“I love that dress Izzy,” I say, and she pulls her faraway gaze back to me with a forced smile.
“Thanks. Sorry, I’m distracted tonight. You look beautiful too, Ev.”
I lightly place my hand over hers and lower my voice. “Izz, is something wrong?”
Her eyes tear up for a moment before she smiles. “I’m fine, honestly. It’s just been a long day.”
Smiling, I squeeze her hand. “Well, I hope you aren’t too tired for dancing?”
Izzy grins and winks at me. “Never.”
WE ARRIVE AT THE BAR and Grayson speaks to the doorman who lets us all through and a waitress guides us through the bar. We weave through the busy crowd and then up a few steps to a seating raised area that is sectioned off. Grayson has done good and got us our own section for the night.
I smile, shaking my head when I see the birthday banners and balloons. As soon as we enter our section, Lottie sweeps me into a hug.
“Hey birthday girl.” She grins. She stands back and holding my hands looks me over. “That dress is gorgeous, Everly.”
“Thanks hun, and wow, you look amazing.” I study her for a minute and she looks at me in question.
“What? Is there something in my hair?” she asks, patting her dark locks.
I shake my head, smiling. “No. There’s just something different about you lately and I can’t put my finger on it.”
She clears her throat and smiles. “Nothing different here. I’m the same old me.”
I nod, continuing to study her. She can say what she likes, but something has changed about Lottie. She has this almost glow and confidence about her.
“Oh, my god.” I grin as realisation hits me. “There’s a guy!”
Lottie bats away my comment. “Don’t be ridiculous.”
I wag my finger at her. “We’ll talk more about this.”
She shakes her head laughing and offers me a drink. “Okay, but there really is nothing to talk about.”
“Can I interrupt?”
I do a double take when I turn and see Emily in front of me.
“Ems! What are you doing here?” I ask, made up that she is here for my birthday.
She grins and leans in to hug me. “There was no way I was missing your eighteenth. So I pecked my brother’s head until he agreed I could come.”
I squeeze her tightly. “Well, I’m glad you did, this has made my night.” I adore Emily, she is a great girl, and we have become good friends over the last nine months. She will often text me whilst she is away at boarding school to bitch about a girl she hates there or to talk boys.
One by one all my friends greet me and offer me cards or presents, that Grayson kindly takes from me and puts together on a table in the corner of the room. I finish my drink and grab Lottie, Ems and Izzy and pull them down onto the dance floor as one of my favourite songs comes on.
I’m laughing and dancing with my girls when hands move around my hips from behind me and that familiar scent of Grayson surrounds me. With my eyes closed and a smile on my face, I lean back against his chest and we move together to the music.
“You’re driving me insane in that tight little dress Manchester,” he says against my ear. “Can we not leave now? I want to do all kinds of dirty things to you tonight.”
My body tightens in excitement at his words. She is a greedy fucker when it comes to Grayson St. Clair. I turn, facing him and I wrap my arms around his neck.
“We have all night posh. Beside it’s my party. I can’t just leave.”
He sighs, pulling me flush against his delectable body. “I guess good things come to those who wait.”
I grin wickedly and lean up and take his bottom lip with my teeth. “Oh, I promise there are good things coming your way later, baby.”
Grayson groans and presses his lips down onto mine. “You’ll be the death of me Manchester.”
We dance together for a while, grinding on each other and teasing each other with our bodies until Grayson says he’s going to take his blue-balls off to mope.
I continue dancing with my girls for a few more songs until Izzy demands we take a toilet brake and the three of us wind through the crowd hand-in-hand to the ladies.
I walk out of the toilet cubicle to wash my hands and groan internally when I see Paige at the mirror painting on her lipstick.
“Well, if it isn’t the birthday girl herself.”
“Paige.” I say flatly as I run my hands under the water.
She puts her lipstick back in her bag and leans her hip against the counter, staring at me.
“Have you got something you want to say, Paige?” I ask with a sigh.
“It won’t last, you know. He will tire of you, eventually.”
I smile to myself. Here we go.
“You might think you have some magic pussy that has him all in love with you, but the effect will wear off.”
I turn and face her and lean into her space. “See, I think you’re wrong. I think Grayson plans on keeping me around for a long time. Why else would he have me tattooed into his skin?”
Her eyes flare with surprise. “You’re lying?”
I grin a slow and confident grin. “I was there when he had it done. I’m inked into his skin, right above his heart.” I turn my attention back to the mirror as Izzy comes up beside me and glares at Paige.
“You want something Paige?” She asks her.
Paige briefly scowls at her, before giving me one last deathly glare and she storms out of the ladies.
“It’s really sad that she still thinks she has a hope in hell of bagging your man.” Lottie says with a shake of her head as she touches up her blusher. Lottie’s phone pings and she scrambles to get
