Corbin continues laughing when Rain gets cornered by one of her stepmother’s friends. Man, I can go to these elite functions anytime. This was supposed to just be our close friends for Maverick’s birthday. He’s going to demand another—
“You guys owe me another birthday night,” Maverick says while walking up, scowling at Rain who is engaged in some asinine conversation about petunias versus roses for a garden.
Leisa weighs in on the flower conversation, while Courtney tugs on my arm, asking me about my next trip to New York. I wisely don’t mention when I’m going.
“I love Tria’s dress. I want one like it,” Ash says, sidling up next to Tag just as he joins us.
Shit. I love Tria’s dress, too. In fact, if it were any sexier, I’d probably have already hauled her out of here.
“Get one,” Tag says, sliding his hand around Ash’s waist before kissing her cheek.
It must be nice to not have to hide a relationship. Never thought I’d envy Tag Masters for any reason.
I keep waiting on Tria to get pissed enough to end the charade and claim me in front of everyone. She was staring at me forever, and now I have no idea where she has gone.
Discreetly, I turn and move to the bar that is set up, letting my eyes lazily roam over the crowd. I order a crown and coke, and tap my fingers restlessly while letting my eyes peruse the crowd once more.
Then I see her. She’s right beside Rye Fucking Clanton. Shit. I didn’t consider the fact that if I pushed her, that she might push me back. My teeth grind, but I take a deep breath instead of losing my mind.
Sylvia Pratt walks up to me, smiling as though she has a secret. Since she’s one of my mother’s friends, I muster up the courtesy to acknowledge her. That proves to be a mistake when she takes it as an invitation for conversation.
“Well, Kode, at least I finally understand why you never would ask Ilene out.”
Ilene? Oh, yeah. Her daughter that she’d love to marry off to a Sterling.
“Mrs. Pratt, sorry. I must have forgotten. My schedule stays rather busy.”
She pats my arm, but it almost seems patronizing for some reason. “It’s okay, Kode. Really. This is the twenty-first century. And this is a great area that doesn’t judge for such things.”
What? I have no idea what rocks are loose inside her head.
“Um… I’m missing something,” I say unsurely.
“You poor thing. You shouldn’t be ashamed. I tell you what I’ll do. My sister has a son, and he’s very nice, charming, and a very good catch. I’ll introduce you.”
It takes me a second to wrap my mind around her words, but when I do, I’m positive I heard her wrong. Had to.
“Say what now?” I ask in an unusual octave that has me immediately clearing my throat.
“His name is Martin. He’s a lovely man. He’s in law school right now, but he’s not far from taking the bar exam.”
What… the… hell?
“Um… Mrs. Pratt, I think you’ve… There’s a mistake here. I’m not gay.”
A few snickers emerge from women nearby, their eyes moving over to me. The collar on my shirt seems to start choking me when all the eyes say the same thing. What the hell is going on?
“Kode, sweetie, it’s time to be honest with yourself and everyone else. I’ve always thought you were a little too angry for a man with such a wonderful family. I understand it now. You sad, sweet boy. If someone can’t be themselves, it makes them a bottle of fury.”
Oh, I’m a bottle of fury alright. Especially when Tria finds my eyes and gives me a conspiratorial wink. I glare at her, but she merely smiles and raises her glass of champagne in a toasting motion, as if to say she just screwed me over and loves it.
Cracking my neck to the side, I rein in all that anger that I apparently don’t deserve to have—according to Sylvia Pratt.
“Well, Mrs. Pratt, I’m sorry to disappoint you, but I’m angry without a cause. I happen to love women, especially when my dick is buried to the hilt inside them.”
She chokes and sputters on her drink as I walk away, leaving her to gasp in horror at my crude words. Courtney is disputing the rumor when I pass her, telling a group of girls just how amazing I am in bed. Never thought I’d appreciate that so much.
“You know, I always did wonder about you,” Maverick drawls as he follows me out onto the patio. I need air before I strangle Tria. “Always thought you were just a little too pretty.”
I flip him off, but he just laughs at my back. Tria apparently wants to play, so let the games begin. Our old war was always a little one-sided, since she was too scared to ever retaliate. I guess she has found a set of brass balls. Well, I’m about to break them.