Losing at Love (17 page)

Jasmine looked away, tying the silk belt around her waist and adjusting it in the mirror above the dresser. She didn’t need to watch Teddy turn on the charm with yet another unsuspecting female, but her eyes spied them in the mirror, Natalie’s hands expertly weaving the silk of his tie into a layered knot below his Adam’s apple.

She blinked and focused her eyes down at the dresser, grabbing her makeup bag and trying to concentrate on her eyeshadow options.

“Thanks,” Teddy said, and she couldn’t help it, her eyes were drawn back up just in time to see him squeeze Natalie’s elbow lightly. “Save me a dance tonight, okay?”

“Okay,” Natalie said and then Teddy was gone. “He’s nice.”

“Yeah, he’s great.” When he’s actually talking to you and actually being a friend instead of only coming to you when he needs his stupid tie tied, she added silently, grabbing her foundation and forgetting about the eye makeup. Her hand wouldn’t be steady enough yet anyway.

Just as she was about to swipe some concealer under her eyes, Indy moved into the room, wrapped in a cotton bathrobe, a towel still around her hair. “Hi,” she said to Natalie, looking to Jasmine for an explanation.

“I’m Natalie.”

“Yeah, I know. Um, I’m Indy.”

Natalie nodded. “Yeah, I know.”

“I’ll uh, let me just grab my dress and I’ll let you guys get ready,” Indy said, shaking out a little pile of gold fabric she dug out from the corner of her suitcase and taking her makeup bag as well.

Natalie turned and grimaced. “Are you sure it’s okay that I’m here?”

“It’s more than okay,” Jasmine said, shaking her head. “Come on, the cars’ll be here soon. Let’s just get ready. It’s going to be a fun night.”

~

The Wimbledon Pre-Party was mainly just a press event. There was a red carpet and a ton of photographers, but mostly it was just a chance for everyone to mill around and chat before the tournament got started in just a couple of days. The three cars that carried the coiffed inhabitants of Alex Russell’s townhouse pulled up to the party just late enough to be fashionable and not obnoxious. Most of tennis’s elite was already inside, but the photographers had stayed and as soon as Alex and Penny hit the carpet, it was obvious why. Tennis’s golden couple was even more in demand in London than they’d been in Paris. They posed separately, but the crowd of photographers jeered until Alex stepped up to his girlfriend, wrapping an arm around her waist, pulling her close.

“Such a shame that’s off the market,” Natalie sighed next to her and Jasmine snorted.

“That level of hotness really should be illegal,” she agreed with Natalie’s assessment. “Come on, we’re next.”

“Allow me?” Teddy said, offering Natalie his arm, who took it without hesitation, her sky blue dress in an odd twist of fate, perfectly matching the pinstripe in Teddy’s shirt.

Jasmine didn’t even have a chance to feel that usual pang in her stomach as a warm hand slid from her shoulder to her elbow, tucking her arm into the crook of his. “You look beautiful,” Paolo said and she felt the blood rush to her head, the sound of his voice making her shiver.

“Thank you,” she said, following his lead as he started down the carpet, guiding her closer to the photographer’s pool where Indy, blonde hair hanging in loose curls, that scrap of gold fabric actually a tube dress, was currently getting her picture taken while Jack stood off to the side.

“I wanted to ride in the car with you, but you were stolen away by your friend.”

“She’s excited to be here,” Jasmine explained.

“She should be and so should you. Come on, time to get your picture taken.”

“Only if you go with me,” she said, smiling up at him from beneath her lashes.

“Naturalmente,” Paolo said, leading her in front of the cameras.

The party was in full swing when they got inside, small groups standing at tables chatting, some people dancing, others sitting down munching on the free food.

“Come on,” Natalie said, grabbing Jasmine’s hand as the DJ cued up some house music, the bass pounding through her chest. “Are you two coming?” she called back to Paolo and Teddy who glanced at each other and then followed them out to the dance floor.

Jasmine let her new doubles partner twirl her in a circle before raising her hands over her head and letting her hips swirl in time to the music. It felt good to just let go for a moment, so she threw her head back and laughed. She’d worry about tennis tomorrow. Tonight was going to be fun.

