“I’m not his girlfriend. I’m his chaperone.” She holds out a hand to Austin and then to me. Austin and Cooper both bust out laughing at Matthew’s glare at her.
“I’ll show you a chaperone.” Matthew stares at her, and she glares back at him.
“Good luck finding me,” she quips. “I don’t have to be with you until next week.” She tries to pry his fingers off her hip.
With that, he laughs and grabs a beer off the tray from the waiter who is walking past us. “Try to run. I dare you,” he challenges her. “Remember the last time you tried that.” He takes a pull of his beer. The memory must be something, because her cheeks turn pink.
“Lauren, do you dance?” Parker asks when Rihanna’s “This is What You Came For” comes on. I nod my head and then down the rest of my champagne, handing the empty glass to Austin.
“I love to dance,” I say, while the guys all groan.
“Let’s go get a booth,” Matthew says. “The dance floor looks cramped.”
“I’m going to dance. Who is coming with?” Karrie heads for the dance floor, not even acknowledging Matthew’s comment. Parker follows her, and I follow Parker.
The three of us find a spot of the dance floor, where we are joined by Dani. The four of us are moving to the beat of the music, hands in the air, hips shaking. Singing along with the music as it changes from one song to another.
I don’t know how long we are out there, but I can’t help but notice that a group of guys has circled us and are trying to cut into our group. The lights dim, with the glow of the chandeliers softly lighting the room.
I look around to see where Austin is, and I don’t have to look far. He’s standing at the railing, looking down at us with Cooper on his left and a woman hanging on his right side. She is wearing a red one-sleeved lace dress that is very tight and very short. Her hands are wrapped around his arm, while she whispers in his ear.
“I’m going to get something to drink,” I inform the girls and then head over to the bar. I stand at the side of the bar, trying to get the bartender’s attention, but there are so many people.
“What do you think you’re doing?” I hear from my side. I turn to see Jake there, alone. I look left to right and try to find Camilla.
“I’m getting myself a drink.” I lean one arm on the bar to take the weight off my shoes.
“I meant, what do you think you’re doing with that guy?” His hands go to his pockets, and it’s then I see that he’s gained weight around his stomach.
“I really don’t understand your question, which is none of your business for that matter.” The bartender finally comes over.
“What can I get you?” he asks.
“Two shots of tequila.” I look to Jake. “What are you having?” He shakes his head no to the bartender.
“You can’t possibly be serious about this guy. He has player written all over him,” Jake chides, while the bartender puts the shots down in front of me.
I down a shot, pressing my lips together as the liquid burns all the way down. I look back at Jake. “You can’t judge a book by its cover, Jake. After all, you didn’t look like a cheater, yet that is what you are.” His mouth tightens into an angry, grim line. I take the next shot and tell him, “You don’t get a say about who I date. Not now, not ever.” I look back at the railing and see that Austin isn’t there anymore, and neither is the woman who was hanging all over him. My heart sinks, and my stomach is burning with devastation.
Camilla choses that moment to find him. “I couldn’t find you anywhere.” She leans into him and kisses him, putting her hand on his face. The big round diamond can’t be missed.
I look at them both, while the bartender places another shot in front of me. I quickly down that one before looking back at them. “Congratulations on the engagement.” I point to her hand. “Excuse me,” I say, trying to walk past them, but Jake stops me by grabbing my arm. I raise a brow in question as my eyes look from his hand on my arm to his face.
I don’t get a chance to say anything further before we hear a roar from behind me. “Get your fucking hand off her before I break every single bone in it.” I look over my shoulder to see Austin’s angry face glaring at Jake.
Jake loosens his grip on my arm, and I snatch it back. “Good luck, Camilla. You know what they say, once a cheater, always a cheater.”
And with that parting shot, I walk away from the three of them to make my way to the bathroom.
Chapter 26
Austin
We stand upstairs, above our booth, looking down at the four women dancing, the four of us watching closely.
What the women don’t realize is that they are attracting attention—a lot of attention. Cooper is next to me, his arms crossed over his chest and his eyes narrowed practically to slits. Matthew stands next to him, growling every ten seconds, and I wouldn’t be surprised if steam started pouring out of his ears. The only one calm about all this is John, who is leaning against the railing, looking at us. “Suckers.” We all turn to glare at him.
Cooper leans forward. “Um, you mind explaining what you’re doing with Karrie?” He asks, turning his head to Matthew.
“Nope. She’s mine.” He sips his water. “She’s just fighting the inevitable.”
“She left you once. What makes you think she won’t try it again?” Cooper asks.
“I handcuffed her to my bed for four days.” He smiles at the memory. “I dare
