"Got it." He holds out his arm for me with a wink and a nod. "Shall we hit the dance floor, then?"
"We shall." I look Tristan up and down again, seeing him differently than when he first picked me up tonight. Sure, he's devastatingly handsome, which was a prerequisite. I just didn't think he'd be so extra. I like it.
The two of us whirl around the dance floor. Every now and then I catch a glimpse of the concerned expression on Jake’s face.
He knows me almost as well as Fi and Kaylee. And I know that he knows that the smile I wear is real and not fake, he just doesn't know why. And it looks like it's satisfactorily driving him crazy. Good.
The music slows down and Tristan instinctively leans in to whisper in my ear again. "I think it's working." He wraps his arms around my waist.
It's been a long time since a guy has done that. And I appreciate what Tristan is doing for me here tonight. But as handsome as he is, all I can think about is Jake.
"So what is it you want to get out of tonight?" he asks as we sway from side to side.
Apart from the general idea of making Jake jealous, I haven't thought it out that far. Since he's the self-proclaimed expert and all, I decide to ask him. "What do you mean?"
"You want a scene? Where I’m rude and you dump me, and he swoops in? Or should I make him jealous enough to ditch his date and meet you in one of the back bedrooms?" He lifts one eyebrow and then the other and waggles them at me hilariously.
He's adorable and he knows it. I don't really want anybody to get dumped. What do I really want out of tonight? It's a good question. And I don’t have an answer because I’m having trouble focusing. Only Jake could look that damn sexy in an eye patch.
Chapter 19
Jake
I watch the two of them twirl around the dance floor. Angie looks happy. A part of me is happy for her, and another part of me wants to go full cave man on that guy. Challenge him to some kind of a duel. I know Angie though. And that wouldn't go over well at all.
So I dance. And I fume. And through all of the noise and laughter and chatter in the packed ballroom, I'm sure I can hear her voice. But what do I do?
When I finally look down at Emma, she's frowning again. I'd ask her what was wrong, but I know it probably has something to do with the gymnastics I've been doing to try to spy on Angie and Tristan. Ugh, what kind of pretentious name is Tristan anyway?
"Stop it," Emma says, stomping her foot and pouting.
"Stop what?" I ask as I lead her through the crowd to the back of the line for the bar. The plastic cups at the bar have little pirate faces with hats and eye patches on them. I really have missed this festival.
"Should we get a drink?" I offer before she can answer my previous question.
"Absolutely, yes. I need a drink."
Once we tuck into the back of the line, Emma puts a hand on my chest and then lets it slide down to my belt. "When I say stop it, I mean stop ogling that bimbo blond over there. Trust me, baby. Whatever you want from her, I'm probably better at it anyway."
I feel my teeth grind and my jaw tighten at Emma's words. She can't talk about Angie that way.
"Look," she says, reading my body language and removing her hand from my body. "Are you here to have fun or spy on her?"
"You don't understand," I start before realizing that there really isn't anything else to say. Fortunately, that is the moment when it's my turn at the bar. "Whiskey sour. And for you, Emma?"
"Margarita," she chimes in.
"And a margarita," I add. The bartender is wearing a skull and crossbones tee and an oversized gold doubloon necklace.
Just as he's handing me the drinks, I hear a series of shrieks throughout the crowd. I know just what causes that level of screaming. It's Shark. What the hell is that demon monkey up to now?
"No!"
Oh no. That’s Angie’s voice I hear above the rest of the crowd. I don't know what's going on, but I'm sure going to find out.
Chapter 20
Angie
I'll admit that it only happened because I took my mind off of the bracelet and the monkey and started paying way too much attention to Jake and his date.
I hear a commotion in the crowd. And the weird thing is, the commotion, whatever it is, seems to be heading straight at me like a shark in the water about to attack.
I hear the crowd and feel the anxiety even before I feel the tug on my right forearm. I looked down just in time to see the jagged white teeth looking up at me in a grotesque and greedy smile.
And then it’s gone. The monkey is gone. I look down to confirm what I already know. So is my bracelet.
"No!" I scream. That bracelet was a gift, handed down to me from my great-great grandmother to my favorite Aunt Patty and then to me, and I'll be damned if I'm going to let that little fleabag take it.
Tristan gives me a confused look.
"That monkey just stole my bracelet. Don't just stand there, get him!"
Tristan turns toward the screams and then starts to run. He's a pretty big guy, though, and it's hard for him to get through.
He dutifully fights his way politely through the crowd, but I can see that he's never going to get there in time to stop that stupid monkey from getting away.
Instead of sprinting forward myself, I take a moment to watch and listen. My only chance is to get to where that little shit is going, not where it's been.
Seems
