Eruption (The Hunted Series Book 3) (20 page)

"What were you drinking?" he asked and smiled down
at me.

"If I could just get some water, that would be
great."

He nodded. "Probably a good choice. You seem a little
drunk."

I couldn't even argue with him. My friends had been shoving
drinks in my face since I had arrived at Bee's. "Maybe you should just get
a round of waters for the table."

"Are you sure you don't need more shots?" He smiled
and looked down at the table covered with shot glasses. Half of them hadn't
been touched.

"I think we're good there. Just water."

"If that's what the lady wants." He winked at me
and leaned in close. "Hopefully free drinks count," he whispered into
my ear. "If not, I'll be by the bar. And here's my number just in case
your fiancé takes commitment as loosely as my fiancée did ." He slid his
business card into my hand.

I looked down at the card and then back up at him, knowing
perfectly well that I would never call that number. "Thanks."

"Really, water?" Melissa asked as soon as he walked
away.

I laughed. "He was nice. I didn't want to make him pay
for a whole round of drinks. Plus, you guys are getting me wasted. I can barely
walk in a straight line." At this point, I probably couldn't.

"That's okay, it still counts," Bee said.
"Plus," she grabbed the business card out of my hand. "Penny
just scratched off number seven too."

"You got his number?" Kendra clapped her hands
together. "Oh my God, he's like a walking sex ad.

I laughed. "Did you want it?"

"Yes please." She snatched the business card out of
Bee's hand. "I bet he's amazing in bed."

Marie rolled her eyes.

"Speaking about sex," Kendra said. "On a scale
of one to ten, how good is James in bed?"

"An eleven."

They all laughed.

"I haven't met an eleven in years," Kendra said.
"I think all the elevens are in relationships. And why wouldn't they be?
Their dicks are like fucking Gods."

Marie laughed. "You put too much emphasis on sex. There
is so much more to a relationship than that."

"I thought Carter was good in bed?" Kendra asked.

"He is. I'm just saying..."

"Mhm," Kendra said, cutting her off. "All
about that dick."

Melissa laughed.

"And what about you?" Kendra asked Melissa.

"What about me?"

"Are you seeing anyone right now?"

Melissa glanced at me. "Yeah. Actually, I just started
dating Tyler."

Kendra squealed. "The cute one that Bee and Penny always
hang out with?"

Melissa took another shot from the table. "Yup, that's
the one."

"And how is he in bed?"

"Well...I personally think he's an eleven."

This is so awkward.

Kendra smiled. "Usually younger guys have no idea what
they're doing. But every now and then you find one that's super eager to
please. I think I might just be in the mood for a younger guy tonight."
She looked around the bar.

Melissa grabbed the paper from Kendra. "Okay, what's
next?" She looked down at the paper and then handed it back to Kendra.
"Do you want to skip around again? How about we do number 12?"

"No, let's just do what's next. Oh, perfect. List
everyone you had sex with in order from best to worst, Penny."

"I'm going to veto that one," I said.

"Seriously? We have you making out with a stranger near
the bottom of the list."

"What? I'm not doing that."

"I know. That's why you have to do this one. We all knew
you'd veto that one."

"I..."

"Just tell us. Or is the list too long?"

I laughed nervously. "Um, no. Just, James at the top
obviously. And then Austin. That's it."

"You've only slept with two guys? What is wrong with
you?!"

"I've only slept with two guys," Bee said.

"Yeah, but I already knew you were lame," Kendra
said. "Penny, you're getting married. And you're telling me you only slept
with two guys?!"

"Well, that's not true," Melissa said. "She's
slept with three guys." Melissa was staring at me. She looked like she was
about to cry. "Right?"

Fuck.
"Oh, I mean, yeah, I guess. It's three. I
don't know what I was thinking." I was thinking I didn't want to talk
about this.
Shit.

The tray of waters had just arrived at our table. I grabbed
one and took a huge sip. My head was too fuzzy to think straight.

"How mysterious," Bee said. "It must be
someone she wishes she hadn't slept with. Who was it, Penny? You have to tell
us now. I'm sure Melissa will if you don't."

