Read Online Finally by Scarlett Metal - Free Book Online

functions my parents make me go to, there’s no time for fun,” she said, rolling her eyes and adjusting the bracelet on her wrist with a shrug. Even though she seemed to have no time, she was always dressed in the latest fashion, wearing the trendiest clothes and jewelry.
    She suddenly eyed Marcus standing next to me and held out her hand for him to shake. “And this fine man must be Marcus,” she said with a sly smile. “I’m Madison.”
    He took her hand with a wink and a smile. “Nice to meet you, Madison,” he said.
    Madison looked over at me. “You were right, he is hot,” she muttered under her breath, and I felt my cheeks get warm with embarrassment.
    Marcus slipped his arm around my waist and pulled me against him. “So you’ve been telling your friends I’m hot, huh,” he whispered, his lips on my ear.
    “Oh sweetie, that’s not all she’s told us about you,” Madison said before I even had a chance to answer him.
    “Thanks, Madison,” I said, rolling my eyes at her. “Now where is everyone else?”
    “Over here.” She turned with a grin and headed to the bar. Marcus grabbed my hand still chuckling as we followed Madison over to the rest of my friends. I loved that he wasn’t afraid to show affection in front of my friends he’d never met before.
    “Hey girlie!” Amanda said with a grin from behind the bar as we approached her. “You look good. See what a little sex can do for you?”
    “Mandy!” I said, super nervous now at what else Amanda would say with Marcus there. Madison was tame compared to the some of the things my best friend could say. I motioned to Marcus. “Amanda, this is Marcus, Marcus, this is my best friend Amanda.”
    He shook her hand from across the bar. “It’s nice to finally meet you,” he said. “I’ve heard lots about you.”
    Amanda raised an eyebrow. “Likewise,” she said, looking over at me with a sly grin.
    I introduced Marcus to the rest of my friends. I was happy to see my friend Charity there. She was going through a nasty divorce and I knew she needed some fun. My friend Isabel was also there with her husband Steve. They didn’t get to the city often and it was great, if not a little overwhelming, that they were all there to meet Marcus.
    As I watched him talk sports with Steve, I couldn’t help but wonder what he was thinking. He seemed to fit in so well with my friends. Was he ok with meeting them all even though this was just a fling? And about that. Was this just a fling? I was kidding myself if still thought that. Did we try the long distance thing? How did I ask Marcus to just give up his life and move here? Or did I move there? Something like that was huge to bring up, especially after just a few days. Did I dare?
    Just then Amanda nudged my arm. “You like him don’t you?” she leaned over and whispered into my ear. “I can tell by the way you look at him.”
    I took a sip of my drink and nodded. Yes, I did. So now what?

 
    Chapter Twelve – Marcus
    As much as I had loved being alone with Lauren, I also enjoyed being with her friends. Like her, they were smart, funny and welcomed me to the group with open arms. Her friends were wonderful and I was happy she introduced me to them tonight.
    “Be good to her, ok? Don’t break her heart,” Amanda said to me as she poured me another drink from behind the bar. Lauren was out on the dance floor with the rest of the girls and I had hung back to get another drink and talk to Steve.
    “I’ll try not to,” I said quietly.
    Amanda shook her head. “Don’t ‘try’. You can’t. Period. After Kyle, I don’t know if she could handle it. She took that ok cuz she’s strong, but I’m not so sure what would happen if another man hurt her. And she likes you. I know she thought this was going to be some sort of fling at first, but I can see it in her eyes when she looks at you and when she talks about you; she cares about you.”
    I sighed and ran my hand through my hair, sitting down on