Room for You(43)

“I’m so sorry about that.” She locked eyes with me, grabbing my hand in hers. “I’m Blaire, so nice to meet you.”

“I’m Kacie, nice to meet you too.”

Brody walked up behind me and put his arm around my shoulders again. “Kacie is my date,” he taunted proudly.

She looked him up and down, scrunching her nose in disgust. “I’m sorry for that too,” she said, leaning in close to me. “You guys wanna come in or what?” With that she turned and disappeared as quickly as she’d entered.

Andy sighed at us, holding up his glass. “I’m gonna go refill this with something much stronger. You guys want one?”

“Absolutely,” Brody answered for both of us, noticing I was still too speechless to talk. “Nice tie choice, big shot.” He reached over and flicked the sky blue tie on Andy’s chest that was decorated with little yellow Angry Birds all over it.

“Hey, lay off man, Logan picked it out.” He looked at me and winked. “Plus it really pisses her off when I wear it.”

We followed Andy to the back of the house, Brody groping my butt the whole way. In shock of his brazen behavior, I turned and stared at him in disbelief. He grabbed my hand and stopped walking, allowing Andy to go on without us as he pulled me in for a tight hug.

“Don’t look at me like that, I can’t help it. This dress, my God,” he growled into my neck.

Twice today Brody had a moment of animalistic intensity, and holy shit, I loved it. If he could turn me on like that with just his words, I was dying to see what he could do with his body … or his tongue.

I bit my lip as he sucked on my ear lobe. “Maybe if you play your cards right, it’ll be in a heap on your bedroom floor tonight.”

He groaned as he kissed his way down my jawline.

“Hey, you two need to borrow the guest room, or can you hold off until after dinner?” Andy grinned, teasing from the kitchen doorway. I pulled back from Brody and straightened my dress, following him into the kitchen.

“Sorry,” I apologized half-sincerely as we passed him.

“Don’t apologize, I was just kidding.” Andy leaned in close to my ear. “Besides, I’ve never seen him like this, it’s kinda nice.” He smiled, squeezing my hand as he walked away.

From across the kitchen Blaire narrowed her eyes, glaring in my direction. I swung around to see if there was anyone behind me but no one was there.

“You okay?” Brody’s brows were crinkled, concern in his voice.

“Yeah, I just thought … nothing. Yes, I’m good.” I shook my head, laughing nervously, thankful when someone called his name and distracted him with hockey talk.

Turns out it wasn’t as big of a party as I thought it was going to be, only eight couples were invited. During the meal some of Blaire’s staff brought in an extra table in the dining room and we split up, four couples per table. Thankfully, Brody made sure we weren’t sitting at Blaire’s table.

Dinner was actually really good. She made lamb chops topped with gorgonzola butter, garlic mashed potatoes and crisp asparagus. It wasn’t something I would have thrown a party and hired valets for, but she was trying and deserved a little credit. During the meal, I met a really sweet woman named Chelsea, who also happened to have twins. Apparently she and Blaire were in the same book club. We hit it off really well. It was nice to have someone else to talk to while Brody was busy arguing about the upcoming football season with the other guys. Talking about the girls made missing them a little easier to handle.

After dinner, I noticed people started clearing out quickly, partially due to Blaire’s escalating tone. I could hear her getting louder and louder in her storytelling, and that witch cackle she had was impossible to ignore. Twice I saw Andy whisper something in her ear while trying to take her wine glass, to which she objected by pushing him off and laughing.

Before I knew it Andy, Blaire, Chelsea, her husband Tom, Brody and myself were the only ones there. While the guys were talking in the den, Chelsea and I moved to the kitchen and were standing at the island, chatting and sipping coffee when Blaire came clomping up.

“What are you two blabbing about?” She slurred as she swished her wine glass around.

“Books … and kids.” Chelsea looked my way and smiled sweetly, then turned back to Blaire. “We both have twins—how cool is that?”

Blaire’s jaw dropped as she focused on me. “You have kids?”

My whole body tensed, my heart raced around in circles inside my chest as I silently begged for Brody to come in and tell me it was time to go.

“Yep,” I squeaked out, my voice shakier than I meant for it to be. I cleared my throat and continued, “My twins are 5. Both girls.”

“Where’s their father?” she demanded boldly.

“Uh, not sure.”

“You’re not sure?” Her voice raised in accusatory disbelief. “What the f*ck does that mean?”

Oh God, Brody, where are you?

“Oh … I get it.” Her eyes grew wide as a smirk crawled slowly across her face. “Single mom hits the jackpot with professional athlete.”

Chelsea interrupted. “Come on, Blaire, that’s not fair.”

“Oh shut it, Chels,” Blaire snapped. “You know nothing about this girl, neither do I—other than she has terrible taste in men.”