My attention focuses on her too long eyelashes, which brush nearly halfway down her cheeks. Her makeup is heavy, but done in a way that it doesn’t make her appear trashy, but rather modern, expressing flair and expertise.
Although she’s heavily made over, it’s undeniable that she’s gorgeous, and I briefly wonder if one of the guys here hired her as a stripper as my eyes glance back to her large chest that looks almost obscene squished into the top of her dress.
“Sure, Lacey …” I reach for her last name, hoping it will be something like cupcake, candy cane, or some other stripperesque name.
“Trust me, he’ll know,” she says, looking down at my dress and frowning before walking away.
“Seriously, I think my head is smaller than one of her boobs,” Abby says, staring after Lacey.
I turn back to see Kendall shove Jameson as he watches her walk away. I try to push her words away like her shove, not wanting to focus on if he’ll know who she is as I tell them I’m going to go look for Max.
“Wait, you left this here this morning, and I didn’t want someone to take it or use it,” Abby says, fishing in her bra and producing my cell phone. I smile appreciatively at her as I take it and kiss her cheek.
“Thanks, Abs.”
I wander through the crowd of people that seem to be multiplying and find Jesse hanging out with a couple of guys that I know. I briefly stand around with them to catch up when it dawns on me: I heard the name Lacey a few months ago when Wes had come over and we played drinking games. He’d been speaking to Max as I lay on the couch, ready to fall asleep. I’d only caught small bits, but I specifically recall hearing her name. Relief floods me as I assure myself she must be here for Wes.
I quickly excuse myself with the intent of seeking out Wes to confirm my suspicions and make my way to the kitchen where people mill around, drinking.
A large guy that has a crazy red beard is in the midst of a story that grows in volume as I approach. His arms fly out as he gets to a climactic moment, swiping a full cup of beer across the counter.
I quickly grab a roll of paper towels from under the sink and mop it up as a few people offer to help. I decline with a smile as I quickly clean it up and move to collecting some abandoned cups to toss in the garbage as well. As I return the paper towels, a flash of red out the kitchen window catches my eye and I straighten to see what’s going on.
My body stops as my eyes focus on the backyard. Lacey is walking across the yard. I’d intentionally left the lights off out there so people didn’t go outside and wake up any of the neighbors, but the lights from the street lamps and the neighbor’s back lights provide enough of a glow that I can clearly make out Max standing to the side of the house nearest the fence with his hands clasped, resting on the top of his head as he watches her approach him.
She places a hand on his chest and the party fades out. A stabbing sensation occurs in my own chest in the same spot her hand touches his. Max doesn’t move, but I can see him say something to her that makes her smile, intensifying my pain.
My heart races as the rational part of my brain demands for me to do something—open the window and say something, call him, look away, do anything but stand here like a statue and watch whatever this is—but my body feels as though it’s encased with lead as I watch her press herself against his larger frame and kiss him while Max stands there, not pushing her away or stopping her.
The self-preservation in me thankfully awakens, and my body spins around and falls against the sink. I feel immobile as my chest begins to throb with a foreign sensation I’ve never experienced. A loud clattering sound breaks me from my trance, and I look down to see my cell phone spinning on the floor a few feet from where I lean clutching my chest. I take a deep breath, feeling the hot pooling of tears in my eyes as I bend down to retrieve it.
I fight to keep my composure as pain inflicts my every thought. I need to get out. Get out of this house, out of these clothes, just out.
“Hey, hey, what’s wrong?” I look up to see Kendall striding toward me with concern carved across her face.
I shake my head and her eyes grow as she gets closer and wraps an arm around me. “Ace, you’re freaking me out. What happened?”
“I just saw Max kissing someone,” I whisper. “I need to get out of here.” I look into her eyes to convey the need that I feel, and she instantly nods and peers around the room with a look of anxiousness.
“Who was it?” I shake my head.
“Does it matter?”
“I’ll go with you.”
“I need to find my keys and my purse,” I explain, feeling myself unraveling.
“Hey, Ace, do you want to do cake soon? I think we should probably do it before people drink much more. Otherwise, I fear what people will do with it.” I turn to see Wes and feel a couple of traitor tears slide down cheek.
I brush them away with the back of my hand and try to make it look like I’m simply smoothing my hair as I clear my throat, trying to keep it together. “That’s probably a good idea. They’re all in the fridge. You want to get it all set up?”
“What’s wrong?” Wes asks, not accepting my act. “Did someone say or do something to you?”
I shake my head, feeling the tears growing in my eyes with the sympathy he’s giving me. “I just need to go.” I drop my gaze.
“I’ll find your purse,” Kendall says. “Go outside. I’ll be there in just a second, okay?”
I nod and keep my head lowered as I make a beeline for the front door. My mind replays the sight of Max and Lacey again and again as I travel the short distance to my car. Self-preservation loses to the analytical part of my brain that continuously bitch slaps me with the images.
“Ace, what’s going on?” I hear Wes following me and pray he’ll stop as I break through a final group and make my way outside. I don’t bother confirming if he’s following because I’ve lost my composure. Hell, I’m barely standing.
I place my hands on the hood of my car and let my head hang as I hear the clear indication of Wes following me.
“You’re scaring me, Ace,” he says softly as he gently wraps an arm around my shoulders and somehow maneuvers me so I’m facing him. I don’t fight him until he tries pulling me closer to him. Keeping my tear-clouded gaze focused on the driveway, I take a step back. “Come on, I’ll take you home. When you’re ready to talk—”
I shake my head before he can finish. “You should stay.” My voice is thick with tears, and I sniff as my nose begins to run, wiping at the tears that have my face hot and sticky.
“Ace, I’m not leaving you here like this.”
“I’m fine.” The words come out loud and aggressive as I finally look up to see him. I know that the anger I’m feeling isn’t being appropriately directed, but I can’t seem to stop. Wes doesn’t flinch at my outburst. Instead, he takes a step closer and watches the tears coat my cheeks, looking like my pain is causing him to hurt as well.
“What’s going on, Ace? You can tell me. Do you need me to get Max?” He takes another step closer, and I lift my hand for him to stop.
“Max and I …” I start, but my throat swells with tears, preventing me from finishing my sentence. I squeeze my eyes closed and shake my head.
“You’re kidding!” he whispers, mirroring my anger.
I shake my head once, gulping a breath of air, and then turn my face to the sky. The new angle allows a new course for my tears to slide along my temples. “I saw him kissing some girl.” I wipe at the tears again in a futile effort. “I just need to get out of here.”
“Ace, he’s the biggest dumbass in the world,” he says adamantly, taking another step closer to me.
The mental image of her floods my mind, and I shake my head as more tears cloud my vision. “No, she’s beautiful,” I admit in a whisper.
Wes takes another step and envelops me in his arms. I know that the act is to console me, however, having one of my cheating boyfriend’s best friends be the one that comforts me at this moment just doesn’t seem appealing. I shove against his chest, forcing him to release his hold.