Chasing Him - Kat T. Masen Page 0,71
hands to himself.
This is getting old.
Yes, we’re all adults, and yes, on more than one occasion our sexual quirks have been talked about in an open forum. This, however, is dangling the carrot in front of the rabbit.
Julian drinks his gin along with several others and calls the waiter over once again. Grabbing two more glasses, I expect one is for me, but he is quick to down it in one go.
Tristan looks over to me with a worried expression. Something isn’t right.
“Dude, that’s hot.” Rocky is distracted by some ladies who walk past wearing short latex dresses. They wink hello, and he winks back causing Nikki to pull him onto the dance floor.
The champagne is settling nicely, and with my body already swaying of its own accord, I grab Julian’s hand and pull him onto the dance floor. The DJ mixes in the songs as Rihanna’s ‘Only Girl in the World’ starts to play. With his body against mine, he presses against me and moves his hips to the sound of the beat. I’m buckling underneath his touch, weak and full of desire. It only feels like us on the dance floor, and for once, for just a split second, I feel like the only girl he’s ever loved.
But illusions are distorted, and reality is like a giant slap to the face.
Lex and Charlie aren’t far from us, and once again, Lex is devouring his wife like no one else is watching, sliding his hands to places that should be left for the privacy of their own home. If it were anyone else, I’d continue staring, but I’m disgusted at their behavior. I know it’s just a giant pissing contest rather than just PDA, and plus, it’s Rocky’s birthday party, after all.
A few songs later, Julian asks to excuse himself leaving me with Nikki. Rocky has abandoned her to go dance with a group of his friends, and surprisingly, she allows it. Being with Nikki takes my mind off things. We dance for fun, copying moves from our favorite movies like Grease and Flashdance. Even Tristan and Eric join in, and with all the laughter and fun, I forget about Julian leaving.
I tell the guys I’m going to take a break and head back to our table to grab a drink. Water would’ve been the best option, but I stop the cute waiter and grab two flutes of champagne, almost chugging down the whole glass by the time I’m back at the table. Charlie is jumping around and begging Lex to dance again. He declines as she pouts, leaving him to join everyone else on the dance floor.
“I think I’m going to go find Julian,” I say.
“Why bother? He didn’t want to be here in the first place.”
“He’s just going through some stuff.” I’m not sure why I’m defending him. Even I don’t know what he’s going through.
“The same stuff he was going through when he was stalking Charlotte?”
“It isn’t like that, Lex. You don’t understand.”
“I understand perfectly clear, Adriana. It’s you who won’t listen. He came to LA because of Charlotte. It wasn’t a coincidence that he turned up at that gala and professed his undying love for her.”
“Well, okay, maybe back then—”
“And then he started following her, and, I swear on my life, he has entered our house.”
“Lex, you’re crazy, you know that? Okay, so maybe he followed her, but to break and enter? And for what reason?”
“Things started going missing. Things that belonged to Charlotte.”
Has my brother had a lobotomy? The lengths he will go to break us up is absurd.
“Is this some kind of sick joke? Julian wouldn’t stoop that low.”
“Think what you want, Adriana. He’s not the man you think he is. I bet every cent I have on that.”
We’re interrupted by Lex pulling out his cell. It’s some business emergency, and he motions that he is heading to a quieter area.
Nikki pushes her way through the crowd and asks me to help with the cake. Still worried about Julian, I look around but can’t see him anywhere. Nikki drags me toward the makeshift stage where a few waiters push out a cake. It’s on wheels, and on closer inspection, isn’t a real cake, and my gut feeling is that something is about to pop out and wish Rocky a happy birthday.
The lights surrounding the area dim, and the DJ remixes the birthday tune as Rocky takes to the stage. With a cheesy wide grin, he takes his place in the center as the