Page 27 of Craving Paradise
“You want to get out of here? Somewhere with fewer distractions?” the blonde asks, looking over at my sister’s table.
“I’m okay.”
The blonde doesn’t look impressed with that answer. “I’m offering you a night with me,” she states, raising her voice, unfathomable that I wouldn’t go home with her.
“I know, and I said I’m okay,” I reply, distracted by Ren. I need to work out why the hell Ren is hanging out with my sister?
Is she stalking me?
“Are you serious?” The blonde rears up.
Oh shit.
The commotion brings Ren’s attention back to where I’m seated with the blonde. She raises a curious brow at me before knocking back another shot and turning away to join in the conversation.
Why is her being here and pretending not to know me annoying me?
“Yeah, I said I was. I’m sure you’re a great girl. Maybe another time. Excuse me, I need the men’s room.” I get up from the lounge area without hearing her response and head toward the bathrooms. I need to compose myself. How am I letting this woman affect me?
Once inside the tiled room, I splash my face a couple of times to wake me up from my shock.
“Get it together,” I tell myself in the mirror like I’ve lost my mind. I give myself a good shake, trying to shake free from the surprise.
Feeling better, I walk back outside and notice the blonde and her friends have left our lounge area, and she’s onto another table. The blonde gives me a sneer as she continues to flirt with someone else.
Ignoring the drama, I walk back to where my sister and her friends are partying, more like myself than the man I was five minutes ago.
“Hey, cuz.” Freya is the first to notice me approach the table.
“Hey.” I greet her with a kiss on the cheek. I always love catching up with her. She’s like a second sister to me, and she’s much nicer than her too.
“I’m still waiting for that job offer,” Freya comments, a common joke we have that we know annoys my sister.
“Don’t think my life is as exciting as hers,” I say, nodding in my sister’s direction, who is glaring at me.
“What numbers and making money aren’t sexy?” Freya jokes.
“For a nerd like me, they get me hard. Can’t say they would do the same to you,” I quip back.
“Always take it one step too far, don’t you?” she jokes, shaking her head at me.
“You’d be disappointed if I didn’t.”
“You’re so annoying,” Autumn grumbles.
“Aren’t you going to introduce me to your friends?” I ask, ignoring my sister’s sour attitude.
“No.”
“That’s rude,” I say, calling her out.
Autumn rolls her eyes and lets out a furious sigh.
Look, I get it. I’m not proud of myself, but I have slept with half of her friends, much to her annoyance. It’s not my fault my charm makes them open their legs. They know the drill. I’m honest with them, letting them know it’s one night only. Not my fault they fall in love with me because I’m that irresistible.
“Fine,” Autumn sighs. “You remember Ines Mattisson?” she asks, pointing to the gorgeous Scandinavian girl with her blonde hair and ice-blue eyes. I’ve met her fleetingly over the years.
Due to the age difference, I was out of school by the time she was starting high school. So, we never moved around in the same circles. We were both at very different stages of our lives.