Beautiful and Broken (15 page)

I shrug. He does have a point.

“You?”
 

“Guilted into it by Amy, whose date cancelled on her.”

“Also a good cause.”

I chuckle. “If you say so.”

We reach the foyer and take a left, walking down the hallway to the outdoor terrace which is covered with a pergola and delicate white lights. There’s a garden surrounding us and the smell of red roses permeates the air. I drink it in.
 

“I love the smell of roses.” I take a seat on one of the three benches. Thankfully, we’re alone—I mean, not because I want to be alone with him but because I don’t want to be social right now. Although somehow I don’t mind his company. He did save me from my mother, after all.
 

“You look stunning, by the way,” he says.

He takes a seat beside me and I lean to the left to knock shoulders. “You don’t have to say that.”

“I never say things I don’t mean.”

I turn to meet his eyes. There it is again: the vulnerable lost boy trapped in a tough man’s body. He is such a contradiction and it completely reels me in.
 

“You’re not at all who I thought you were.”

He huffs. “Who did you think I was? Dumb fighter who couldn’t carry on a conversation?”

I feel a pang of guilt. I kind of did, though without ever meaning to. “Maybe. I just didn’t think we would have anything to talk about. Don’t get me wrong.” I wave a hand in front of my chest. “We’re probably complete opposites, but somehow there’s something about you that’s familiar.”

“Maybe because I’ve been inside of you?” He flashes me a dirty smile.
 

I swallow hard as I stare at his pouty bottom lip. If I thought the room was hot before, now it’s smoldering. I massage my neck and look to my feet before chuckling without humor. “I don’t even remember it.”
 

He places a hand over his heart. “Wow. Can’t say I’ve been told that before.”

“Oh my God, no! I mean…I was just so drunk. I don’t remember the...you know. I’m so sorry.”

“
I
remember
you.
”
 

“You said that. But you were drunk too? What is it about me that you remember? And I bet the girls you take home are ten times prettier and probably much more experienced, if you know what I mean.” I could feel the heat in my cheeks. Why was I telling him all of this? Just shut up, Molly. Shut. Up.

For a long moment, he stares up at the stars and says nothing. I assume he isn’t going to answer until he turns back to me. His eyes make me uncomfortable, like he can see right through me, right down to my soul. And my body clenches just thinking about what it must have been like to feel him inside of me. My underwear's damp just thinking about it.
 

“We were fucking," he says, "and all of sudden you started crying.”

Oh no. I’m so embarrassed. I cover my face to hide from him, shaking my head.

“I asked you if you wanted to stop and you said you didn’t. You said someone broke your heart and you needed to feel something different for a little while.”

“Wow. I bet you wished you brought home someone with a little less drama.”
 

“The way you looked at me, the way you seemed to break right underneath me, all I could think about was what it must feel like to have someone love you that much.” He leaned his elbows on his knees and clamped his hands together.

Instinctively, my hands raise to cover my heart. There are no words to respond to how he makes me feel in this moment. Who is this guy? No one has ever said anything so…completely touching to me before. It renders me speechless.

Twelve

SAWYER AND I leave the terrace. But I don’t want to—not really. Part of me wants to stay out there with him. For a few moments, I forget about how anxious the ballroom makes me. I can just be me, with someone who seems to appreciate it. But I can’t stay out here forever, forgetting that the rest of the world doesn’t exist. I need to get back inside before Amy starts looking for me—tonight is her night and I need to be here for her.
 

I'm drawn to him. I want to know more about him, what makes him tick, what he looks like on top of me. Stop! No. I just broke up with a guy who broke my heart, and I’m contemplating getting back with him. The last thing I need right now is to jump into something with a guy I barely know—especially one that makes me weak in the knees.
 

Amy finds me by the hors d'oeuvres. Sawyer has stepped back out for a phone call, and my mother is eyeing me like a predator.
 

“Oh my God! I’m so sorry. You probably hate me right now,” Amy says.
 

“It’s fine. But you didn’t tell me my parents were coming. Or Sawyer…”

She grits her teeth with her lips parted. “I must have forgotten.”