The music was bad Euro techno trash, crap Jasmine wouldn’t normally listen to, even if they paid her, but bouncing around the dance floor with Natalie, joined after a song by Paolo and Teddy, was a blast. She sometimes caught a glimpse of Penny and Alex, who’d squirreled themselves away in a corner being absolutely disgustingly perfect, as usual. Jack and Indy had pretty much embraced the idea that people knew about them and from what she could tell, they were working the room together, looking like two Abercrombie models who had escaped from the pages of the catalogue.

Eventually, the music shifted into something she recognized, a rap song from the 90s about clearing your throat that her mom liked to jam to while cooking.

“I love this song,” Jasmine shouted to Natalie, but as the music shifted, so did the dancing and she felt two strong hands at her hips, fingers spreading across the material of her dress.

“Va bene?” Paolo growled into her ear and she nodded, stepping back into him a little, leading her body weight to settle against his chest, their lower bodies finding a slow, grinding rhythm.

Jasmine could remember being a little girl, maybe ten or eleven, and watching
Dirty Dancing
for the first time, wondering why anyone would dance like that with a boy, pressing sweaty bodies together to music that she didn’t really understand. A few years later, she wondered whether she ever would dance with a boy like that. And now here she was, with Paolo’s hand holding her loosely at the curve of her hipbone, the other trailing down her arm and as she pushed back against him harder, feeling just how much he wanted her. It wasn’t scary or intimidating; it was sexy as hell and it made her feel powerful.

Just a few feet away, Teddy and Natalie were dancing as well, but it wasn’t anything like what she was experiencing. She didn’t want to see it anyway, so she turned and faced Paolo, meeting his blue eyes with her brown.

“Do you want to go?” he asked, his hands meeting at the small of her back. She knew what he meant. Did she want to leave with him? Go back to Alex’s house? Find the closest flat surface and lose themselves in each other. Jasmine felt her throat tighten. She’d never done anything like that before, not really. The closest she’d come was with Teddy a few months ago and they’d definitely kept their clothes on. She opened her mouth, no idea what she was going to say, but then she felt someone tugging at her hand. Natalie was dragging her away from Paolo as the song ended.

“Come on, I need some air,” the younger girl said, pulling impatiently until Jasmine followed. But she looked back quickly, an apology in her eyes as Paolo was swallowed up by the crowd.

They stepped out into a small courtyard. It was fenced in and mostly made of brick and wrought iron with a few tables scattered around, probably used for outdoor eating during the day. Jasmine breathed the fresh air deeply in through her nose and sat on one of the tables, letting her feet dangle. Natalie stood a few feet away, looking up at the London night.

“It was insane in there,” Natalie said, moving closer.

“It was definitely hot,” Jasmine agreed, though she really wasn’t talking about the temperature.

“I’m sorry I let Teddy steal me away. He can really dance though!”

“It’s fine, I…” Jasmine trailed off, about to say that she considered Teddy nothing more than a friend, totally fair game and that she was really happy dancing with Paolo. She preferred the simplicity of his interest to the set of baggage that came along with Teddy. But instead, Natalie cut off what would have been an impressive ramble with a short but shocking as all hell kiss to her lips. Her mouth had been open just slightly so she could speak, but apparently, Natalie took that as an invitation to slip her tongue along Jasmine’s bottom lip and then briefly into her mouth before pulling away.

The shock passing quickly, Jasmine shook her head and jumped off the table, putting some suddenly much-needed space between them. “What the hell was that?”

“A kiss,” Natalie said, “Are you okay?”

“Um, no, I don’t—why did you—I don’t like girls. One hundred percent straight girl over here.”

Natalie wrinkled her nose. “Are you sure? I’m usually pretty good at picking up the vibes. You were so friendly and sweet and then you played it so cool and that was super sexy. Then you asked me to this party tonight as your plus one. I mean I just assumed, I guess, but this isn’t a date?”

Jasmine tried to push her mind past the idea that Natalie thought she was gay and tried to piece together the clues from the other girl’s perspective. It all clicked into place easily enough and she groaned. “I’m sorry, this is totally my fault. I didn’t realize how it would look if you were looking for…well I mean…I didn’t know that you were…and I can see how you’d think…I swear I would have been more clear if I’d known you were…”

“A lesbian,” Natalie finished for her, cutting off her stuttering. “I don’t really go shouting it from the rooftops, some people are still weird about it, but yeah, I am.”

“I’m not.”

Natalie laughed and nodded. “Yeah, that’s pretty clear now.”

