Vance steps forward and places his hand on my forehead in the most motherly way possible. I allow him to do this because I find it funny. He’s the least caring person I know and only out for himself. In a nutshell, Vance is a selfish prick who looks to capitalize off anyone’s misfortune. In this case, mine. Or at least what he deems to be a loss to me in the sense of Alyssa.
“Are you feeling okay?” he asks. He peers into my eyes, focusing on each one. “Your eyes aren’t dilated. You don’t have a fever. I’m stumped.”
I finally push his arm away and step back. He’s creeping me out. Yates is laughing. Probably at me and not Vance. “You want Alyssa so bad, go for it.”
Yates scoffs. “She only has eyes for you. I’m not sure why,” he says as he grabs his junk.
“You wish.” Vance punches him in the shoulder and Yates winces. He talks a big game but when it comes down to it, you don’t want Yates going to bat for you in a fight. He’s a daddy’s boy and will do what he can to buy his way out of a sticky situation. But, he’s also the first one to throw a punch. The only thing wrong with this is, he throws and then hides under the table until the melee is over. Leaving Vance and I, and whoever else might be with us, to clean up his mess.
“Are we going to eat or what?” I ask, hoping to steer the conversation to anything other than Alyssa and the party I didn’t go to last night.
“Yeah, let’s go. I hope that hot ass chick is working the lunch shift,” Vance says. “Man, what I would’ve give to take her in the backseat of my Maserati.”
“Your car isn’t even here,” I point out. “Your statement makes zero sense.” I’m starting to wonder if I’m the brains of the group. How are my friends this dense?
“Doesn’t matter. I want to fuck her bad,” he says crudely. I roll my eyes as we walk up the ramp of the dock and into the parking lot of the marina. We step onto the path that leads into the yacht club. Members only. By members, it means if you’re not making a mid-six to seven figures a year, they’ll probably put you on the waiting list for admittance. The only reason Vance, Yates, and me are allowed in is because of our parents. High society and rich.
The hostess greets us with a smile and a subtle posture switch. She’s trying to get someone’s attention, I’m just not sure she cares who. The three of us are single and a catch by anyone’s standards. The employees are well aware of this and aren’t afraid to let their interests be known. Thing is, we’d never entertain anyone from here longer than a night because they don’t fit into our world. It’s a shitty thing to say and it makes us look like total cads, but it’s the truth. My mom and stepdad, Kitty and Mark Bradley, wouldn’t care if I dated a gardener as long as I was happy. But my father and wicked stepmother—that’s a whole other story. Sheldon and Brandy Richmond are uppity, elitist snobs. If the woman I’m with doesn’t have a pedigree a million dollars deep, she’s not good enough for Max Richmond. And it doesn’t help that my dad and Alyssa’s dad are best friends.
We’re led to a table in the back corner with a view of the marina. As soon as we sit down, London, the hottest waitress in Kingston, sets our menus down on the table and asks if we know what we want to drink. Yates and Vance order some cocktail while I mumble that I’d like a water.
“Yep, that’s the one,” Vance says loudly as she walks away. “Damn, look at that ass. Do you think she realizes we’re watching her?”
“You’re a pig,” I tell him. He’s right though, I am watching her. At least until she looks in my direction and then I avert my gaze to look at the imaginary lint that is on the tablecloth.
“You’re just jealous because she leans into me.” He winks, making me want to punch him in his smug face.
He’s right though. I am jealous. I’d give anything to rub it in his face that I already slept with her and plan to do it again. Vance is the type of friend who would see this as a challenge because he feels as if London is beneath him and it wouldn’t be an issue for him to have her either.
Fuck, I really do need some new friends.
London returns with our drinks. As soon as her eyes land on mine, I’m looking out the window. I have to play it cool. I can’t let Yates or Vance see that there is anything between London and me.
“Do you boys know what you want?” she asks. She’s been using the same line on us for three years now.
Vance goes first. “I’m going to have the roasted duck. You know how I like it, babe.”
God, I want to punch him.
“I’ll have the salmon,” Yates tells her.
“And for you?”
I barely glance up before clearing my throat. “I’ll have the roasted chicken. Veggies on the side.”
“Ranch for your salad?” she asks, knowing exactly what I like.
“Yes, please.”
London stomps away and I watch every movement of her hips until she disappears into the side space where the computer system is. Even though I can’t see her, I can hear her. She’s angry. I’m still staring when she comes out. She meets my gaze, flips me off, and disappears down the hall where the bathrooms are.
“I’ll be right back.” I don’t bother telling the guys where I’m going. I’m sure if they were smart enough they’d figure it out. I rush toward the hall and right into the women’s bathroom where I find London looking
