Filed to story: Swallow Me Whole (Sadie & Ashton) Book Free
“What are you drinking?” Mandy asks me, nudging my arm.
“Whatever you guys are having is fine with me.”
“Sex on the Beach it is.”
I bite back a groan, barely refraining from doing a face-palm. The guys grin, then they’re off fetching our cocktails. We settle in to wait, people-watching and listening to the hip-hop pulsing through the club. Eventually, Mandy eyes the dance floor, and I try to sink lower into my seat.
“Don’t even think about playing the wallflower tonight. I dragged your depressed ass out to live a little. Let’s dance.”
I bark an incredulous laugh. “Not happening. You know I don’t dance.”
“Who cares? We’ll have a blast anyway.”
“Maybe later, okay? We just got here.”
Her breath whooshes out, disrupting her bangs. “All right, I’ll let you sit this one out, but if you keep being allergic to fun, I’ll drag you out there screaming bloody murder if I have to.”
“Who’s screaming bloody murder?” Shane sets two cocktails onto the table—Mandy’s order of
Sex on the Beach, I’m assuming—and Brett’s standing next to him holding two micro brews.
“Your date will be if I can’t get her on the dance floor,” Mandy tells Shane, and I shoot her a warning glare. With a shrug, she feigns innocence.
My best friend knows exactly what she’s doing.
She’s setting me up whether I like it or not, and I walked straight into her we’re-having-a-fun-night-out-with-friends trap. I wonder if I can kill her in her sleep without the neighbors hearing.
She takes a long draw from her cocktail, no doubt entertaining thoughts of sex and beaches that include the tall guy with the wild blond hair sitting beside her. It’s not long before she tilts her head toward the busy dance floor. “Want to dance?” she asks Brett.
“Lead the way.” He’s only got eyes for her as he follows her into the fray.
Shane shifts next to me. “You sure you don’t want to dance?” He gestures to where his brother and Mandy are getting down and dirty.
“I don’t really dance, but thank you.” I take a sip of my drink and raise my brow at the sweet, fruity taste. A person could get drunk fast off this adult Kool-Aid.
It sure tastes like Kool-aid.
“I don’t either,” he says with a shrug. “But I would’ve gotten out there and embarrassed myself for you.”
It’s at that particular moment I wish I were anywhere else. It’s not that Shane is rude, bad-looking, or has horrible breath. The problem is he’s a man I’d be interested in getting to know, if I weren’t already in love with someone else, and that makes this night feel pointless, not to mention unfair to Shane.
Despite what Mandy said, I feel like I am leading him on.
Music pours through the speakers at a tolerable level that invites conversation, but silence stretches between us as we watch Brett and Mandy bump and grind.
“How long have you guys known each other?” Shane asks, nodding his head toward Mandy.
“Years. It’s hard to say when I met her and Ashton. First or second grade, probably.”
“Ashton’s the twin, right?”
“Right.”
“She told me about their childhood.”
“She did?” Now he’s got my attention. Mandy doesn’t talk about that with just anyone. “What’d she tell you?”
“She said their father took off when they were young, and her mother worked a lot. Sounds like they had it rougher than most, but she doesn’t let it keep her down.” He pauses. “I admire her strength.”
I study the profile of his face. Strong jaw. Wide, sensuous mouth that would draw the attention of any woman with a pulse. Maybe even a few men. As if he senses my scrutiny, he swallows hard, Adam’s apple bobbing, and drags a hand through his thick, brown hair. All the while, his hazel eyes never waver from the sight of Mandy dancing with his brother across the club.
“Have you told her yet?” I ask, breaking the lull in conversation.
His gaze swings in my direction. “Tell her what?”
“That you’re into her.”
“I’m not…why would you think that?”
I lift a brow. “Because it’s true?”
He expels a breath. “She’s my brother’s girl.”
“I don’t think it’s serious.”
“Maybe not on her end.”
I’ve gotta admire his loyalty to his brother, but I feel bad for him. Probably because I recognize the longing on his face. It sucks not being with the one who makes your heart throb, your body sing, your soul sizzle to life.
“Some date I’m turning out to be.” His mouth is a line of apology.
“We’re just two friends hanging out, so I wouldn’t worry about it.”
“Point taken. I don’t blame you. I’m rusty as hell at this.”
“Why’s that?” I’m genuinely intrigued.
“I got out of a long-term relationship a few weeks ago.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Nah, don’t be.” He picks up his beer and takes a swig just as the other half of our quad returns to the table. They slide into the booth across from us, breathing labored and bodies covered in sweat. Mandy wipes away a drop sliding down her temple.
“You guys having fun?” she asks, still catching her breath.
Playing with the straw in my glass, I swirl the ice into a miniature whirlpool. “Yeah. How about you?”
Mandy grins at Brett. “We’re having a blast.” She presses her mouth to his, and in the next instant, they’re sucking face.
And that’s when I know Mandy is clueless about Shane’s interest because she’d never intentionally do something so cruel. Shane and I exchange a glance, and he mutters something about not being able to take his brother anywhere.