Read Online Wet: Part 2 by S. Jackson Rivera - Free Book Online

the few diehards, who just refused to take the hint. Especially a girl named Nicole, one of the guests. She followed him around, flaunted her skimpy outfit in his face, and touched him as often as possible.
    Rhees forgot she was supposed to be working on her buzz. The wine and the beer had given her a good start, but her high had faded a bit from neglect. She’d been too interested in her study of human behavior. 
    Christian finally showed up and Paul seemed excited to see him. He made his way over to greet him, with Nicole still on his heels. The two men engaged in what appeared to be a lively discussion with a lot of hand and body gestures. Nicole tried to participate, never taking her eyes off Paul.
    Rhees watched, enjoying how expressive Paul’s face could get when he got excited. Once again, he reminded her of a little boy. Her mother used to say all men were little boys. She’d never understood until she met Paul.
    Every now and then, he’d have a quick look her direction and smile warmly, with glistening eyes, before turning back to Christian. It did warm her, made her stomach flutter. It felt good, but scary at the same time. She cursed herself, but refused to ask herself why. 
    She looked away to clear her mind. When she looked back, her heart sank, and it felt like her lungs closed off. Paul held Nicole in his arms as they drifted gracefully across the dance floor together. Her face beamed, never looking away from his as he whirled her around. 
    Rhees should have known. The real Paul danced before her eyes with another woman. She’d fooled herself again. She’d been a fool her whole life, refusing to face reality, living in fear of her own shadow, life itself. She laughed, no surprise there, so why was she surprised? And why did she feel the need to cry? She’d known all along their little ruse wouldn’t last long. It wasn’t in his nature. He’d told her as much.   
    She took a deep breath and wanted nothing more than to just get the night over with, follow through with the plan—make everyone believe that Paul had won. It stung her pride, but that was exactly what she needed.
    Yes, she’d never pretended to imagine their fake relationship would last long. It only needed to last long enough to help her appear to be a real grown-up. Once they established that, she needed Paul’s help to at least get the sleaziest creeps off her scent, it wouldn’t matter anymore what he did.
    If she didn’t believe so strongly in the plan, she’d go home right then—but it was dark now, and it was a long walk back. She actually began to tremble as she remembered the neglected banana plantation and all the dark, shadowy corners along the way. Oh, my gosh. I’m never going to be a real grown-up . She looked for Paul again, her safe harbor. It’d become a reflex. He was still dancing with Nicole.
    “He’s already changed his mind,” she whispered, as the light of understanding hit her.
    He didn’t want to go home with her and do . . . nothing . He wanted Nicole. She obviously had sights on him, hoping to do more than just nothing.  He’d forgotten all about their plan. All about me.  
    She shoved up from her chair and headed toward the temporary bar, needing help. 
    “What are you having, Rhees? Coke Light?” Eddie took his turn that night as the designated bartender for the party.
    “No. I need a real drink.”
    “What do you need?”
    “I don’t know. I had tequila and beer at the dance contest, and bourbon. That worked.” Getting wasted sounded pretty good, after all.
    “Um . . .” Eddie looked at her skeptically.
    “She wants a gin and tonic, extra lime, make it a double. Triple the lime.” Paul slipped in behind her, set his hands on her waist, and whispered in her ear, “They don’t taste too bad. Ta-kill-ya’s not a good idea tonight.”
    “Ta-kill-ya?” She looked up and behind at him, surprised, not only because she didn’t understand what he’d said, but that, out of the blue,