NICO’S HOUSE IN ENORMOUS. Six bedrooms, a huge garden, and a living room that could fit Theo’s entire condo.
The place is crowded with beautifully dressed people, each with a truth of their own written across their white clothes. Shawn and Jack, both in matching V-neck t-shirts, stand to the side of the room, beers in hand and smiling as they talk to a group of men. I can’t see Logan, but I’m sure he’s here somewhere. Nico’s the one who approaches us the moment we step through the door. He and Theo are thick as thieves. So much so that I think they should’ve been twins.
I can’t put my finger on it yet, but there’s an unnerving aura surrounding Nico. Every one of his moves and gestures is loaded with a threat. He could probably intimidate an entire prison block of ruthless convicts with one look.
I think he could convince a house of supermodels to an orgy with a different look, but that’s beside the point.
The way he speaks and carries himself makes me just about as warm, calm, and comfortable as being in an operating room.
Unlike Logan, who I instantly took a liking to. He’s cheerful, a tad ostentatious, but welcoming and positive.
I’m glad Theo didn’t let me settle for This dress is too tight for panties because a blonde goddess sports a similar line across her corset that barely covers her areolas, and surprise, surprise… Logan’s on her like a greenfly on a new rose shoot.
I peruse the sea of people dressed in white, chuckling at some of the truths I see.
I’ve got a drinking problem.
40, rich and single.
I can restrain you with a hair tie.
My boobs are fake.
“Why am I not surprised?” Nico says, stopping beside us, reading my truth. “You sure are a handful.”
“Allegedly.” I wink and read his chest, my brows meeting in the middle. I won’t call you. “It was supposed to be unexpected, Nico. This,” I point at his truth, “Is obvious. You reek of non-commitment.”
“Most women don’t have your sense of smell,” he admits, but his attention is no longer on me. I follow his line of sight to a tall, slender brunette with a waterfall of straight hair in a high ponytail. “She sure does, though.” He smirks at her truth: If you call, I won’t answer.
A match made in heaven, so it seems.
Nico pats Theo on the back, tells him there’s a pop-up bar outside, and takes the bait, navigating the crowd toward the striking brunette. Really, she’s gorgeous; well-defined high cheekbones, blood-red lips, impeccable hair, makeup, and an hourglass figure wrapped in a slip dress.
Cassidy waves at me from across the room, where she stands with MJ next to a beautiful, gloss-black grand piano. She rushes over in a knee-length, tight dress with a slit running up to her hip. She hugs me, frowning when she reads my truth; my reaction is the same when I read hers.
You might need to use your safe word tonight.
“You look great, Thalia,” she says, moving to stand arm and arm with me, her eyes scanning the room. “I hear you’re not working tomorrow. How did you make that happen? I’ve begged Jared for a day off since he told me about this party.”
Theo snakes his arm around my waist, forcing me flush to his side, the gesture as expected as flowers in a junkyard. I thought he’d chase one of the many women here and prepared myself for an evening of holding my feelings in check, but here he is, touching me in public, in an intimate way.
“What do you want to drink?”
“I loved the last one you chose, so I’ll leave it up to you.”
Cassidy’s blue eyes move between Theo and me, her lips in a thin line. She does her best not to cringe or act shocked, but as soon as he’s out of earshot, she clutches my forearm. “You fucked him?” she mouths. “And he’s still here?!”
“We didn’t fuck,” I hiss, glancing around to check if anyone heard her, but no one pays us any attention. “We’re friends. I live at his place, for God’s sake!”
Ah, crap.
It was so hard to keep that piece of information from her ears all these weeks… I just had to slip up now.
She digs her nails into my arm, cheeks pink, eyes wide. “Tell me eve—” She trips over the words, her smile slips, and lips part in an inaudible oh.
I scan the room, searching for whatever got her upset, but she tugs on my hand again to get my attention before I add two and two together. Too late, I already noticed why her eyes lost their glow.
Logan.
He stands by the piano now, holding a blonde goddess by her waist with one hand, the other caressing the curve of her hip. His eyes are fixed on her as he speaks, shoulders back, muscular chest on display.
Theo thinks Logan’s the least skilled in the game of seduction, but he’s got it wrong. I’d bet a lot of money that Logan’s bed saw more women than Theo’s and Nico’s combined. He’s not as subtle as Theo, but it only works in his favor. Out of the seven brothers, Logan’s the biggest player and most skilled in sweet-talking. Just like Nico’s gestures are loaded with threat, Logan’s are loaded with sexual innuendo whenever he zeroes in on a target.
Cassidy tugs on my hand again. “You need to tell me everything about you and Theo.” She fakes a smile and swallows hard as if to push back the hurt clogging her throat.
“Do you want to get out of here?” I ask. She obviously has feelings for Logan which go beyond sexual attraction, and I can imagine how painful it must be to watch him with other women. “We could go to Tortugo for a few drinks and then dance the night away in Q.”
“No, don’t be silly,” she says softly, flashing me a thankful smile. “And don’t try changing the subject.”
“Are you sure? I don’t mind leaving.”
“I’m sure.” She pumps her fingers around my wrist, asking me to drop the subject or thanking me for offering her an out. I can’t tell. “Go on, talk! I want to know what the deal is with you and Mr. Hayes.”
