Total pages in book: 68
Estimated words: 61851 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 309(@200wpm)___ 247(@250wpm)___ 206(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 61851 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 309(@200wpm)___ 247(@250wpm)___ 206(@300wpm)
He shot a warning glare at every guy in the vicinity, which was ridiculous, considering no one was paying him any attention. He did a quick sweep of the sitting area, then backtracked when he saw a pair of women he recognized. Peyton and Tiffany, two of Claire’s close girlfriends, were huddled around a table, their eyes watching the other girls at the bar. He searched for his ex, didn’t find her, and assumed she hadn’t joined her friends, causing him to exhale a sigh of relief. She was the last person he wanted to deal with tonight.
Determined to let Jessica have her fun, he made his way up to the VIP area and took a seat beside Asher, grateful it was a bit quieter up there. After greeting the other man, he ordered a ginger beer mojito mocktail from the waitress, then fell into an easy conversation with his friend.
“Sorry that my sister dragged you out tonight,” Derek said in a wry tone, certain that Asher could have found many other relaxing ways to spend the evening.
Asher shrugged, though he had a smile on his face. “Whatever makes her happy.”
Derek barely refrained from rolling his eyes. Yeah, the man was completely and totally whipped. “Well, witnessing my role as Jessica’s manservant clearly makes Nikki happy.”
“True,” Asher admitted with a smirk. “Along with being around people she likes and trusts. She doesn’t go out often, so I’m more than willing to indulge her when it’s something she wants to do.”
The waitress delivered his order, setting the glass down next to Asher’s. Derek took a sip of the lightweight drink, immediately wishing for a much stronger beverage.
“You know I would have ordered Dirty Dare Vodka if I wasn’t designated driver tonight,” he said of Asher’s liquor brand.
“Same here,” Asher replied, lifting his own nonalcoholic drink with a slight grimace. “But someone has to stay clear-headed in a place like this, with men like that.”
He pointed to the lower level, and Derek’s gaze automatically found the women. They each had a cocktail in hand and were already surrounded by vultures. He watched as four men talked to each woman. Nikki kept a discreet distance while attempting to listen to the man who’d chosen her. Maddie, Avery, and Jessica openly flirted with the other guys, with Jessica flipping her hair over her shoulder and laughing at something one of the idiots said.
“That shit doesn’t bother you?” he asked Asher.
“Damn straight it does. Watching some guy flirt with my fiancée pisses me off, but it’s a club, she’s beautiful, and guys are going to try and hit on her.” It didn’t escape Derek’s notice that Asher’s knuckles had turned white around his glass. “As long as no one touches her or puts her in an uncomfortable situation, I won’t have to break any jaws.”
“Wow, that’s so fucking logical and reasonable,” Derek muttered, which was the opposite of how he was feeling.
Asher smirked. “Well, that and she persuaded me to leave the caveman routine at home so she could enjoy the night out.”
Derek glanced at Asher curiously. “Persuaded?”
Asher laughed, the sound low and dirty. “Trust me, you don’t want to know.”
Catching his meaning, Derek put up a hand and quickly said, “You’re right, I don’t.”
They continued to watch the women, and after a while, Asher spoke again. “I’m not sure if Nikki told you, but your mother has been trying to reach her, leaving messages and texts,” he said, finishing his drink and signaling to the waitress for another.
Derek stiffened. Nikki had been tortured enough by their mother. “What for?” he asked, doing nothing to hide the sarcasm in his tone. “To apologize for being such a bitch and maybe, actually, show a little humility and motherly love?”
Asher barked out a laugh. “Hardly. Your sister won’t take her calls, so Collette has left voice mail messages trying to guilt her into attending your father’s upcoming political fundraiser next weekend, to ‘show a united front’ so you all look like one big happy family for the press and his donors.”
Which was all a fucking façade. They weren’t a happy family, and their mother’s aspirations—which exceeded their father’s—were the reason. But Collette Bettencourt was all about keeping up pretenses, even at the expense of her children’s well-being. For once, Nikki wasn’t allowing their mother to manipulate her into doing what she wanted.
Derek stood by Nikki’s decision and agreed with her reasons to sever ties with their parents, but he carried his own guilt for being in contact with them. He’d definitely put boundaries up with his mother, but he’d never had antagonistic issues with his father. Though he viewed the man as weak, he couldn’t bring himself to abandon him.
He exhaled a breath and scrubbed a hand along his jaw. “I’m not going to lie. It feels like I’m betraying Nikki by attending the fundraiser, but I agreed months ago. Not for my mother but to support my father.”