Total pages in book: 97
Estimated words: 94279 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 471(@200wpm)___ 377(@250wpm)___ 314(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 94279 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 471(@200wpm)___ 377(@250wpm)___ 314(@300wpm)
“Okay. Be right back.”
The more I watched Wilder, the drunker he seemed to get. He was standing now, the front of his shirt partially untucked, leaning on his buddy Louis, who was practically holding him up. I didn’t want to make a scene, so I decided to slip out unnoticed. But as I took one last look, I saw the brunette from the bathroom strut over. My jaw clenched as I watched. Her claws were all over him. Elijah returned from calling the car just in time to catch the show on the other side of the room.
“Who’s that?” he asked.
“Some bitch. She cut in while I was dancing with Wilder and tried to scare me off in the ladies’ room.”
Elijah and I looked on as Natasha slipped under Wilder’s arm—the one that wasn’t around his buddy. He wasn’t paying any attention to her, really, but that didn’t stop her from curling into him and laying a hand on his chest.
“Does that piss you off?” Elijah asked.
“What do you think?” I deadpanned, feeling like I might crack a tooth with how hard my jaw was clenched.
He grinned. “Well, go do something about it. Stake your claim, girl.”
Adrenaline pumped through my veins. “You know what? I think I will. If nothing else, I’m not going to let her take advantage of the state he’s in.”
I started walking before I could talk myself into realizing this was a bad idea. Natasha saw me coming first. She smirked as I approached, and she held Wilder tighter.
“Hello, again,” she practically cooed.
“Let go of him.”
Wilder turned, noticing me for the first time. Though he had to lean forward and squint before he could determine who I was. “Sloane!” he said. “Where you been, baby?”
I gestured behind me. “Elijah and I are leaving now. Would you like a ride back to London?”
He looked over at Natasha and slurred his words. “Sloane doesn’t want me. Isn’t that the kicker? Everyone always wanted me, and I never wanted them back. Now, I finally want a woman, and she doesn’t want me.” Wilder wobbled on his feet, and his buddy grabbed him. Louis and I had met at the previous weddings. I smiled at him.
“Hey, Louis? Would you mind helping Wilder to the car? It should be out front by now.”
“No problem, Sloane.”
None of us acknowledged Natasha before walking away, which gave me a sense of satisfaction. Once we were in the limo, Wilder spread out across the backseat with his head on my lap. I was pretty sure he hadn’t noticed Elijah. Five minutes later, he was snoring.
Elijah grinned. “He’s even hot when he’s sleeping.”
I looked down and brushed Wilder’s hair from his face. “I kinda wish he wasn’t.”
“Wasn’t what? Hot?”
“Sort of. Hot, a celebrity athlete, wealthy, this body…”
“Umm, are you drunk, too?”
I smiled. “He’d be just as much of a catch without all that.”
“If you say so. Where are we taking him, anyway? Back to our hotel?”
I hadn’t thought about the logistics. But I should probably take him home. Though … I had no idea where that was. “I’d rather take him to his place, but I don’t know his address. Do you think he has a wallet on him?”
Elijah wiggled his brows. “I volunteer to check his pants pockets.”
I chuckled. “I’ll try his jacket first.”
His wallet was the first place I checked, on the inside of his tux jacket, which had his name embroidered on the inner pocket. I’d assumed by the way his tux fit that it wasn’t a rental, but this was yet another reminder how different our lives were. None of my friends owned a tuxedo.
If that didn’t point out the difference enough, pulling up to the address on Wilder’s license was a flashing neon sign. Wow. The building looked like it belonged on the cover of Wealth magazine. Modern and sleek, with curved glass and an entrance that had to be two stories high—it was pretty damn intimidating.
“How are we going to do this?” Elijah asked. “You think they have a luggage cart or a dolly?”
I laughed. “I’m sure that would raise a few eyebrows, if we wheeled him in. Let’s start by trying to wake him.” I placed my hand on Wilder’s chest and gently shook him. “Wilder? You’re home.”
He gripped my hand and grinned. “I smooth-talked you into coming home with me after all?”
“Something like that … Do you think you can walk?”
“I can do more than walk…”
I smiled at Elijah. “At least it seems like he’s back to himself a little more than when we left.”
Slipping my hand under Wilder’s head, I lifted and helped him sit up. Once his feet were on the floor, he blinked over at Elijah. “Oh, hey, man. When did you get here?”
“Just now.” Elijah chuckled and looked to me. “Want me to help you get him up?”