“Sure. Sure. Did you fix whatever you needed to fix?”

She frowns and takes my hand. “Just a couple more things, and I swear I’m yours for the night.”

“It’s going great. You should be proud.”

“So far, so good. I’ll be back as soon as I can.”

I nod and continue sipping champagne. I want more, but the last thing I need is to get drunk around my mother or Sawyer. My mother, I would probably tell off. And well, considering how horny I am right now, I would probably sneak off with Sawyer if he offered. What's happening to me? Break up with one guy and fall into bed with another? That’s not who I am. I see Sawyer across the crowd. His jacket is still off and I can see the curves of his shoulders and chest.
 

I chug my drink and head for the bathroom, tripping on a red carpet in the hallway.
 

One thing I hate about dressing up? Yanking down my pantyhose in a too-small stall and then trying to pull them back up. I swear once you take ‘em down, they never quite fit again. I feel like the seam is riding up my ass.
 

When I exit, a cleaning lady is staring at me and I jump back in fright. I hadn’t even heard her come in.
 

“Toilet backed up,” she says.

“Okay.”

“I lock door and when you leave, you close it. Maintenance come.”

“Sure.”

She leaves and takes her no-nonsense attitude with her. After I wash my hands, I head out only to find myself pulled back to the door. I crash into it with my back and walk away only to be pulled back again. What. The. Fuck? My dress is caught. This could only could this happen to me on a night I’m supposed to be glamorous—I’m trapped and pinned to a bathroom door, which contains a plugged toilet.
 

Shit.
 

I tug and tug. The door is locked. Of course. The cleaner told me it would be. Of all the stupid luck. The more I pull, the more my dress pulls until I’m almost flashing nipple. Then, riiiippppp!

The slit in the back of my dress rips up to my waist. Oh. My. God. I reach around and grab my dress and pull for all I’m worth until it finally comes free. I feel my ass to find my thong showing, and no amount of pulling it back together again will fix this humpty dumpty. I hug the wall, placing my back against it so I can feel the cold of the it. I walk along it, side stepping and smiling as people pass me, giving me curious stares.
 

This is not happening.
 

“Molly?”
 

Fuck. Sawyer. Of course I would run into him now.
 

I hold my head up high. “Hey, Sawyer. Having a good time?”

“Not as much as you.” He cranes his head to the side and I turn as much as I can without flashing my ass to the rest of the people in the foyer. “I thought I saw some leg before, but…” He whistles at me.
 

I groan at him. “Can you help me, please?”

He chuckles and holds out his coat. I slip it on and thankfully it comes just below my ass. “Thank you so much.”

Smiling, he shrugs at me. “Thank you. You just made this night worth my time.”

I frown at him. “I need to get out of here.”

I yank out my phone and text Amy.
 

911. Had to leave. So, so sorry. Will make it up to you. Enjoy the night. You earned it.

“Come on,” he says, holding out his arm. “I’ll take you home.”

I sidle up beside him, and he wraps his arm around me. Whenever necessary, I rotate to avoid showing my ass. We’re almost at the entrance when my mother finds us.
 

“Leaving so soon?” she asks, her eyes glued to Sawyer’s jacket which covers my top half. I’d have my own jacket on right now if I hadn’t brought a stupid shawl that barely covered my arms.

“Yes. I’m not…feeling well. And Sawyer offered me a ride home.”

“That’s not necessary. Your father and I are leaving shortly. We’ll drive you.”

“No. He’s leaving now. I just want to get home. I have…this stupid headache. It just won’t go away.”

My mother’s look turns to ice, like she could dive for Sawyer and rip him apart with her canines. I'll probably have a phone call from her early in the morning about making good choices, and I'll hate every single minute of it.
 

“Well if you’re sure.”

“Thanks, Mom.”
 

We waddle out, awkwardly I might add, because I know my mother’s eyes are glued to us. I can feel her death stare heating up my back.
 

“I fight some pretty scary dudes, but your mother one-ups them all,” he says.

“You’ve no idea.”

