The One That I Want (Scorned Women Society Book 3) Piper Sheldon (classic books for 12 year olds .TXT) 📖

were sweating and my feet didn’t seem to be working. My friends went about making introductions and I sat watching, as though I was an outsider. I couldn’t remember who had met who the night of the drive-in movie. They could figure it out.

Sanders stood up and shook everyone’s hands with a big cheesy smile.

“We actually met,” he said motioning to Ford. “Good to see you again, mate.”

Sanders and Ford did the bro-hug fist-bump back-tap thing. It all seemed very complicated.

Jack and Skip were introduced. A look passed between them my fuzzy brain couldn’t process. Skip seemed a little distant and I couldn’t figure out why. Maybe because Sanders was pumping out the charm and making it a party.

“You guys should join us,” Sanders said.

“Are we interrupting y’all?” Suzie asked looking to me.

“Not at all. Just a bunch of friends having some drinks,” I said with just a pinch of salt. She hesitated. I softened my words with a smile.

I felt Sanders glance at me. The guys gathered a couple more chairs and pulled them up. It was just such a culture clash to see Sanders and Skip chatting with Suzie, Ford, and Jack. I wasn’t good at group things to begin with. This had the added confusion of mixing my work life with my personal. How was I supposed to act? In these types of situations, I typically shrank down and shut up because I could never quite figure out how to insert myself.

I downed the rest of my drink, capturing an ice cube to suck on. Jack sat down next to Skip who glared when the chair bumped his to make room.

“Just so you know,” Suzie whispered at my side. “Gretchen is meeting us here. We can switch tables if you want.”

I shook my head despite the ice in my gut. “No. It’s fine.”

Of course she was. Hey, while we’re at it let’s call up my parents and Vincent. Let’s invite Jethro and the whole Winston clan and maybe some Wraiths because this couldn’t get any more fucking awkward.

“Maybe you two could talk. Things have been so weird since the drive-in,” Suzie said.

“She hasn’t texted me either,” I mumbled.

Suzie let out a breath. Her startlingly emerald eyes were sad. “I think her heart was in the right place,” she said tentatively.

“It always is,” I said.

“Just talk?”

“I just need to focus on work right now. Let’s not talk about it right now.” I tilted my head subtly to Sanders at my side.

Suzie sat up and looked to Ford and made a face. Fucking couples.

A hand squeezed my knee. My head shot to Sanders. He was looking straight ahead. Nobody would know he was even doing it. But it gave me strength I didn’t know I needed.

Then Gretchen walked in. No, not walked. Gretchen arrived. It was as though the whole room turned to her. She wore denim short overalls that hugged her curves perfectly over a plain white crop top. Her red curls bounced happily as she spotted the group and came over.

Between her and Sanders, how could anybody compete? In some ways they were a perfect match. The thought caused a sharp pain.

“Howdy, y’all. Oh a party! I’ll order shots,” she said.

“Gretchen, no. It’s a weekday,” Suzie said.

“So what? Come on. We aren’t leaving here until we’ve all had the best time.”

“Why did that feel like a threat?” Sanders whispered in my ear.

Goose bumps tickled down my neck. “Because it was. I need another drink.”

He pulled back to look at me with concern. “Are you okay?”

I said, “Of course. It’s a party with half of Green Valley. Let’s have a great time.”

Gretchen and I exchanged a look. My heart ached. The irony, I realized, was that we were fighting because she pushed me toward a man I was avoiding to help preserve our friendships. No ex left behind. That was the promise we made to each other.

I lost track of time a bit after that. Bits and pieces came through my fog. Gretchen was chatting to Jack and Skip, flirting loudly. Jack smiled easily back and Skip frowned, looking a little uncomfortable. This only made her try harder to bring him out of his shell.

“Careful there, boys,” I said. “Those’re her scheming eyes.” My voice slurred more than I wanted.

Gretchen crossed her arms. She was about to say something when Ford loudly asked Suzie to dance, to my great surprise. He didn’t strike me as the type but the two of them on the floor? Well, shit, of course they looked good. They loved each other so deeply, when I watched them sway, my chest ached with something I couldn’t identify. Sanders nudged me, asked me if I wanted to dance. My head dropped to the table. The world spun and it felt like that was the only way to keep me from flying away.

“Hell no,” I said and turned my head to look at him. “Walkin’ might even be a lot to ask.”

He rubbed a circle on my back and slid some water toward me. “Need to go talk?”

I groaned.

My carefully controlled worlds were clashing together. This night hadn’t gone to plan at all. I felt pulled in different directions and I couldn’t handle any of it. I was embarrassed for misinterpreting closeness with Sanders. I wasn’t sure how to act with both my friends and coworkers around. And seeing Gretchen reminded me of how much still needed to be said. It was all too much. For all of my attempts to tightly control my life, it was spinning out around me.

“I’ll be right back,” I said. When I stood, the floor slid sideways and I had to grip the table.

I felt Gretchen eye me as I made my way to the bathroom. I was tired of holding on so tight.

I needed some air.

Sanders

Well, I screwed up.

Roxy’s smile when I walked into Genie’s made me soar. She was beautiful with her hair flowing around her, the artistic flowers and designs on her arms fully on