“I mean, if I were, you’d probably be my type, but I’m not, and I don’t want you to think…”

“Jasmine, It’s fine. I mean, we’re cool right? No weirdness?”

“No, we’re fine. I mean, it was a little weird and I’m kind of flattered and oh God, Teddy’s going to be so disappointed.”

“I did notice that he was a little…interested?”

“Yeah, I think so…maybe.”

Natalie sighed. “And to think, a few minutes ago I felt sorry for him thinking he’d realize you were into girls.”

Jasmine didn’t quite understand what she meant, but she shrugged. “Look, this doesn’t mean that we can’t enjoy the party, right? We can go dance some more.”

“I’m putting up a good front right now, but I’m actually kind of mortified and I think I’m just going to head back to the hotel.”

“Are you sure?”

“Positive. Have Dom call my dad okay? They can schedule some doubles training time before the tournament starts.”

“Sounds good to me.”

Natalie disappeared inside, but Jasmine stayed where she was. The day just kept getting more and more surreal. She just needed to be by herself for a few minutes before facing the pulsing beat of the music and the intensity of Paolo’s attention. Maybe it had all been too much for one day. Maybe it was just time to call it a night.

She made her way back inside and almost immediately Paolo found her. “You disappeared,” he said, frowning, not looking put out, but definitely confused.

“I think…I think I just want to get out of here, if that’s okay?”

He nodded. “Of course, I’ll get a car to take us.”

Jasmine felt her heart skip a beat in panic. Did he think that she was trying to pick up right where they left off? That she was asking him to leave with her? “Oh, no, you don’t have to leave if you don’t want to.”

He must have heard the anxiety in her voice, in the raise in pitch, in the speed of her words. “Jasmine, relax. I want to go as well. I’ve had enough of this party and we are going to the same place, no?” He nodded his head to a man standing at the door and guided her toward the exit with a hand at her back.

“Hey guys,” Teddy said from just behind them, jogging to catch up. “Mind if I catch a ride back with you?”

Paolo looked to Jasmine, but she just shrugged and got in the taxi the valet had hailed for them. Paolo followed and then finally Teddy piled in behind them. Shifting beside her to make room, Paolo raised his arm and let it hang around her, his hand falling against shoulder.

The ride was silent, but clearly somewhere during the trip Teddy had come to the conclusion that they hadn’t just been leaving at the same time, but that they’d been leaving together. His arms were crossed over his chest and every thirty seconds or so he’d try to look past Paolo and catch Jasmine’s eye. She sat further back in the seat, avoiding his gaze, but bumping Paolo’s chest accidentally. “Sorry,” she whispered, not really feeling sorry for the unexpected contact.

“It is okay,” he said, but his hand released her shoulder and grasped the seatback instead.

The driver came to a halt at Alex’s house and Paolo reached forward to pay at the same time as Teddy.

“I’ve got it, man,” Teddy said, “I butted in on the ride. Only fair I pay.”

Paolo shrugged and pocketed the money as Teddy paid the driver. Jasmine got out on the street, ready to just call it a night, but Teddy intercepted her before she could reach the gate.

“Can we talk for a second?” he asked. Paolo raised an eyebrow at her and she nodded. With a shrug he retreated into the house and the car pulled away, leaving them alone on the street.

“You like that guy?” Teddy asked, stuffing his hands in his pockets and rocking back on his heels.

“Yeah, I think I do.”

“I don’t like him.”

“I don’t care if you don’t like him, Ted. It’s none of your business who I like.”

“Yeah it is. I’m your friend.”

“Are you? Because from where I’m standing, it doesn’t really seem like it. You totally checked out on me as soon as Amy showed up and in case you missed it, I’ve been going through a ton of shit since then and you’ve been completely MIA for all of it.”

“You seem like you’re doing just fine.”

“Yeah, well, I’m tougher than I look.”

“I’m starting to see that.”

“Good.”

“So…”

“So, I’m going to bed.”

“Whose bed?”

Jasmine swallowed back a shriek of frustration. She was going to her own bed to curl up and fall asleep, but that wasn’t the point. “None of your business,” she gritted out from between her teeth.

“Jas, guys like that….”

“Guys like what? Guys who are interested in me, Ted? Guys who don’t just like me as a friend? Guys who might want me? I said it’s none of your business. You’re my friend. You’re not my brother or my boyfriend, you don’t get a say.”