Black Number Four (23 page)

The limo pulls up right on time and I stand as still as I can, sweaty palms and shaking legs, in a line of my sisters waiting in front of the house. I nervously chew my thumb nail as the guys start to pile out, all looking mind-blowing in their fitted tuxes, but I know they won’t be anything compared to Kip when he finally emerges.

Ashlei swats my hand away. “Don’t you dare mess up that perfect manicure I worked on all afternoon. What the hell are you so nervous about?” I glare at her before rolling my eyes and she nods. “Well, yeah, I guess there’s the whole calling things off with Kip thing. But you’ve been prepping for this, you’re going to be fine. You sowed the seed last night and tonight is the last time you have to worry about it. You got this, Sky.”

“Lei, I’m not ready. I can’t do this. I don’t think I’ll survive if I do.” I look to her, my eyes pleading. She sighs, rubbing my arm with her hand.

“I’m afraid there’s not much of a choice at this point, Sky. You have to survive. You have to be strong.”

Easy for her to say.

“Hey,” she offers, nudging me. “You look incredible in that dress. Just smile, have fun, and wait ‘til the end of the night to do what you have to do. No shame in enjoying yourself, right?” She winks and I smile a little. She’s right. Just because this is the last night I’m going to spend with Kip doesn’t mean I have to be miserable the entire time. What could be so bad about going out with a bang? My dress is killer, a sheer red that fades into red and silver glittery sequins at the bottom. It’s an elegant halter top cut high at the neck, but the back cuts into a wide heart. It’s long and beautiful and I feel amazing in it.

So why not just feel amazing for a little while longer?

“Jesus, Skyler.”

I jerk my head up and find Kip’s neon blue eyes staring back at me. While I was off in la la land, he found his way out of the limo and up to the house, and now he’s standing in front of me in a charcoal tuxedo and black vest. The only red he sports is a pair of cuff links and his tie, which is just enough to make us match and also pull out the sexiness in his suit. His hair is styled, a strange sight compared to his usual casual, wind-blown look, and he’s missing his glasses.

“I kind of wish you would have worn your specs,” I say without thinking.

He chuckles, a beautiful half grin spreading across his face. It makes my panties wet and my knees weak at the same time.

Oh Lord, help me.

“Sorry to disappoint,” he says, still grinning. “But you…” His eyes trail down my body, blazing a fire in their wake and my skin falls victim to a wave of goose bumps. He locks his eyes back on mine before finishing his sentence, “You are sensational, Skyler. I wish I could write words to capture how beautiful you look right now.”

Damn him and his artsy brain.

“All right, fuckers, let’s go,” Kade says, breaking the spell Kip has me in. I almost forgot we were in college, for a second. “I need to pre-game if I’m going to be with all you damn couples.”

“Amen,” my Little says and I laugh, following them to the limo. Kip takes my hand in his and lifts it to his lips, placing a casual kiss on my knuckles as we walk. It’s so simple, a small gesture, but I stare at that spot on my skin as we walk, feeling the tingling burn from where his lips were pressed against it. I want to remember this, the way it feels to have him here with me this way. Even if I’m not allowed to, I want to file this away in a mental photo album.

I blink my eyes.
Click
.

“You okay there, squints?” Kip asks, smiling sideways at me.

I shake my head, embarrassed. “I’m fine. Something in my eye.”

Okay, nerd, pull it together.

Kip gets in the limo after everyone else and takes the last seat, causing me to stand awkwardly waiting for them to somehow make room. He offers a goofy smile and pulls me onto his lap, wrapping his arms around me as the driver shuts the door.

“What’s wrong, you going to act shy around me now?”

I flush red. “No. Maybe I didn’t want to sit on your lap, ever think of that?”

He looks a little hurt, his brows bunching together, but then he pulls me tighter and thrusts his hips up a little. I feel him through his pants, his hard on pressing into the fabric of my dress.

“Maybe I need you on my lap right now. Ever think of that?”

I swallow hard, turning to face him. His eyes are smoldering, hungry.

Kip leans forward, pressing his mouth against the sensitive skin behind my ear. “I can’t wait to get you out of this dress,” he whispers, his breath hot and husky.

Yep. And now there’s an ocean in my panties.

He pulls my mouth to his and kisses me hard, taking my breath away. Gently, he tugs my bottom lip between his teeth and moves to whisper in my ear again, “I love that fucking lip of yours.”

“Get a room!” Kade yells, throwing a balled up red napkin that hits Kip’s ear before falling into my lap. Kip laughs and tosses it back, but suddenly I’m all too aware of another set of eyes in the car.

Erin’s.

For the rest of the ride to the dance, I hold conversation with my sisters and ignore Kip, even when he lifts his hips a little to remind me he’s still there.

And holy hell, is he ever there.

When we finally arrive at the country club where the dance is being held, I climb out of the limo quickly, grabbing Kip’s hand and heading for the front door. My skin is hot, my breathing erratic. I need water before I pass out. No matter where I go tonight, no matter what I do, Erin’s eyes will be there. Watching me. Waiting for her cue.

I feel sick.

I stumble, my heel wobbling as my ankle turns on its side. Kip catches me in his arms, not letting me fall more than an inch.

“Whoa.” He steadies me, still holding me tight. “Are you okay?”

I nod, trying to fake a smile that won’t come. “I just need some water.”

Kip looks around before finding a waiter with a tray of drinks. He flags him down and grabs a tall, sweating glass of ice water. I pull it quickly to my lips and drink the entire glass.

