I was on my third beer, sitting on the steps of the stairs when Dixon spotted me. “Lee, baby you came.” I smiled, a little uncomfortable at the endearment. I didn’t like it when he called me baby.
“Hi Dixon,” I said as cheerfully as I could. “Thanks for inviting me. Great party.”
He shrugged leaning against the wall alongside me. “You don’t look like you’re having a great time?”
I reddened. “Oh, I am. I just need to use the restroom. I don’t know where it is.” My bladder had been screaming at me with the last half hour and I was in pain with the need to relieve myself.
“Cool, the bathroom’s upstairs, let me show you.” He grabbed my hand and half dragged me up the staircase. “This is it.” He smirked and waggled his eyebrows.
I frowned at him. “Uh thanks?”
“Sure thing, you just holler if you need a hand.”
I pushed past him quickly. “I think I can manage.” I closed the door and locked it.
I was so out of my comfort zone.
Kyle
Where the fuck was she? I had been through the house twice and there was no sign of Lee. I also noticed there was no sign of Dixon.
Fuck.
Anger boiled in my veins and I slammed my fist against the wall.
“Dude what the fuck?” Derek pulled at my hand.
“Where is she?”
Derek looked at me confused. “Cam? She’s gone to get some…”
“Not Cam you dickhead, Lee. Where the fuck is she? Is she with Cam?”
Derek reddened and shifted awkwardly. “Oh, man. I totally forgot about her. I thought she was with you. I haven’t seen her since we got here.”
I grabbed his shirt. “Are you fucking insane? You left her alone in this fucking meat factory. What are you stupid?” I scanned the room again, more anxious than before.
“Kyle man, I’m sure she’s fine. Don’t worry.”
“Derek, she is not used to this. She is not like us. You should have been watching out for her.”
Derek pushed my hands away roughly. “I have a girlfriend to look watch out for. Lee is not my responsibility Kyle. You think because you pretend to yourself, that I can’t see what’s happening between you two? Wake the fuck up dude. Lee is your responsibility. Not mine, yours.” Derek stalked off and I stood frozen, watching him leave.
“Hey Carter,” Dixon said as he came to stand next to me. I blinked twice at the sight of him. Relief flooded through me. “Did you see Lee tonight? Holy shit man I’m still stiff from looking at her.” Anger replaced the relief, as I turned on him.
“Did you touch her?”
Dixon’s eyes widened in surprise. “No, Christ, I didn’t lay a finger on her I swear.” I let out a breath I didn’t know I was holding. “She ran out of here before I even had a chance. Before that, she locked herself in the bathroom. That chick is weird, hot as fuck, but weird.”
Mike stepped in front of me then, but I was too busy running for the door to deal with him. “You can’t have them both bro. Consider it,” I heard his familiar voice say from behind me.
I turned and my fist connected with his jaw with a snap. “Consider that asshole.”
I didn’t stop moving until I was in my truck.
Chapter Seventeen
Lee
I woke with a pain in my ass. Quite literally, my butt really hurt. I winced recalling the walk home last night. I had slipped on a damn banana skin.
I thought those types of accidents only happened in cartoons, but no, it had happened to me in real life. Six-inch heels and banana skins were a lethal combination.
I had taken off my heels after that and walked the remaining four blocks barefoot. Which brought me to my second ailment; my feet were killing me. I guessed I’d cut them on the gravelly concrete.
I had been so exhausted by the time I made it home last night that I had gone straight to bed fully clothed, well still in the red dress. Sleep had found me quickly, but not before my bedroom door had opened.
At first I had thought I was dreaming. But then he’d sat on the edge of my bed, stroking my hair softly I’d known I was fully awake. I had stayed still and feigned sleep. His lips had gently brushed my forehead before he whispered, “Goodnight princess.”
I climbed out of bed and headed straight to the bathroom. I turned on the shower and headed back to my room to grab my toiletry bag. Picking up my dressing gown from the back of my door, I crossed the hall to the bathroom. I could barely see my hands in front of me with steam from the shower, as I stripped off my dress and climbed stepped inside.
“Princess?” a familiar husky voice said from behind me. I screamed and a hand shot over my mouth, muffling my screams. “Relax its okay.”