Seductive Chaos
Page 9

I had gone on to be employed as a secretary for an overly touchy attorney and a hostess at the local country club. Neither had worked out and I had been job free for almost three months.
My parents graciously covered my expenses and they did so with minimal scolding. Though I knew I was disappointing them. It was a feeling I wasn’t overly familiar with. In their eyes I had always been able to do no wrong. I was smart and popular and had an uncanny ability to always get what I wanted.
My siblings had always joked that I was the favorite. And maybe they were right. I had always been treated a little differently just for being awesome.
But as the years passed I found that I could no longer rest on the laurels of my youth. My sister and brother had amazing jobs and now my parents were starting to look at me, wondering what had gone wrong with their perfect little girl.
Because here I was, twenty-four years old, screwing a wannabe rock star with serious commitment issues, and a resume that could only include questionable skills such as beer pong champion and an impressive ability to experience multiple orgasms.
There was more to me than that.
I hadn’t expected much when I applied on a whim for an Events Coordinator position at The Claremont Center for the Performing Arts. It seemed like the perfect blend of respectable employment and throwing outrageous parties. It was almost too perfect. I hadn’t believed I had a chance in hell at landing it.
So when I was called in for an interview and then a second interview, I had been shocked. And I had almost keeled over when the Assistant Director of Marketing had phoned to offer me the job.
I was due to start on Tuesday. Which is why I had planned to fly back tonight. I wanted Monday to prepare myself for what lay ahead. This was my official launch into adulthood. Sure, I had been hanging out in the deep end for a few years but I had kept one foot firmly in the kiddie pool.
This was my chance to show my parents that I didn’t suck. I wanted to feel like I was at least trying to accomplish something with my life.
Yet here I was, planning to stay in Dallas another night, all because my f**k buddy wanted me to.
Way to have your priorities straight, Vivian.
“I didn’t mean it like that,” Maysie said sheepishly and I tried to rein in my bristling temper.
“So what will you be doing?” Riley asked.
Before I could answer, I noticed a group of so hot it should be illegal men walking into the restaurant. The boys of Generation Rejects had arrived.
Jordan was talking to Riley’s boyfriend, Garrett who was his usual grungtastic self. He would be gorgeous if not for that stringy blond hair and no sense of style. But seeing the way Riley’s face lit up when she saw him, I knew that his ability to coordinate outfits wasn’t even a factor.
Jordan and Garrett bee-lined for our table. I tried not to feel a twinge of jealousy as Garrett leaned down and kissed the top of Riley’s head. She smiled; a genuine, full-lipped smile that was so dazzling it took me aback.
They were such an unlikely couple. But now, watching them, and despite how different they were, you could see how much they loved each other. It was times like this, when I was face to face with the fabulousness of my friends’ love lives that I felt like I was missing something. Most of the time I was okay with things.
But I was a woman damn it! And I wanted to feel loved and adored as much as the next girl.
I can’t get enough. I’m addicted to you.
Cole’s words from that morning rang in my ears. When he was sweet and caring it made me think that maybe one day. . .
It was official. I was an idiot.
My eyes flitted over to Cole, who was standing with Mitch at the entryway to the restaurant. Cole was chatting up the cute and overly flirtatious hostess. I recognized the sexy smirk all too well.
The hostess, a pretty little thing with dark red hair and pert little br**sts, brushed her fingers over Cole’s arm and his grin grew wider. The two walked a few steps away from Mitch and I could see they were engaged in a very private conversation.
I felt my face go hot and my temper start to flare.
Maybe one day my ass!
I hated how easily he made me look like a fool.
I hated that Cole humiliated me without a second thought.
I hated that he made me feel as though I didn’t matter, despite all of his protests to the contrary just hours before.
‘I’m addicted to you’ apparently didn’t equate to I won’t make you look like the world’s biggest moron.
Mitch seemed to get bored with waiting for Cole, so he came over to join our table. He sat down beside Gracie, who blushed strangely. They gave each other a shy smile, their heads bowed in close together.
Normally I would have paid a bit more attention to that. But right now I was trying to control my need for blood.
I caught Maysie looking at me with that mixture of sympathy and frustration that was becoming all too familiar.
I purposefully turned away from my friend and thought about how best to react.
I watched as the hostess wrote something down on a piece of paper and Cole tucked it into his pocket.
I wanted to scream.
I wanted to flip over the table.
I wanted to rip the trampy hostess’ hair out.
Then I caught Cole’s less than subtle glance my way. Our eyes clashed and I knew instantly that he was more than aware of what he was doing.
He was silently daring me to act.
He wanted me to.
I could almost smell his excitement from here.
The red head hostess touched his arm again, but his attention stayed on me. I knew what he wanted from me. What he expected.