***

Sawyer drives me home in his Jeep. No limo for him tonight. Somehow it suits him. He has money but doesn’t feel the need to flash it around. I respect that about him. I also respect that I would never know he had money if I didn’t know what his budget was for a house. He’s simple, but in a complicated way, if that makes any sense.
 

He slows to a crawl in front of Amy’s building and puts the car in park. His eyes are on my face and I feel uncomfortable. For a second, it feels like a date and we’re deciding whether or not to kiss. I give myself a mental shake and open the door.

“Thanks. For everything.” I clutch the front of the jacket. “Is it okay if I borrow this? Maybe give it back to you when I’m wearing something that doesn’t display my ass.”

“Oh, but it’s a great ass.”
 

I make a face.
 

“I’m teasing. Jacket's yours. Keep it. If I’m lucky, I won’t ever have to suit up again.”
 

“What if you come across another damsel in distress?”

He chuckles. “Somehow I doubt I’ll come across another girl who lost the ass end of her dress at a formal event.”

“You have me there.” I open the door and turn before shutting it. “So I guess I’ll call you?” Wow. This does feel like a date. “I mean, about some more go-sees.”

“Of course.” His face is alive with humor and it makes the corners of his eyes crinkle. “What else would you mean?”

I slam the door and give him a little wave. As I walk to the building, I pick through my purse. Shit! My keys. I didn’t bring them because I was out with Amy, and I’m not on the lease. The doormen won’t let me in without them.
 

When I turn, Sawyer is pulling away and I wave like a mad woman and scream his name. He slams on the breaks and slowly backs up. The passenger window rolls down with a quiet buzz.
 

“Forget something?”

“Yeah. My keys.”

“Hop in. You can hang at my place until your roommate gets home.”
 

“Oh, no. That’s okay. Maybe you could drop me back at the party?”

“Did you forget you missing part of your dress?”

Shit. “Right. Do you mind?”

He leans across the seat and opens the door for me. I hop inside and shiver from the quick change in temperature. “What are friends for?”

Hm. Friends. Is that what we are? Oddly enough, there’s a certain amount of truth to it. It strikes me funny that I find myself feeling this comfortable around a guy I had casual sex with—but don’t want a relationship with. He seems to feel the same—maybe. This is new territory for me. Very new.
 

“Thanks again,” I say before the elevator dings and the doors open. He waves for me to go first, but I shake my head.
 

“Nuh huh. You don’t need to see more of me than you already have.”

He leans against the elevator wall, chuckling. He pushes off and removes his wallet to pull out his key card. A short stroll down the hall, where a lady with a dog in her purse glares at me, and we reach his room.

“Do you know that lady?”

“She’s been staying in the room next door and she’s caught a few girls leaving my room in the mornings. Needless to say she doesn’t have a lot of respect for me.”

“Imagine that.”

“Be nice. I just saved your
ass
.”

“Ha ha.”

He opens the door and I step inside.
 

“I’ll get you something to change into.”

“That would be fantastic.”

I make my way over to the wall of windows and look down at the city below. The moon is pale, with a soft pink hue to it. It’s quiet up here looking down over everyone. Did I do this the night I slept with him? It frustrates me that I still can’t remember.

“Sorry. I don’t exactly have anything in your size.”

Sawyer comes out of the bathroom, holding out a pair of plaid pajama pants and a faded blue t-shirt. I take them and excuse myself to go to the bathroom. His pants aren’t as big on me as I thought they’d be, but I have to roll up the bottoms. The shirt is a bit big, but just enough to be comfortable. I hold up my dress and check out the damage. Wow. Totally not fixable. I ball it up and when I come out I throw it in the trashcan by the door. I’ll have to insist on paying Amy for it and hope she’s not too mad at me.

“So what now?” I ask him.

He quirks an eyebrow. “Round two?”

I almost choke and disguise it with a cough. I have no idea if he’s serious or not. My body’s game, but my head certainly isn't.
 

“I thought you said we’re friends?”

“Close friends?” He takes a step toward me, and I’m still on the fence about whether or not he’s teasing me.