"don't go, baby." jack whines, hugging me tightly around my waist and refusing to let me go.
"i'll see you afterward." i smile.
"promise me you'll let me take this dress off you after." he holds a pinky out.
"i promise." i link our pinkies together and he kisses me briefly.
as if on cue, there's a knock on the front door and i already know that it's adrian. jack frowns as he watches me head to the door. i wave him off and he narrows his eyes at me, not satisfied with the fact that i'm going to an event with another boy.
i open up the front door and adrian stands there, smiling at me, holding a single white rose in front of him. i look up at him questionably.
"you look amazing." he compliments and my smile grows.
"thank you, so do you-"
"have her home by 8:30! no less or else i'll whoop your ass!" jack calls out and adrian chuckles.
"i'll get you home by 8:31." he whispers.
i laugh and he pushes the white rose toward me. i thank him and go to set it on the counter. knowing jack, it'll probably be in the trash can by the time i get back home.
"shall we go?" i ask adrian, putting on my best english accent.
"we shall, my lady." he grins.
i playfully lock arms with him and skip down the hall, trying not to trip on my extremely long dress. it's the exact same color as adrian's tie and it makes me feel accomplished.
"just a warning, my family can be a little loud and outgoing. i'll apologize in advance."
"i like loud and outgoing people." i tell him to make him feel more comfortable with the fact that he's bringing me.
"and there's going to be roughly 400 people there." he adds, defining a bit.
my eyes widen. a large crowd. watch me be the odd one out while i try my best to blend in. adrian helps me get into his silver wrapped car and we drive off into the direction of the venue.
"i love this song." i gasp, turning up the volume.
adrian laughs, glancing at me. i dance around in my seat, not caring if i'm embarrassing myself in front of him.
"wow, i forgot how well you dance." he speaks up. "i look forward to dancing with you at the wedding."
"of course!"
i sing along to work and half of it i can't even understand. before i know it, we've made it to the venue and managed to find a good spot in the crammed parking lot.
"you got a good spot." i say.
"actually, i kind of told my brother to save me it. shh."
a laugh erupts from the throat and i fix my dress. adrian holds an arm out for me and i willingly take it, not wanting to fall face first on this concrete.
"our table is with some of my family if that's okay with you." adrian mentions.
"it's more than okay."
all i want to do right now is try and comfort him because i can tell that he is super nervous. that's the last thing i want him to be. i want him to enjoy today.
"the ceremony was earlier today and it was just family. sorry." he apologizes.
my eyebrows raise for a second, but i give him an understanding look. so this is the afterparty technically. we both enter and some people's eyes are already locked on us.
now i feel like we're late because of the crazy amount of people that are packed inside. a lady spots us instantly and shouts adrian's name, motioning to us to go over there.
"and that is my grandmother." he laughs, waving at her back.
"she looks lovely." i tell him, practically hanging onto his arm for dear life now.
that definitely sparked way more attention, but adrian is all smiles, greeting people who say hello to him.
"hey." he casually greets everyone at the table.
"who is this stunning young lady!" a boy hollers at the table.
"settle down." adrian snaps at him, his eyes hardening instantly.
i bite my lip and just smile, waiting for adrian to go on.
"everyone, this is my plus one, nova." he announces. "nova, that's the son of a bitch groom liam, amy the bride, my mom and dad, my grandma and grandpa."
well, his brother is very loud and way younger than i thought. he's just as good looking as adrian might as well let them be the new beckham family.
"language, adrian." his mom basically shoots daggers at him.
"yeah, language, adrian." liam mocks, but then his eyes scan me... and my body.
"oh, let's get pictures of you with your date, dear!" adrian's grandma exclaims and he chuckles, shaking his head no.
"let's not." he replies, causing her to frown a little.
i glare up at him and then smile, "pictures are fine."
"liam, amy, get in the picture too." she demands, making a groan escape liam's lip.
amy smacks his arm, but smiles, standing from her chair to stand next to me and adrian for photos. liam doesn't seem so happy and it's his wedding night. a whole lot of flashes go off, practically blinding me temporarily.
"that's enough." adrian calls, ceasing all of the older people taking pictures.
he straightens his tie and sits down, pulling me onto the chair next to him.
