“So… no strippers?” I give him a sad face as a joke.
“I could arrange a private show, if you’re interested.” Daniel’s sexy smile creeps across his lips and his fingers whisper down my arms. I have to squeeze my legs together because he is starting to truly get to me.
“I’ll keep that in mind, Westy,” I say before I walk away from him. I wander over to the open breezeway to look out at the ocean. This is amazing. A club right on the water.
“Let’s pop the champagne,” Nicky yells, “I need my maid of honor.” Like a good MOFH, yes, I just made that up, it stands for Maid of Fucking Honor, I walk over to her and fake smile. I hope the cork hits something and nails her in her damn head.
“To me! Bitches!” she screams as the cork pops and champagne sprays out all over me. I stumble back, horrified that I fell for that. I wipe my eyes, not sure if it’s champagne or tears I am wiping away. She got her way, that bitch.
“To Matt and Nicky!” I look up and see Daniel popping another bottle and spraying Matt and Nicky.
The screams that come out of her mouth are ear piercing.
“What the fuck, Daniel?” Nicky screams as I start to laugh hysterically.
“I thought we were all joining in. Why is Kayley the only one getting to have fun?” Daniel questions through a devilish smirk.
“It was an accident, you idiot!” she yells.
“It was an accident that you shook the bottle before opening it?” I shudder because I have never seen anyone stand up to Nicky before. Matt even freezes.
But he doesn’t give her a chance to reply. “Let’s go swimming!” Daniel yells as he comes barreling towards me. He throws me over his shoulder with ease and starts to run towards the ocean. Everyone follows.
“Take off your shoes, sweetheart,” Daniel instructs before he slaps my ass.
“Are you out of your mind?” I shout, as I try to kick off my heels.
“Nope, I’m just getting all that champagne cleaned off of you.” With that Daniel catapults me into the warm water.
The sky is dark and the only light we have is from the moon. I can hear everyone laughing and I see Matt walking down to the water with Nicky over his shoulder. He doesn’t make it look as effortless as Daniel did and that makes me smile, till I get dunked. I swim away from Daniel underwater, making my way out into the ocean. When I pop back up I can’t stand, so I tread water. Daniel pops up a second later and is able to stand.
“Come here.” He pulls me to him, and I go. I surprise him when I wrap my legs around his waist and place my hands behind his neck.
“Am I clean enough for you now?” I feel him harden. His hands push my dress up, then dance slowly up my thighs. They stop when he feels my black lace panties.
“I thought you weren’t wearing any?” he whispers in a raspy tone as he leans closer to me.
“Why did you stick up for me?” This question throws him off.
“What do you mean?”
“In there, with Nicky,” I point to the club.
“Because, you didn’t,” he answers honestly.
“Is this some kind of joke?” I can’t help myself anymore.
“What?”
“Did Nicky put you up to this? Is this some kind of game?”
“Kayley,” his right hand runs up my side, lightly brushing against my breast before he slides it around the back of my neck, pulling me into him. “I don’t find anything funny about the way she treats you.” Our lips are less than an inch apart. He has one hand on my ass and the other around my neck, and it’s then that I pull away.
“I don’t either.” My legs unwrap from around him and I swim away.
I gather myself as I swim to shore, not turning to see if Daniel is following me. Of course this is a joke, and a mean one at that. I need to keep my distance from all of them. I need to end this ridiculous friendship. Starting off by growing a backbone and standing up to Nicky, but I will wait till after her wedding. I will let her have the perfect day, with the perfect dress, the perfect flowers, and the perfect speech. I can hold on a little longer.
As I walk out of the water I notice Nicky getting out looking like one of the sewer rats I often see in the subways at home. This makes me giggle. I am sure I don’t look much better, but her looking like that makes me feel better.
“Look at what Daniel did. Can you believe he ruined my party?” she snaps. Of course she would say that. He is the one paying for this party, so you would think she would laugh and go along with their big joke. No, not Nicky.
“Matt we’re leaving.” I look out into the water and notice Matt swimming to shore.