“Skyler, are you sure you’re okay?” Kip asks again. Jess eyes me from across the room, a really cute Alpha Sig’s arm around her shoulder. She mouths the same question as Kip asks and I try to speak with my eyes, but I’m not sure what to tell them to say.

Hell no I’m not okay.

Yes, I’m fine, go back to your man friend.

Please, save me.

Really, it’s all good. I just needed some water.

Kill me now.

Kip grips my hands tighter, pulling my attention back to him. “Come with me,” he says, tugging me toward the side of the building. I follow, still shaking slightly. I need to pull my shit together. What the hell is happening? I have the best poker face in the game. Period.

So why is it failing me now?

Kip leads us to a small garden illuminated by small white lights strung from the trees. We find a bench and sit.

“Where’s my feisty poker girl?”

I sigh. “I’m sorry, I’m not feeling well. I’m not sure what’s wrong. I’ll be fine, I think I just needed to sit down for a second.” I smile, hoping like hell he doesn’t see right through me.

Judging by the scrutiny on his face, I’m like fucking glass I’m so transparent.

He smiles, dropping my hands to reach inside his jacket. “I got you something,” he says, pulling out a long black box. It’s velvet, large. A necklace. Definitely a necklace.

“I didn’t get you anything,” I whine.

“Trust me.” He eyes me, his gaze leaving my eyes long enough to give me a once over. “You in that dress is present enough. And once I get you out of it, it’ll be the best fucking gift ever.”

I laugh and shove him playfully. “Who said you were getting me out of it, Romeo?”

“Ah! There she is! I thought I lost you.”

I punch him softly and he shakes his head, still smiling. Slowly, he holds the box in front of me and opens the lid. “Happy Valentine’s Day.”

Inside is a pair of sunglasses. Not just any pair, but a pair of red Ray Ban aviators with silver reflective lenses.

“Oh my God,” I say breathlessly, fingering the glasses.

Kip laughs, pulling them out and sliding them on my face. “I knew I could count on you to be the kind of girl who would get excited over new poker shades.” He pulls back, eying me. “They look good.”

Quickly, he grabs his phone and pulls up the camera, turning the lens to face me so I can see my reflection. They do look good, and they match my dress, which really makes me want to wear them all night. Maybe they will give me superpowers.

And with these glasses, you will possess the power to break all hearts except your own.

With great power comes great responsibility, right?

God, I’m a nerd.

“I love them,” I say, slowly taking them off so I can see Kip’s eyes better. “I really fucking love them.” I throw my arms around his neck and pull him close, burying my nose in his neck. I inhale him, committing his scent to memory. Body wash and wheat. And something else that I can’t quite place, like a new ink pen on freshly printed paper, if that is even a scent.

I’m going to miss this.

I’m going to miss
him
.

Kip pulls back, kissing my lips. “Good, I was hoping you would. Now,” he says, standing and holding his hand out to me. “Let’s go inside. As much as I want to take you and find an empty broom closet, we can’t waste that dress.”

“Would a dark enclosed space really be a waste?”

He contemplates, his eyes rolling up to the sky. “Touché, my friend. But alas, I demand at least one dance before we move to the closet.”

I laugh, placing my hand in his.

“Deal.”

“So do you see what I’m saying? He’s more difficult to read than my fucking biology books!” My Little huffs, shoving her lip gloss back in her clutch. I shake my head, fixing my mascara in the mirror.

“Take control, Little,” I say, rolling the brush over my lashes. “Kade is young. Hot, but young. If you want him, make a move.”

“Ugh.” she sighs. “I’m not you, Big. I can’t just make a move. I’m confident, but I’m also traditional. I want him to ask
me
.” I shrug and she watches me apply my mascara, sucking her lip between her teeth.

“Ask me whatever it is you want to ask me before you chew off your bottom lip,” I say, giving her a sideways grin.

“Are you and Adam still a thing? Like, when this thing is over with Kip… are you going to date him again?”

I tuck my mascara bottle into the small silver sequin purse I brought and turn to face her, confused. “What? No, not even close. Adam was fun last year and we’re still good friends, but he’s president and he doesn’t have time for a girlfriend. And even if he did, it wouldn’t be me.”

“Why?” She follows quickly.

I shrug. “I don’t know, I’m just not into him like that anymore.” My Little has never asked me about Adam, not even when I was dating him. Why the sudden interest? “Why do you ask?”

She shrugs, turning back to the mirror. “I don’t know, I was just curious. Just wondering if you’d have someone to fall back on, I guess.” She says the words, but I know Cassie well enough to tell when she’s hiding something, and she definitely is. Does Adam still have a thing for me? Has he talked to her about me?

Oh good God, that is one meatball of drama I do not need on my plate of tangled noodles right now.

Jess, Ashlei and Erin burst into the bathroom, laughing as they push through the crowd of girls standing between us and them.

“J-Love is D-Runk,” Ashlei says, still giggling.

“I am not!” Jess counters through laughter, but she slurs her words a little. “I’m just having fun. You should try it.”

“No Violet Vulva tonight, J-Love?” I ask, quirking a brow.

She holds up her index finger and waves it side to side. “Nope. Let’s just say there’s a little garden that’s not so innocent anymore.”

“Ew!” We all scream, but then burst into laughter. Even Erin is laughing and seems relaxed, which makes me feel comfortable enough to goof off. We’ve been dancing all night and she’s acting cool, even when she sees me and Kip together. Maybe I was imagining things this morning.