promised I’d be here. I’d never let you down.”
I smile as I gaze up into his eyes. I don’t know why I always doubt him. He’s always come through for me. He’s amazing.
“Dance with me?” he asks.
For a moment, I forget there’s anyone else in the room. He leads me out to the floor and pulls me close. I lean my head on his chest and take a deep breath. He’s here. I couldn’t have invented a better man. I’m one lucky girl.
After an hour of dancing, I can barely walk. I’m not used to wearing heels. The crowd is starting to dwindle down and I yawn.
“You look like you’re ready to go.”
“Is that okay?”
“I’m ready when you are. Let me say goodbye to Chloe.” We scan the room for her. Fisher points to her at the bar. She’s talking to Oliver’s date. It looks heated.
“Uh-oh.”
Just when we think hair might be pulled, they hug it out instead. Then Chloe leans forward and whispers something in her ear. She covers her mouth, laughs, and nods. Chloe leans on the bar as Oliver’s date stomps over to him. She’s yelling at him and pointing to Chloe. Chloe waves. Then she picks up Oliver’s drink and tosses it in his face.
Fisher slaps his knees and laughs.
She says one more thing to Oliver and he turns pale. She walks back over to Chloe and high fives her before she struts out of the room. Oliver chases after her, flicking Chloe off as he runs.
“Shall we go say goodbye now?” Fisher asks.
“Definitely.”
She smiles as we approach. “You sure do know how to keep things interesting.”
“Oh, Fish, you know I don’t play.”
“What happened?” I ask.
“Let’s just say I let Oliver feel me up a little. Then I let his girl know what happened. She was really pissed when I told her he asked me to go out to his car for a quick one.”
I cover my eyes in embarrassment. I can’t believe I was married to that.
“She said she appreciated me telling her. Then I whispered that I was a transgender but still had a penis.” She shrugs. “I enjoy watching assholes get what they deserve. Are you getting ready to go?”
“Yeah, I’m tired. I hate wearing heels. I’m not very good at being girly.”
“Hey,” Luna says, rushing over. “You leaving?” she asks.
“Yeah, I’m beat.”
She winks at me and I roll my eyes but grin at the same time.
“Chloe, you’re not leaving yet, are you?”
“Hell no, girl. Let’s dance.”
They take off to the dance floor waving goodbye to us. The lights are down low and the band is clearing out. They’re playing current hits, and Chloe and Luna are the only two dancing. I didn’t even know they’d met.
Fisher holds out his hand to me and loosens his tie. I stumble walk a few steps. “Take them off if they hurt.”
He doesn’t have to tell me twice. I remove my shoes and sigh in relief. He picks them up and carries them to my car.
“I hate that we didn’t drive together. Will you call me when you get home?” he asks.
“Oh. Do you work tomorrow?”
“No.”
“Oh.” I pick through my purse like I can’t find my keys. I don’t know how to do this.
“Why do you ask?”
I shrug. “I wondered if maybe there was a chance you’d want to maybe . . . come over?” I gaze up at him through my eyelashes, almost afraid to hear him say no.
He takes a step closer to me. “You want me to come over?”
I sigh. Why does he have to make this so hard? “That’s what I said, didn’t I?”
He smirks. “I didn’t know if I heard you right. It’s late. What would we do once we got there?” He pushes a strand of hair behind my ear.
“I thought we could play Monopoly. What do you think?”
He laughs and pulls me to his chest. “You’re really sweet, you know that?”
“Sweet? Wow, thanks. I think I like drunk Fisher better. Drunk Fisher said I was hot.”
“Oh really? Is there something wrong with being sweet?”
I shrug. He leans his forehead into mine. “I bet you taste sweet.”
I swallow hard. Oh Lord. What if I taste like stale Cheerios? “There’s something you should know.”
“Okay.” He pulls away to look into my eyes.
“You know the douchebag? Well . . . he’s the only guy I’ve . . . Ugh.”
“What? Are you serious?”
I open my car door and toss my shoes and purse on the seat. I slam the door and lean against it. “I’m sorry.”
“You’re sorry? Why would you be sorry for that?”
