I look around at all the people dressed to the nines, here in this damn ballroom ready to greet the New Year, and I’m still stuck on this year. I should’ve said no to this stupid party when my sister forced it on me. But I was desperate to get them off my mind.
Because that’s where Alec, Reed, Jace, and Cole have been. The only place actually, because after I sent the “I quit” text, there’s been nothing but radio silence.
Why did I do that? It was symbolic really. It’s not like I work for them, but I also can’t work with them anymore. That would be torture.
God, is it too much to expect for them to disregard what I’m saying on the surface and focus on what they should psychically know? I laugh to myself, taking another sip of my drink before placing it on the cocktail table I’m standing next to.
My sister rubs her shoulder against mine.
“Buck up. At least your date is adorable. He even bought an Architectural Digest to learn about all the dumb shit you’re interested in.”
I shrug, scrunching my nose. She shoves my shoulder playfully.
“You’re such a bitch, Sam. Not every guy has three friends he’ll let fuck you. And you never know, maybe he’s good and hung.”
Gross.
“I have zero interest in fucking him, Eleanor.” I narrow my eyes on her. “You didn’t tell him I would when you set us up, did you?”
Her mouth drops open. “What kind of person do you think I am?”
“The kind you are. I’m going to kill you.”
She laughs. “I said you were adventurous. And you are…” She gives me a knowing look. “Plus, I peeped at his Instagram. He has some fine-ass friends. You could do a little product comparison.”
She’s wagging her eyebrows, but I’m shaking my head.
“Oh my god. I hate you. I am not going to fuck Cole just so I can compare him to Jace. You are truly feral.”
She deadpans. Staring at me deeply, lifting her glass to her shiny red lips before she smirks.
“Your date’s name is Christopher.”
My eyes grow wide as my lips press together to hold back my smile. Shit. I totally said Cole. But I scoff, trying to play it cool.
“What? That’s what I said.”
Her long fingernail jabs my bare shoulder. “No, you said Cole…as in Cole who spit on your—”
I shove her drink against her lips forcing liquid down her throat, making her choke and laugh while swatting me away.
“I’m pressing charges,” she coughs out, making me laugh.
“Fuck,” I breathe out roughly. “I’m so fucked. I’m literally always thinking about them. It’s so embarrassing to be the girl hung up on the guy who doesn’t like her back.”
“Four guys.”
“Okay,” I bark.
Her bottom lip pops out. And I shrug before looking over my shoulder for our dates.
“Where did they go to get us drinks?”
“Who cares? Don’t deflect. I say just text them. Do a group chat. Since ya did a group fuck.”
“No,” I say, shaking my head and staring back at her like she’s lost it. “It was for the weekend. I need to get over it.”
“Come on.” She laughs. “You’re being ridiculous. People have polyamorous relationships all the time. You’re not that unique.”
My brows draw together. “Yeah, on communes…where they grow corn that weird children live in.”
She laughs at my movie reference, and I follow, rubbing my lips together before she takes my hand.
“I just think you should go with your heart, wherever it takes you.”
I squeeze her hand and smile.
“You know, sometimes you’re halfway decent, and I almost like you.”
My sister’s face stills, eyes growing wide.
“What?” I tease. “This is your one compliment a year.”
Her smile starts to grow and something about it makes my stomach start to flip. Her eyes dart back to mine, holding me hostage as she says, “If you have ever taken any advice from me, now is the time.”
My voice sounds as terrified as I am as I draw out, “Whyyy?”
“Because they’re here,” she whispers. “All four of them.”
My face swings to look over my shoulder, but she nearly slaps it back to hers.
“This is your moment. Say what you want, bitch. You want them? Then get them. But make them work for it.”
I’m nodding. But at what? Because I don’t even know what she said. My head is exploding. And my mouth is so dry that I can barely swallow. I wish I could say something cute and dainty like butterflies swarmed in my stomach, but this feels more like my heart is about to drop out of my ass.
“Pay attention,” she hisses.
Oh god, I can’t listen to her. She’s the same person that convinced me to dress as a Dalmatian to her Cruella for three years in a row when we were kids.
I’m panicking, still in my head, as I whisper, “Cruella wanted to skin the puppies.”
Eleanor points her finger in my face.
“What the fuck are you talking about? Listen to me. You are dating Christopher—he’s fucking delicious and does things to you that not even they can imagine.”
“What? Wait. Why?”
But she doesn’t answer as she spins me around laughing, eyes glancing, head tilting, like I should do the same. So I do, but it sounds more like I’m crying.
What the fuck is happening?
“Are you okay?” comes from my side as Christopher walks back holding two drinks.
Oh god.
I swipe a champagne from him, rushing out, “I’m so sorry for what’s about to happen,” before I down the glass and switch it out with the other one in his hand.
He’s staring at me, probably about to ask what the hell is wrong with me, when we’re suddenly surrounded. At least, that’s what it feels like. Because my favorite set of eyes…all four of them…are staring directly at me.
There’s a whole party happening around me. People laughing, dancing in ballgowns, and drinking champagne as they ready for the countdown. But I’m standing in the spotlight of their attention. Unable and unwilling to break away.
Christopher clears his throat, extending his hand to Reed.
“Hi, I’m Christopher, Samantha’s—”
But Reed cuts him off with a singular, “Nope.”
I smirk, putting my hands on my hips.
“What are you guys doing here? I’m on a date.”
Christopher raises his hand as if to claim the title, but Jace lowers it for him.
Alec crosses his arms, glancing at the guys before he narrows his eyes on me.
“You left us. We want an explanation.”
Heat rises through my body. Are they fucking kidding?
“Wait a minute. How did you know I was here?”
Alec grins, looking at Reed who lifts his chin toward my sister, saying, “I follow her on Instagram.”
Damn you, Elle. I will kill her later.
Alec’s unwavering glare calls to me, locking my gaze back on him.
“Well?” he presses.
“Well, what?” I snap back.
His giant body feels foreboding as he takes a step closer.
“We left our annual New Year’s party to come here. We left a hundred or so guests, for an answer, gorgeous, and we’re not leaving until we get one.”