Not only do I find that comment completely dubious but I can almost feel my blood pressure sky rocketing. Yep, Brooklyn is definitely a dead woman because this party has moved beyond painful to full out tortuous. “What’s your name?”
“Alex Mc-”
I hold up my hand effectively cutting him off. “That’s enough.” For just a moment, my eyes fly around the general vicinity we’re standing in. Luckily, as packed as this massive party is, it doesn’t take long to find exactly what I’m looking for. “Excuse me,” I shout over the pulsating music at a pretty girl walking past us. With a smile gracing her lips, she turns. The high wattage smile slips from her face once she realizes that she doesn’t know who the hell either one of us are.
Before she’s able to make a hasty get away, I quickly launch into my spiel. “Hi, what’s your name?”
Her gaze, which is slightly blurry as well (jeez, are there seriously no sober people at this party?), quickly bounces between Alex and myself. I can tell she’s hesitant to give me any information.
“Stacy.”
I give her my most reassuring smile. “Hi, Stacy, I’m Cassidy and this is,” I point to the obnoxious buffoon standing next to me, “Alex. We’re having a little disagreement that we need settled. Would you mind weighing in on the matter?”
With Stacy still looking uncertain, I barrel on. “My friend here thinks it’s perfectly acceptable to walk around a party grabbing the butts of girls he doesn’t know. And furthermore, he’s under the impression that we enjoy it. I’m just wondering if you might have any thoughts on the matter.”
Stacy no longer looks hesitant or uncertain as her heated gaze swings back to Alex. Then, in a big sweeping gesture, she jerks her hands out in front of her. “What makes you think any girl would enjoy being touched by some random dude she doesn’t even know?”
Alex opens his mouth as if he might actually have a rebuttal in mind, but Stacy has other ideas. Like screeching at him in a very high, potentially eardrum shattering voice. “Where do you get off thinking you can grope a girl simply because you’re drunk at a party? Is there something seriously wrong with you? Do you have any concept that we’re living in the twenty-first century?”
Alex snaps his mouth shut and even though it’s fairly difficult, I do my best to suppress the smile that is desperately trying to spread its way across my face as she continues to berate him.
“That’s called sexual harassment, buddy.” Her hands fly to her hips as she continues glaring. “Do you know that I could call the police and have you ticketed? Or even arrested!”
Okay, I’m not exactly sure if that’s true but I’m just going to roll with it.
As if finally realizing that this teeny tiny chick is going to go completely bat shit crazy all over his dumb ass, Alex’s wide brown eyes shift helplessly to mine as Stacy pokes a slender finger at his massive, wall-like chest.
He kind of looks like he might want me to intervene on his behalf. I almost laugh because that is so not going to happen. I’m viewing this whole thing as a teachable moment. I only hope that Alex is teachable. Although, in all honesty, the jury is still out on that one… because from what I’ve seen tonight regarding Alex, my guess is probably not.
“How would you like it if some chick you didn’t even know started groping you at a club or party?” Her eyes flash with hostility. It wouldn’t surprise me in the least if she actually started foaming at the mouth. My guess is that Stacy has been manhandled one too many times before.
Hopefully Alex isn’t stupid enough to answer that question.
“I’d be totally down with it.” For the first time in five minutes, he actually smirks.
Stacy’s mouth drops open as her eyes flare wide. A moment later, her hand shoots out. I’m half afraid she’s going to bitch slap Alex right into next week when she grabs a girl walking past us and yanks her over. The girl, wearing a pair of four inch super skinny heels, stumbles just a bit before recovering her balance. I have to give her some major props for remaining upright on that one. Not always easy to do in sky high skinny heels.
“Ally, this guy,” she waves her hand in Alex’s direction as if that term is debatable, “thinks it’s perfectly acceptable to grab a girl’s butt at a party.”
If the sudden frown is any indication, then Ally is none too pleased by this information either. One of her hands instantly settles on her hip as her lip curls in disgust. “Why do guys always think that’s okay to do?” Even though this is posed as a question, I’m thinking it’s more rhetorical in nature. “I am so damn sick and tired of that shit!”
Not saying a word, I merely shake my head before shrugging my shoulders. Alex’s gaze shifts with even more unease between the two fuming girls who are all up in his face.
“Ahhh-”
He never gets a chance to finish that thought (I’m being overly generous with that assertion) before both Stacy and Ally steamroll right over him. “It is definitely not okay! You can’t just walk around touching women inappropriately!”
“Ahhh-” Alex’s mouth gapes open like a fish out of water. You can actually see the moment he finally grasps the severity of his current predicament.
“What’s going on over here?”
A tall brunette shoves her way into the tight circle before glancing around at the four of us.
“Oh, hey, Ashley. Can you believe this jerk thinks it’s okay to sexually harass woman?”
Now Ashley’s brows are lowering as her eyes arrow straight to Alex. “No one in this day and age could possibly think that it’s okay to touch a woman without asking first.”
She waits for Alex to clear his good name. Unfortunately Alex merely stares at her… looking fairly perplexed and a little surprised that he is now the object of three hot girls’ interest.
Of course that interest isn’t exactly the kind he’s been trolling for this evening.
Alex suddenly takes a hasty step backwards as all three girls crowd into his personal space. Every single one of them talking or shouting at the same time. Since Alex will be tied up for the foreseeable future, I decide my work is done here and take off in search of Brooklyn. I’m more than ready to go home before any more of these drunken louts decide that party time ass grabbing is a legitimate sport.
I’m no more than ten steps away from Alex and his irate entourage, who are currently, by the volume of their collective voices, giving him a major ass chewing, when I hear a male voice right at my ear. “I saw what you did back there.”
Since I’ve filled my quota for inane conversations this evening, I ignore him and keep pushing my way through the thick press of bodies. I’m tired, a little bit cranky, and more than ready to take off. If I have to drag Brooklyn out of here, I’m more than willing to do it. And I certainly don’t have the wherewithal, not to mention the patience, to deal with anymore hammered, frat boy-asshole-types tonight. Alex squandered the very last of it.
Not bothering to turn, I throw the words haphazardly over my shoulder as I continue weaving my way around clumps of drunken college coeds. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Sure you do.”
I can all but hear the laughter simmering in his rich deep voice. Realizing this guy isn’t going to leave me alone, I decide the best course of action is to stop and politely let him know that I’m not interested in anything he might be offering up for the evening. Feeling exasperated to be held up when all I want to do is find Brooklyn and leave this out-of-control party, I wheel around towards the voice at my ear. As my eyes land on his face, I literally suck in a great big breath of air before almost choking on it.
About the Author
Jennifer currently lives in Michigan with her husband, kids, a dog named Rocky and a cat named Lily. After pursuing a Bachelor’s Degree in History, a Master’s Degree in Educational Psychology, she spent five years working as a high school guidance counselor which she loved. Please contact Jennifer at [email protected] with questions or comments. Connect with Jen
nifer on facebook https://www.facebook.com/jennifer.sucevic for news and information. Check her out on Wattpad- https://www.wattpad.com/user/jsucevic or on Tumblr at jsucevic (inspiration board).
Friend Zoned (Barnett Bulldogs #2) Page 33