Until Theo comes back with a tall glass of blue liquid, I’m forced to explain my living situation and answer mildly inappropriate questions, but as soon as he comes closer, Cass’s expression morphs into the same impassiveness she treats all Hayes with. Not even a minute later, she excuses herself, rushing after Mary-Jane.
I jot down a mental note to invite Cass for coffee and out shopping one day to try and help her through the Logan crush.
Theo takes me outside to the back garden, where close to a hundred people mingle, enjoying the music supplied by a professional DJ set up on a make-shift stage. I expected the party to take place inside, but the living room acts as a meet-and-greet slash staging area, and the main event is here.
It resembles a typical college party you see in American comedies, but people in their twenties are drinking whiskey and wine instead of college kids drinking beer out of red solo cups. There’s plenty of nudity around, though. Many women stripped out of their dresses, parading in bikinis or lacey lingerie, taking advantage of inflatable flamingos in the pool. A few couples make out here and there; one is almost dry humping on one of the loungers.
Two bouncers hang around the perimeter, probably ensuring no one starts a fight and breaks Nico’s expensive patio furniture by accident. A beer pong table stands to the left of the stage, and Theo pulls me over in that direction.
“Thalia!” Jack booms, approaching with Shawn. They both grace me with quick once-overs and approving smiles. “You look amazing! I’m glad it fits.”
“I’m surprised it fits,” I admit, “but thank you. You saved me a frenzied shopping trip today.”
They kiss my cheek, and Jack twirls me around, admiring the dress. We somehow fall into the rhythm of the music, moving away from the table to dance among other people.
I’m at ease, lost in the music, and start to think maybe I can make it around here. Maybe my past hasn’t ruined my future. Maybe I can live my best life among new friends. I’m incoherently happy, and I hope it’ll last.
“You’ve got to tell me what’s going on with you and Theo! I swear I won’t tell Shawn or anyone else.” Jack takes me to the bar a few songs later, eyes sparkling, excitement oozing out of his pores. “Please… pretty please! I can see the way you look at him, girl. You want him!”
I’ve spent enough time with Theo’s family to know that Jack and I share a mutual spiritual connection. He will, most likely, recite my words back to Shawn in a heartbeat, despite his promises, but who knows? I might be wrong. Building real relationships is all about letting go of my suspicious nature.
“Can you blame me? You’ve seen him. You know him.”
Jack’s mouth splits into a wide grin, and he elbows my ribs. “I knew it!” He claps, gesturing for the bartender to come over. “So, what’s the game plan? Theo’s a hard cookie to crack. They all are, but I think he’s into you too, you know? He watches you like a hawk.”
I lean closer, lowering my voice. “That’s because he knows this dress is too tight for panties.”
Jack’s eyes grow wider as he playfully pushes me away with a sly grin. “You little tease!”
I glance toward the beer pong table where we left Shawn and Theo. My smile slips, and stomach sinks like a bag of sand thrown in the river. He’s talking to a beautiful woman whose truth tells me I should book a motel room for the night, or I’ll have to listen to his sex life.
I like it hard.
My mind fills with growing tendrils of a headache that threatens to explode into a full-blown migraine when Theo laughs at whatever the woman says. They’re close, inches apart, and he’s not stopping her from tracing her fingers up his arm.
I avert my gaze, bile burning the back of my throat.
There goes my hope trotting away, followed closely by my good mood and confidence.
“Thalia.” As if summoned into action by the stench of disappointment and vulnerability that suddenly surrounds me, Dean approaches, flashing a slimy Hollywood smile to show off the white pearls that must’ve cost a small fortune. “Fancy seeing you here.”
“Hey, Dean,” I say on a sigh. “I didn’t expect you here, either.”
He didn’t request a new cart girl, which is a clear sign the game isn’t over. It’s halftime, and Dean’s preparing to strike again. He changed the tactic from a ruthless, obnoxious attack to more subtle flirting, but even that doesn’t sit well with me after the fiasco our drink outing was.
Jack pulls his eyebrows together, ready to interject, but his eyes wander to Shawn as if he’s scouting for backup, and he must catch a glimpse of Theo flirting with the blonde because his lips draw into a pout. “I’ll leave you to it, babe,” he says in a theatrical tone that’s supposed to let Dean know he’s gay and not interested in me in any way.
Dean rests against the pop-up bar, a glass of neat whiskey in hand, hair swept to the side. “Jail, huh?” he asks, reading my truth. “I guess the charges were dropped.”
I check the writing across his crisp white smart shirt and cock an eyebrow, intrigued by the man for the first time.
I killed seventy-three men.
“Soldier?”
“Three years in Afghanistan.”
“I thought you guys don’t talk about deployment.”
He bobs his head. “Most soldiers, especially those affected by PTSD, don’t. It’s unconventional to share the number, but I was born to serve and grew up in a military family. I’m proud I served my country, and I don’t hide it.”
I’m unsure if I’m more intrigued or surprised by his boldness. My father served back in the day, and he never spoke about his time in the military.
Theo’s still busy with the blonde, and disappointment pushes me to accept a drink offer from Dean. Not the smartest idea, considering I had the urge to break his nose last time.
Apparently, I’m not too smart.
