Page 14 of Possessing Paisley
“Can’t do that. Chloe would be devastated if something happened to you, and I’d move heaven and earth to protect her from being sad, even shielding her pain-in-the-ass friend from a weasel like that guy.” I gesture toward Lars, who’s happily schmoozing with another woman.
“I don’t need you to play security for me. You think I’m so dumb I can’t see that Lars is an idiot? I can take care of myself, Kieran.” She turns on her heel to leave me in the dust, but before she can, I wrap my hand around her upper arm to stop her for my parting words.
“Just because youcantake care of yourself, doesn’t mean you shouldhaveto.”
6
PAISLEY
I’m only a few sips into my drink and finally starting to relax and let the liquor do its thing when I’m rudely interrupted.
“Paisley? Is that you?”
Fuck my entire life. I don’t have to turn around to recognize the grating voice that belongs to the last person on earth I want to see. Why is he here?
“Paisley,” he calls again, more firmly this time.
Every muscle in my neck tightens as I turn to face my past. To face the person I trusted more than anyone. The person who betrayed me. In more ways than one.
My mouth opens, but no words come out. My vagina dries right up. Any trace of arousal left from Kieran’s words disappears. Fuck. I need to get away from him. Actually, I need to leave this party completely.
“I thought that was you.” He pulls me into a hug that makes my skin crawl.
“Jeremy,” I say quietly.
I don’t hug him back. In fact, I don’t move at all. My arms feel like they’re weighed down by concrete.
When he steps back, his disapproving gaze travels over my body. Every insecurity he gave me comes roaring back to life.
A woman glides up beside him, and he wraps an arm around her. “Who is this?” she asks in an overly sweet, fake voice.
Jeremy stares at me as he moves his hand down her side, settling it on the slight curve of her tiny hip. The woman is so thin I’m worried she might blow away if there’s a strong wind. And I kind of wish we were outside right now so the snooty bitch would blow away.Like that house from the movie Up. Or better yet, a storm will appear that she’ll get swept up in and end up in Oz somewhere. Then, get crushed by a house, of course. It wouldn’t be a happy ending without that.
“This is my ex, Paisley. I told you about her. Paisley, this is Mercedes, my girlfriend.”
Mercedes’ eyes shine with pure venom. “Oh, right. Paisley.”
My hands tremble at my sides, and I’m struggling to focus. I’m pretty sure this is the woman he cheated on me with. The one who knew about me but still chose to sleep with him for months. The one who sent me photos of them fucking in our bed while I was at work.
Oh, God. I’m going to be sick.
“Do you have a date here?” Mercedes looks around dramatically like a random guy is going to pop out from behind me.
Fuck. Why didn’t I bring a date? How pathetic that I came to this fancy event alone.
Movement out of the corner of my eye pulls my attention away from them for a brief second as Kieran shakes another man’s hand. As soon as my gaze lands on him, he looks at me, and his eyebrows furrow slightly.
An idea pops into my head. It’s an absolutely horrible one, but I can’t tell these assholes I’m here alone. They made me their laughingstock before. I won’t allow that to happen again.
I flash a fake smile. “Actually, I do and he’s right over there, so if you’ll excuse me.”
Leaving my drink on one of the high-top tables, I stride over to Kieran, interrupting the conversation he’s in with two other men.
I grab the front of his suit and lift onto my toes to whisper in his ear, not missing the disbelief written all over his face.
“Please be my date for the night. Please, Kieran,” I whisper quickly, the desperation coming out as I speak. “I’m begging you. Act like you’re my boyfriend. I’ll never be mean to you again. Please.”
He tenses for a beat, but thankfully, he recovers just as fast. Without hesitation, he snakes his arms around my waist and lowers his face to mine.