“Well? What do you think?”
Unable to hold back any longer, I burst into laughter. I can’t even stop the snort that sneaks out mid-laugh. I don’t think I’ve ever snorted before in my life.
I laugh so hard tears spring to my eyes.
Without holding back, I say the first thing that pops into my head.
“You look like a big, gay leprechaun!”
I didn’t think it was possible, but his smile widens.
“I know! Isn’t it fabulous?!”
Only Derrick could pull off wearing a glittery green suit, complete with a matching bowtie and top hat. It’s like a car wreck. I find myself unable to look away.
Just when I think I’m finished laughing, my gaze drifts to his feet.
The shoes!
Oh my fucking God!
Glittery. Green. Shoes.
“All you need now is a pot of gold,” I tease between breaths of laughter.
“Gold is gaudy. I’m more interested in finding me a lucky charm or two.”
He winks at Noah and orders something called a Fuzzy Leprechaun.
Add Fuzzy Leprechaun to the list of things I will not ask Derrick about.
Noah blushes at Derrick’s blatant flirting, which I find adorable. I think he’s relieved that Derrick didn’t pull a Camille and ask for something dirty.
My body jerks instinctively when someone pinches my ass. Derrick’s face holds a mock look of innocence. I glare at him and he shrugs.
“You aren’t wearing green, my pretty. No green gets a booty pinch.” He accepts his drink from Noah with a sly smile before turning back to me. “You should have let me dress you for the event and you’d be safe from pinchy fingers.”
“Ha! No. I have zero regrets from that decision. I can only imagine what you’d have me wear. I’ll take my chances with my green eyes being a natural pinching deterrent.”
“Fine. Have it your way.” He sips his drink, looking around the crowded room. “Hmm. Perhaps I’ll find some treasure at the end of the rainbow.”
Our eyes follow the trail of rainbow balloons floating above our heads. We have two vastly different reactions when we reach the end.
I roll my eyes and turn back toward the bar.
“Mmm. A treasure indeed, but one not meant for me. I do believe the treasure is yours, Presley.” He points at me and winks. “Bet he’s magically delicious.”
I scoff, biting back my retort.
I glance back toward the end of the rainbow and sure enough, he’s still there. He’s staring in my direction with a scowl on his gorgeous face. Ugh. Even with furrowed brows and downturned lips he looks magnificent. I hate it.
“What’s the deal between you two, anyway?” Camille asks. “I’ve tried asking him, but he won’t say a word. Even Ryan has no clue what’s going on and Adam usually tells him everything.”
As if she’s going to get an answer out of me.
Even if I wanted to tell her, I couldn’t.
There’s nothing between us.
He’s sexy as fuck, and I won’t deny my attraction to him. But when he’s not scowling at me, he’s indifferent. Half the time it’s like he doesn’t even know I exist. In all the time he’s been in Blackwood, all the times we’ve been at the same events, in the same room—we’ve never spoken.
I’d swear he hates me or has something against me.
But I’ll be damned if I know what it is.
“There’s no deal,” I finally answer before turning back to the bar.
I don’t know what the fuck his problem is, but it’s a him problem and has nothing to do with me.
His good looks mean nothing when he looks at me like something he scraped off the bottom of his shoe. I won’t waste my time or give him any of my attention. I may not always think highly of myself, but I’m smart enough to know I deserve better than that.
“Not sure I believe that, but I’ll let it go. For now. I’ll figure out what the two of you are hiding. Mark my words.”
She has no idea how wrong she is in her assumption.
We’re hiding nothing.
Well, I’m not hiding anything.
He could be.
The reason he looks at me like I’m a waste of space, for instance.
It’s an unknown, something he hasn’t bothered to share with me.
“C’mon!” Camille grabs my hand, giving it a tug. “Derrick ditched you for some D, so you can come sit with us.”
I failed to notice him slip away, but sure enough, he’s at the other end of the bar in total flirt mode, fluttering his eyelashes at the guy in front of him.
I catch his gaze and widen my eyes, begging him to come save me. He gives me a little shrug and continues his conversation. I can’t stop my sister from dragging me across the room. We join everyone at the table, and everyone takes their seats, leaving the only available space for me.
Next to Adam.
Sighing, I slide into the booth.
He says nothing as I sit down.
He dismisses me with a glance and continues his conversation with Ryan. Try as I might, I can’t pretend it doesn’t bother me. I may say I don’t care, but I can’t help wondering what I did to make him hate me.
Why am I always attracted to assholes?
SIX
Adam
Of course, she’d end up next to me.
I do what I can to put some space between the two of us.
Ryan’s girl, Camille, she’s good people. In fact, everyone she surrounds herself with seem like good people. They all welcomed me, Ryan and Hannah with open arms, without a second thought. I get along with all of them, with a single exception.
Presley.
Honestly, I don’t know what the fuck to think about her.
Something about the girl rubs me the wrong way.
At the same time, I’m drawn to her. She pulls me in like gravity. I swear I can fuckin’ feel it whenever she walks into a room. It’s maddening. I hate it.
Presley isn’t like her sisters.
Madalyn and Camille—despite going through hell—are outspoken and outgoing. They love being the center of attention and the life of the party.
Not Presley.
She’s always quiet. Always watching, judging. Like she puts herself above everyone else, looking down on them from her imaginary throne. Everyone treats her like she’s precious, spoiled.
Like a pretty little princess.
It’s been my nickname for her since the first time I laid eyes on her.
Princess Presley.
We see each other at every social function in this town and she always goes out of her way to avoid me, avoid talking to me. I’m not sure what I’ve done to make her ignore me, but at this point I’m not sure I care.
I finish listening to Ryan’s story about some drunk he arrested the other night. I missed most of it when my thoughts strayed to the girl next to me, but it doesn’t matter. Once he’s finished, I greet the newcomers with a smile.