Just a Number(119)

I keep my back to him for a bit as his hands remain on my hips, and we dance to the upbeat music. Justin turns me around unexpectedly, and I laugh when he grabs my waist to stop and steady me. I rest my arms on his shoulders as we dance closely, giving each other goofy looks while we do so to keep things interesting. I’m glad he got me out here. It pulls me out of my funk. Sure, having Owen here would be great, but we should be able to be apart without feeling like something was missing. We’ve lived our lives this long without each other, so what’s one more night? Normal couples take time apart all the time with no ill effects.

Over Justin’s shoulder, I spot Matt and Liz dancing—or more accurately, grinding. They are pressed so close together that if they were naked, they’d probably be having sex right there in the middle of the dance floor. His hands cup her ass as he thrusts his hips toward her, and they kiss each other so frantically, I worry about their lack of oxygen.

There is no doubt in my mind about where those two will end up tonight.

I glance in the other direction at Caleb as he heads back to our table. He smiles as he sips his drink, and I suddenly feel bad that he is being forced to give up his boyfriend so I can be cheered up.

“Why don’t you go ask Caleb to dance?” I suggest, tilting my head up so I can speak loudly enough in Justin’s ear that he hears me.

Justin turns me around again until my back is pressed against his chest, and his hands move down to the outsides of my hips. He crosses an arm over my body, taking my left hand in his right, and spins me outward before pulling me close again. I’m so off balance, I crash into him and laugh. “Because I’m dancing with you,” he replies.

“I’m fine, really,” I assure him. “I don’t want him to get jealous.”

“Jealous?” Justin laughs. “Of a girl?” He pauses. “No offense, of course.”

“That’s not what I meant, doofus. I just…don’t want him to feel left out.”

There’s a brief pause, and I look over my shoulder at Caleb. He’s looking our direction so intensely that I know he’s locked eyes with Justin as he dances with me. “Oh, he’ll feel included, don’t you worr—”

Before Justin can finish his crude promise, his body jerks away from mine so suddenly, it throws me off balance. Gasps and screams alert me to something happening, and I turn toward Justin, worried that he’s fallen or passed out or…

Is being beaten to hell by some tall guy.

“Hey!” I scream, running forward in an attempt to break it up. Justin is on the ground as the man looms over him. His nose is bleeding, and he’s starting to push himself to his feet. I hear Caleb right behind me, and I grab the offender by the arm and yank roughly. He turns around, and I gasp when I’m met with angry blue eyes.

“Owen?”





31. Jealous



It pissed me off that I had to stay at the office so long. Sometimes it was a major pain in the ass being the only one I could trust to get the job done when some idiot who clearly wasn’t even worth his pay grade fucked shit up.

Of course, I would be lying if I don’t also admit to being a little relieved.

It wasn’t a lie when I told her I was looking forward to meeting up with her at the nightclub she and her friends were going to, but I was anxious about being in a social setting with her peers. I don’t doubt our relationship, but I also can’t deny my nerves. We’ve gone public, but I still worry about what her friends might say. It’s ridiculous, there’s no doubt about that, but it doesn’t make it any less real. What if her friends didn’t understand and she was ostracized for it?

Not that the decision would be in my hands, anyway; as the minutes ticked by, my chances of meeting up with her evaporated. I was stuck in a twelve-storey hellhole, waiting for the president of the rival company we were in the process of buying out to fax over the final paperwork. Why it took as long as it did, I had no idea.

After texting her again, Amelia assured me she wasn’t upset, but I could tell she wasn’t thrilled with the idea, either. She was really excited about seeing how I fit into that part of her life. While I’m more than a little nervous about the outcome, I decide that I am willing to make a small sacrifice if it’s going to make her happy.

I text her periodically throughout the night, but hear nothing in return. I don’t hold this against her, because she’s probably just having a good time and isn’t checking her phone every five minutes like I am…

Okay, so maybe I check it every minute or two.

I finally hear back at eleven that they’ll get to the paperwork first thing in the morning. While I know I should be happy I can finally leave this godforsaken building after fifteen hours in it, I’m actually even more pissed off than before, having missed out on an entire evening with Amelia for nothing.