Page 101 of That First Night

“From the look on your face.” She smiles up at me. “You understand exactly what I’m referring to. You’re so stupid to think you can measure up to that girl.”

“I know exactly what you’re referring to, Sheila.”

“Good. I’m happy I could warn you so you can walk away from him before he walks away from you.”

“He won’t,” I tell her, the grin on my face growing.

“Again.” She laughs and shakes her head. “Delusional.”

“I may be,” I say as I take a couple of steps closer to her, closing the space between us so I can make sure she hears what I really have to say. “But fate has a funny way of working out, you know?”

She tips her head to the side in confusion while my grin spreads from ear to ear. I watch as the color drains from her face and the realization hits her right in that smug face of hers.

“I…” she starts.

“From the look on your face,” I throw her words back at her. “You understand where I’m going with this. That girl you’re referring to…” I pause and let it boil in her brain for a minute. “It’s me.”

“H-how? What? How did—”

“Fate, baby.” I smile down at her in her seat before I straighten my spine and take a step back again. “And I must say, you are missing out, Sheila. Thomas and James deserve the world that you couldn’t give them.”

“You can’t just play mommy dearest,” she scoffs.

“No, I can’t.” I shake my head. “But I will be there for him. Whatever he needs, he will have me. Both of them.”

“What aren’t you understanding?” She laughs. “Thomas is not capable of love.”

“Oh, but he is,” I smile. “And that man standing over there, I love him with every fiber of my being. You fucking missed out on the chance to have him. So, thank you.”

“Thank you?” she asks.

“Thank you for being the fucking bitch that you are and walking away from them.”

With my final words lingering in the air, I grab my purse and turn to walk away. My body is shaking because I can’t believe I just stood up to her like that. But no one talks about Thomas like that. No one talks about James like that. Fuck, no one talks tomelike that.

I feel my head beginning to pound from the adrenaline rush and I know that I need to go find Avery and tell her what just happened. Then I need to go find Thomas.

I head toward the hallway leading to the restrooms to find Avery. As soon as I enter the hallway, I find Avery coming through a supply closet door while fixing her dress with her hands as if to flatten it back down.

“What the—” I start to say but stop myself when I see Marc following behind her, adjusting his cuff links.

My anger from before has turned into laughter because Avery, one hundred percent, just fucked Marc in the supply closet. Or he fucked her? I feel like Avery is the type to take control in that situation, but then again, it’s always the quiet, soft ones you have to watch out for.

“Don’t say a word,” Avery growls.

“I don’t have to say a word.” I laugh. “You smell like sex and champagne.”

“Smells hot, doesn’t it?” She laughs and turns her gaze to Marc. “Nice doing business with you, big man.”

“Told you it was big, Princess,” Marc leans in to whisper but it’s loud enough for me to hear. Then his gaze meets mine. “Hello, Peyton.”

“Hey Marc.” I laugh. “Having a good night, I see?”

“You could say that.” He smiles down at Avery.

“Listen,” I say to stop this weird post-sex moment that these two are having. “I’m going to the bathroom and then I need to find Thomas.” My smile fades as I think about telling him she’s here.

“What’s wrong?” Avery asks as if she can sense the look on my face.