"haven't even been here five minutes and they're already being so-"
"don't worry about it." i tell him, putting my hand on his leg.
when i've realized what i did, i immediately take my hand off and cough to cover it up. adrian's mother passes us both glasses of champagne and i look at him in panic. i'm not old enough to drink yet.
"you're fine." he assures me, drinking the bubbly.
of course he can. he's twenty one and i'm only twenty. i reluctantly take a sip and adrian's mom asks me a question.
"how long have you two been seeing each other?"
i nearly choke on my drink, "oh, no we're not-"
"it's not like that mom." adrian shakes his head. "we're good friends."
if you call almost sleeping with each other 'good friends' then sure.
"and we are going to get food." he adds, dragging me along with him.
"they're nice people."
"they're embarrassing." he mutters and i pinch his cheeks, trying to lighten up his mood. "see, you do things like pinch my cheeks and touch my leg. maybe that's why people think we're together."
"or maybe it's the fact that you brought me as your plus one." i retort and he narrows his eyes, but smiles a little.
someone, who looks to be our age, places their hand on adrian's shoulder and he smiles, looking back at the man. they both begun a conversation literally in the middle of the dance floor.
i take this as a chance to leave him alone off a little to get my own food. i scan my eyes over the entrees and someone stands awfully close to me. i look up to see adrian's brother. he flashes me a smile and i give him one back.
"enjoying yourself?" he asks me and i nod my head, wanting to be polite. "you don't recognize me, do you?"
i shake my head, "what?"
"i figured because if you did recognize me, you'd be kissing my ass." he chuckles. "maybe if i pulled up my shirt you'd recognize me."
"what?" i repeat, looking at him like he's grown two heads.
"relax, i model." he clarifies and relief washes over me. "been on the cover of hugo boss and calvin klein, twice." he flaunts. "working on vogue."
"really? now i feel a little dumb for not recognizing you."
must be why there are so many damn people in this little party. he's well known.
"don't worry about it. i'm glad you didn't recognize me. do you need a drink?" liam questions, changing the subject.
"no, i'm not old enough to drink." i laugh, feeling a little embarrassed.
"really?"
"yeah, but don't tell anyone i had a little sip of champagne." i joke.
he chuckles, "my brother does know how to pick them. hot and innocent." he murmurs, biting his bottom lip.
my eyebrows raise and i glance around. how is he being so casual and slick. would've thought that people would be bombarding him all week.
"excuse me?"
he leaves me a wink before walking away. what was that about? now suddenly feeling uncomfortable, i return to where adrian is and grab his wrist. that pulls him away from his conversation for one a second.
"was i talking for too long?"
"no, you're fine, but um... i'm pretty sure your brother was flirting with me." i tell him.
he clenches his jaw, "that bastard."
before i can reply and protest, he's storming off to find his brother. i lift my dress a little, not wanting to trip.
"adrian!" i call out. "it's fine!"
he harshly turns around and i almost collide into his talk and solid figure. his eyebrows are drawn in and he looks mad.
"he just got married today. he needs to quit the act of flirting with people when he's clearly taken."
my eyes widen at his tone, "it's seriously fine."
"did he touch you?"
"no, he didn't."
adrian visibly relaxes and he nods his head. liam was just being a little inappropriate that's all.
*
"thank you for tonight, i had fun." i assure adrian and that's enough to satisfy him.
"i'm happy you had fun and i am not looking forward to my grandma bugging me with questions about you." he groans.
i poke his arm, "she's one of the funniest people i've ever met."
"right after me."
i laugh, "yes, after you, but thank you again."
"i'll see you? hopefully?"
"yes and please, don't beat your brothers ass for tonight."
"no promises." he calls out as i get out of the car and shut the door.
who knew that i would get so comfortable with strangers so quickly. i finger comb my hair quickly, heading up to my apartment room. hopefully jack is sleeping right now because i went way over the set curfew.
i get back inside of my apartment, all smiley and giddy. i had an amazing time with adrian and his family. they're all so welcoming, but of course, all of those feelings vanish when i hear an icy cold voice.
"what the hell are these pictures?"
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