“Because I don’t want you to be disappointed that I’m not the experienced woman I seem to be in my books. Truth is, I’ve never done half that stuff.”
Fisher looks around the lot and watches people getting into their cars and limos. “Why don’t we go back to your place and talk about it there? I don’t think this is the place to have this conversation.”
I nod and open my car door.
“I’ll follow you, okay?”
“Sure.”
It’s a twenty-minute drive back to my apartment. The entire drive, I regret saying anything to him at all. I should have just slept with him and not said a word. Maybe I wouldn’t have been bad and he would’ve never known.
I park my car and Fisher parks next to me. I lift my shoes and my purse and open my door, prepared to apologize for saying anything.
He struts purposefully around the car, his tie hanging loose around his neck.
“Hey, can we just forget I said—”
I don’t get a chance to finish my sentence before his mouth is on mine. He bends down and lifts me into his arms and carries me into the building. He puts me down when we step in the elevator, pushes the button for my floor, and then presses himself against me into the elevator wall.
“Do you think I care what you have and haven’t done?” His breath is heavy as he trails the back of his fingers down my cheek. “All I care about is all the things I’m going to do to you. Tonight.”
The door pings and opens.
I stand frozen. He’s so fricking hot. He takes a step forward. The doors almost close, leaving me inside. He puts his hand in between the doors and snickers.
“Don’t chicken out now. I promise I’ll be gentle, unless you want me to be rough.”
I gulp. He holds out his hand to me and smiles. “Come on.”
He leads me to my door and takes my key. Unlocking my door, he places his arm on the frame and watches me walk inside. He closes the door behind him and locks it.
“Give me your phone.”
I reach into my purse and hand it to him. “Why?”
“I just want to make sure you didn’t send any emergency texts to Luna tonight.”
I can’t help but grin. “You don’t want to be interrupted?”
He shakes his head. “Should I barricade the door? Does she have a key?”
“I don’t think she’ll be bothering us. Um . . . do you want to watch TV?”
“No.”
“Do you want something to drink?”
“Do you?”
“Yeah. I could use a drink.” I drop my purse and shoes on the floor and take off to the kitchen. I remove the plug from my half-empty bottle of wine and pour myself a f
ull glass. “Did you want one?”
“Are you nervous?” he asks.
“Me? No.” I grab at my throat and open my mouth widely. “I’m just parched.” I turn and chug the glass of wine.
“We don’t have to do anything, you know. I’d be perfectly fine watching a movie and rubbing your sore feet.”
“Really?” I ask.
He nods and smiles. “I’d wait forever for you.”
His words hit me in the heart. They’re perfect in every way. It’s like he stepped out of the pages of my mind.
I gaze at the small patch of fine hair that’s peeking out from his open shirt. I look into his big brown eyes and see the peanut butter streaks of gold. His lips are wet and there’s a small shadow of hair across his cheeks. It makes him look even sexier than before. I don’t want to be afraid anymore.
I stare at the floor as I confess. “I want you. I’ve always wanted you.”
“Greer, look at me,” he whispers.
Raising my eyes to meet his, I notice he seems worried. “What is it?”
“I need to tell you something. I’ve wanted to say this to you for a while, but it never felt like the right time.”
Oh no. He’s married. He’s got a girlfriend back home. I bear down and prepare for the worst.
“This thing we have going on here is special. You’re important to me. And while I’m insanely attracted to you, I need you to know this isn’t me just being a guy. This isn’t me just wanting to fuck you.”
“Do you? Want to fuck me?” I ask biting my lip.
“No. I don’t. Well, yes, I do. But first I want to make love to you. Then I’m going to fuck you.”
I moan lightly. “That’s what you wanted to tell me?”
“No. You need to stop distracting me with your pouty, plump, kissable lips and words about fucking. My dick is already hard.”
He shakes his head and takes a deep breath as I giggle at his comment.
“This is serious.”
I nod playfully.
“I’m serious.”
His face loses all trace of humor and I stiffen.
“What I wanted to tell you . . . what I need you to know before we take our relationship to the next level . . . What I want you to know is I love you. I’m in love with you.”
Book Boyfriend Page 13