Page 10 of A Little Secret

“Aw, come on,” he replies. “We’re only here to dance. Promise.”

Gag.

Boys and their promises.

“Uh-huh, and I’m the queen of England, now, if you’ll excuse us.” I reach for Raine’s arm, then grab a stumbling Dylan with my opposite hand, leading us to a different spot as Ophelia trails behind. The song changes to something less I hate men and more love is great, yadda, yadda, yadda.

Baloney.

Shaking it off, I sway my hips, grateful the guy didn’t follow us as I get back in my groove.

Groove?

Blah. I sound like my mom.

“Hey, pretty lady,” someone says behind me.

A pair of hands find my hips, and I peek over my shoulder. Tall. Broad shoulders. Round face. Gages. I’d give him a solid four out of ten on the attractive scale. Not that it matters. I couldn’t be less interested in the opposite sex if I tried, and the fact that he’s touching me? That he thinks he’s allowed to touch me? I should knee him in the balls right here. Right now. Add to the fact he used the same hey pretty something as the guy from five minutes ago, and it makes the whole situation even less genuine and more cringy.

“Seriously?” My nose scrunches. “Is that like a new pickup line or something?”

The guy’s brows furrow. “Huh?”

“Never mind. Now, if you could skedaddle so I can have my girls’ night, that would be great.”

“Aw, come on. My buddies and I just wanna dance.”

“Buddies?” I challenge.

He tilts his head toward the same guys from twominutes ago who have somehow managed to create a half-circle around us, their eyes eager and their mouths practically salivating at the prospect of letting them dance with us.

“I’m sorry. Do you not speak English?” I twist in the stranger’s grasp and jab my finger against his chest. “I’m. Not. Interested.”

His mouth lifts. “You’re feisty. I like it.”

“You know what else you’re gonna like?” I ask. “My knee to your balls if you don’t take your hands?—”

“Hey, Pickles!” someone calls.

I glance across the dance floor, finding Reeves, Dylan’s boyfriend, flanked by Everett, Griffin, and Maverick.

Well, what do you know?

If Dylan’s surprised to see her boyfriend here, she doesn’t show it. With a smile, she returns, “Hey, Ollie. Perfect timing.” She turns to the guys bugging us. “Have you met my boyfriend, Ollie?”

“Nah, I don’t think we’ve had the pleasure yet,” Reeves states as he moves in even closer.

“Lucky man,” one of the strangers offers to Reeves, perusing the rest of the girls like he can have his pick.

Ha! Not a chance, dipshit.

When his gaze lands on Ophelia, Mav steps around Reeves, and Lia darts toward him like a bunny on crack, wrapping her legs around his waist and kissing him. “You’ve been here the whole time, haven’t you?”

“Looks like I’ve been caught red-handed,” he confirms.

Butthead.

I asked for one girls’ night, yet here he is, stalking his other half like a lovesick puppy.