I kept my mouth shut.

"She slept with Tyler during one of the many times she
broke it off with James," Melissa said. "Or he broke it off with her.
I don't remember which. They were so toxic at first. All they did was fight.
Isn't that right, Penny?"

I fidgeted with the bachelorette sash.

Bee's eyes had gotten a little bigger. Kendra and Marie were
looking back and forth between Melissa and I.

"So, you really thought Tyler was that bad in bed?"
Melissa asked. "You didn't even remember you slept with him? I certainly
remember."

"No, it wasn't that. I just thought..."

"That talking about it is awkward?" Melissa took
another shot of vodka. "The fact that you slept with my boyfriend isn't
awkward at all. The fact that the two of you hang out all the time is super
normal. Right?" she said and looked at everyone else at the table.

Kendra cleared her throat. "Next up on the list..."

"Where is Tyler on your scale, Penny? Now I'm just super
curious." Melissa's face was bright red. I had been trying to avoid this.
I didn't want to fight with her again. Tonight had been going so well.

"I don't know. It was so long ago..."

"God, just tell me."

"Below James." What was she expecting me to say?

"So, he's not as good as James? You're such a bitch."

"No, Tyler's really good in bed. I just...I'm in love
with James."

"So, you think Tyler's great in bed? What, do you still
fantasize about him or something? You're the worst friend ever."

"Melissa." An exasperated laugh escaped my lips.
"What do you want me to say? I had sex with Tyler once almost three years
ago. He wasn't your boyfriend then. You didn't even like him. You were dating
Josh. And I can't take it back. There isn't anything I can do about it."

"You can stop hanging out with him."

"Fine. Okay. I won't hang out with him anymore. Tyler
and I are officially no longer friends. Happy? Is that really what you want me
to say?"

"Yeah, that would make me happy."

"Melissa! He's one of my best friends. Why can't you
just get over this? It shouldn't be that big of a deal. Tyler and I are past
it. Come on."

"Yes, he's one of your friends. But I'm your best
friend. Your friendship with me should matter more than it does with him. Why
are you holding on to him? Girls and boys can't just be friends."

"Yes they can. I'm friends with Rob and Matt. And I'm
friends with Mason." I pointed to Bee. "I was friends with him before
he even met Bee, and she doesn't hate that I hang out with him."

"That's because you didn't sleep with him. You can't be
friends with Tyler if you want to remain friends with me. You can't. I can't
handle it."

Everyone at the table was silent for a minute. I was blinking
fast, trying to hold back the tears.

Marie cleared her throat.

"I need to use the restroom," I said quietly.
"I'll be right back." I stumbled out of the bar stool and made my way
to the bathroom.

"Hey, Penny," said a familiar voice behind me.

The little hairs on the back of my neck seemed to rise. I
turned around and looked up at Austin. I hadn't seen him since I moved to New
York. He looked the same as he had in college. Except his hair was shorter and
he had a five o'clock shadow. I hated that the sight of him made my blood boil.
The only person I hated more than him was Isabella. And maybe James' parents. I
took a deep breath. "I'm sorry, do I know you?"

He laughed. "I know you haven't forgotten me, baby. You
look upset. Are you okay?"

I just stared at him.

"So, you're getting married? James is an unlucky
guy."

"Go to hell, Austin."

"That's not very nice to say to the first love of your
life. I'm sure you dreamed of marrying me once."

"I never loved you."

He shrugged. "I guess we remember that
differently."

"Great. Let's agree to disagree. Have a good night,
Austin." I turned around but he grabbed my wrist.

"You know, you're the only girl that ever dumped
me."

I pulled my arm away from him. "I didn't dump you. We
never even dated."

"Well, you were a constant booty call then. You were so
easy. Always ready to please me. Fuck, college was fun, huh?"

I shook my head.
What a dick.

"Aren't you curious about why I know that you're
marrying your professor?"

"You can read tabloids? Congratulations. I didn't know
you were literate."

"You're feistier than I remember. I like it. But no, I
didn't read about it. Isabella told me."

