Page 21 of Walk of Shame
Chapter Seven
Chistopher
I claspthe beer tight in my hand and take a sip, never taking my eyes off Ashley on the dance floor. We’ve been here for two hours, and she’s danced almost the entire time.
She’s driving me right out of my goddamn mind.
I wasn’t sure what to expect when I’d asked her to come, but this wasn’t it. I wasn’t sure how she’d be with my group of friends, three other guys and one lone female. Our group had bonded in our surgical rotation during med school, and we’d stayed close friends. Once a year we go to a tropical conference together.
The only woman in our group is Shelly, a pretty, tiny blonde with a gigantic personality that makes up for her small stature. When she’d met us, she’d sat us down and told us that we were not to hit on her, that she had zero interest in us, and to remove any idea of sticking our dicks in her out of our disgusting brains because it wouldn’t happen even if we were the last men on earth.
Yeah, that was her introduction.
After fighting a fierce attraction, she relented and started sleeping with Ted. They’ve been screwing around for six months, and Jace, Xavier and me were not supposed to know about it.
Ted didn’t tell us, but it was obvious from the start of our friendship that there was something between Shelly and Ted, so when they finally hooked up nobody was shocked. Except for them, and they both seem to think it’s such a big deal they can’t tell us. We’re nice and let them be, making fun of them behind their backs when they slip from some room, their mouths swollen, their clothes disheveled, and think we’re idiots.
They’re getting sloppy though and I suspect they won’t be able to keep it up much longer.
A brilliant surgeon, with a take-no-prisoners demeanor, Shelly is one of those women that gets along better with guys than members of her own gender. She thinks women are frivolous and doesn’t understand half of what they get upset about. I’ve never seen her cry. Ask if she looks fat. Check her makeup in the mirror, if she bothered to wear any. She thinks shopping is a chore and chick flicks are for losers. Except for her feminine features that make her delicately pretty and are at complete odds with her character, she’s the quintessential guy girl.
Which is why I was shocked when she took one look at Ashley and they’d become instant best friends. I’d never even seen Shelly express an interest in a female. The last girl I brought around my friends was a sweet, nice preschool teacher, the most nonthreatening, inoffensive woman on the planet. Shelly had taken one look at Kelly, rolled her eyes and hissed, Really? This is what you bring me?
But she’d loved Ashley like they were kindred spirits.
They’d literally ignored us for the entire night.
Xavier, always in the mood for a hookup, was off in the corner making time with the beautiful yoga instructor from this morning’s class. In the semi-crowded bar, she’d recognized Ashley and me, and came over to say hello. The second she and X had looked at each other, it had been on. He’s the player in our group, and can pretty much score with any woman he sets his mind too—except Shelly, of course.
That left Ted, Jace and me, huddled around a table watching Ashley and Shelly’s purses. Ted’s eyes are narrowed on Shelly, shaking his head as she and Ashley do a sexy little bump and grind.
Ashley’s taller than Shelly, so even though they’re glommed together, I have a clear view of her. She’s come undone over the course of the evening. Her hair has slipped from its messy side bun, spilling over one shoulder. She’s sweaty, all her makeup gone, as she’s thrown herself into dancing like this the last chance she’ll ever get to do so.
She looks fucking gorgeous. I will have to fight to keep my hands off her, but I’d made a promise and I never break my promises.
Of course, I planned on making sure she relented and begged me to take her. A plan that’s a little hard to execute with her not giving me the time of day.
Ted points his bottle at the two women, making quite a spectacle, and shakes his head. “Is it just me, or does Shelly have a girl crush?”
I laugh and scrub my hand over my jaw. “It does appear that way.”
Jace grins. “We should have gotten her a girl to play with ages ago.”
Ted opens his mouth then snaps it shut. Probably remembering at the last minute that he’s not supposed to be anything but Shelly’s friend.
Jace and I roll our eyes at each other.
Ted’s hand tightens on his beer. “Do you think they’re ever going to remember we’re here?”
“Doubtful.” Jace juts his chin in their direction. “Do you think they’re going to kiss?”
“Maybe if we’re lucky,” I say, not sure if I’m interested in seeing this or not. I mean, sure it would be plenty hot, but I want Ashley’s mouth to myself.
Ted drags a hand through his hair and I can tell he’s feeling as frustrated as I am. After hours of watching and not being able to touch Ashley, I’m on edge. Needing something to burn off all this pent-up energy.
“Aren’t you going to go out there and get her?” Ted asks, and I can hear the repressed aggression in his tone.
“I wasn’t planning on it.” I’d decided to leave Ashley to her own devices. Wanting to show her I respect her quest, but this was unanticipated.