Page 2 of Forced Marriage Vows
“This is fun,” Leah says with a grin.
“Sure,” I say dryly, crossing my arms over my chest.
My best friend shakes her head. “Are you going to be this grumpy all night? Cheer up. It’s Anthony’s birthday. We’re in a club and we are going to shake our asses and have fun.”
I make a face. “No. You’re going to have fun. I’m going to sit down, relax, and watch all of you make fools of yourselves. Go on,” I implore. “That guy over there has been checking you out since we arrived.”
I point toward the circle of people surrounding Anthony. Sure enough, there’s a dark-skinned man with dark waves and a sharp jawline looking in our direction. He also has a close-cropped beard. Leah’s a sucker for men with beards. He’s definitely her type.
She takes him in a for a second before looking back at me with a grin. “I’ll be right back.” She winks, grabbing her cocktail.
“Fly away, butterfly.”
Once she’s gone, I take my phone out of my purse to scroll through it. I’m not against clubbing or having fun. I can have fun, but not tonight. Just yesterday, I was in New York meeting with the editor of a magazine I’m hoping to work with. Then I had to fly back home to Chicago before flying here today for Anthony’s birthday. It’s been a lot and I’m exhausted. I wouldn’t have come here if it wasn’t for my brother.
A couple minutes later, someone sits down beside me. I glance up and it’s one of Anthony’s friends, one I’ve met before. Edward, or as everyone calls him, Eddie. He and Anthony work together. He’s a slimy guy in his mid-thirties who hits on me any chance he gets.
He smiles at me like we’re best friends.
“What’s up, Ana?” he greets. “You look smoking hot.”
His eyes trail over my body as he speaks, resting on my breasts. My mouth tightens.
“Edward,” I say stiffly. “How are you?”
“Good. Better now that you’re here, actually. Ant didn’t tell me you were coming. I almost didn’t make it tonight,” he drawls.
The smirk on his face irks me. I have to fight really, really hard not to say something he’s not going to like. This is Anthony’s night and I don’t want to ruin it.
“Really?” I ask blandly. I honestly just want him to leave me alone.
“I would have been so upset if I didn’t get to see you, baby girl.” His voice makes my skin crawl, I swear. “Do you want to dance?”
“Ew, no,” I say before I can stop myself.
His smile drops. “Did I hear that right?”
“There’s really no way to mishear the word ‘no,’ Edward,” I state. “No, I do not want to dance. Please leave me alone.”
My lips twitch at the shocked expression on his face. His brown eyes fill with rage.
“You’re a fucking bitch,” he tells me, rising to his feet.
“Dickhead,” I mutter under my breath, glad when he walks away, leaving me in peace.
My brother tries to wave me over to dance but I shake my head with an apologetic expression. I’d probably collapse from exhaustion if I tried to dance right now. But I’ll make it up to him later.
“Stassyy,” Leah sings, falling down onto the couch beside me.
She’s the only person that calls me that. Everyone else calls me either Ana or my full name, which is how I prefer it. But really, I’d let Leah get away with anything. She’s my best friend, practically my sister. She’s been with me through every possible thing that’s made me who I am today.
I sigh softly when she giggles at nothing, taking in the sheen in her eyes. Like me, Leah also has a low tolerance. Unlike me, though, she’s always ready to drink. It doesn’t escape my notice that the cup she’s holding now is different from the one she left with. I have no idea what’s in this one.
“You good, sweetie?” I ask, grabbing a bottle of water and placing it in her hand. She drinks some immediately.
“Yeah, I’m fine. I was just talking to Abdul over there. He’s hilarious and so hot,” she informs me, rambling a couple of incoherent words in between. “He’s really hot, isn’t he?”
I nod, fighting back a smile. “So hot.”