Despite the alcohol and the anger I felt toward him, my body
suddenly felt cold. "What?"

"I ran into her the other day. She's smokin' hot by the
way. James made a mistake letting her go."

I noticed the manila envelope in his hand for the first time.
Oh God.
Isabella really was a lunatic. She must have known about my
history with Austin. And now she had him wrapped around her finger.
How the
hell did she even know I was here?
I looked back up at Austin's face. He
was wearing a smug smile. Like the thought of him sleeping with her would upset
me. It didn't. They belonged together.

"And she's amazing in bed. Fucking fantastic actually.
So much better than you. She's very talented with..."

"Stop. Please stop talking." I didn't care if
Austin was fucking Isabella. But I didn't want to hear about how great she was.
I didn't want to have to think about James and her together. About how much
James had loved her. Or how he might still love her.

Austin smiled. "Touchy subject? Does James compare you
to her often? It's really not much of a comparison." He looked so happy
with himself.

"James loves me." My words didn't even convince
myself.

"Really?" Austin tossed the envelope at me.
"I'm not so sure about that."

"You know nothing about him. And you know nothing about
me."

"Baby, I know you."

"You don't, Austin. You never did."

"Well, I know you're going to be upset about what's in
that envelope."

I looked down at the envelope in my hands.

"I guess I'll read about you calling off the wedding in
the tabloids." I felt his hand slap my ass.

I shoved his chest hard, but he didn't even take a step back.
Instead, he grabbed the back of my head hard and pressed his lips against mine.

I hit his chest with my fist, but his hand just gripped my
hair tighter. His tongue slid against my closed lips. I hit his chest with my
fist again and then shoved him as hard as I could. "Get the fuck off
me!" I wiped my lips with the back of my hand. "What is wrong with
you?"

He smiled. "Call me, Penny. I think your self confidence
is just about where I need it to be to pick up right where we left off in
college. You know, with you wishing I loved you, and me banging every girl I
meet. It'll be like old times. Enjoy the pictures." He winked at me and
walked away.

As soon as he disappeared, I let my tears start to fall. I
ran to the bathroom and into a stall, locking the door behind me. My heart was
beating fast as I opened up the envelope. I pulled out a small stack of photos.
There was a post-it note covering the first photo:

A picture speaks a thousand words isn't exactly true for
this. All of these pictures really only mean one thing.

I lifted off the note and stared down at an image of James
kissing another woman. This time, it was one I didn't recognize. He was wearing
a baseball cap and it looked like he hadn't shaved since he left New York, but
it was definitely him. I felt even colder than I had when I was talking to
Austin.
This isn't real. This can't be real.

In the next photo, her legs were wrapped around his waist and
her back was pressed against a wall. My chest hurt as I stared at the image.
There was no explanation for this. It wasn't Isabella attacking him, or him
getting closure from his ex. This was passion. This was real. It wasn't
photoshopped or fake. James was at his bachelor party hooking up with another
woman. But that's what guys did during their bachelor parties. Wasn't it?

In the next photo, his hand was up her shirt. He was clearly
grabbing her breasts.

My back slid down the bathroom stall door.

In the next photo, his hand had moved. It was lost under her
skirt. Her face had tilted away from his. Pure bliss was written all over it. I
knew that feeling. I knew exactly the way he could make me feel. How he could
make anyone feel apparently.

I put my face on my knees and let myself cry even harder.

"Penny?"

I tried to stop crying when I heard Melissa's voice.

"Penny? I'm so sorry. I'm sorry about everything. I
don't want you to not be friends with Tyler. And I definitely don't want you to
not be friends with me over this whole stupid thing. I'll get over it. I will.
I'm so sorry. I don't want to fight about this anymore."

Her words just made me cry even more.

"Penny?"

I sniffed from inside the stall.

"Are you okay?"

"No." I knew how my voice sounded. It was
desperate. I felt so lost. "I'm sorry too. I'm so sorry." My voice
cracked.

"Penny." Melissa knocked on the door. "Penny,
let me in." Her voice was a little more demanding the second time.