- I can't believe they've already started having fun without me!
Something hit me in the chest and I lifted my head to look at him. Luck's raspy voice was capable of giving me goosebumps. He made a f*****g speech about enjoying our lives to the limit.
When one of his friends told him to f**k off, Luck replied that he was being a good Samaritan by helping his father's campaign, which was running again that year. That's the only reason it had taken so long, but he hoped that everyone would be with these choices of words: f*****g their brains out until dawn. And that it should be an unforgettable graduation for this f*****g town.
And I wanted it to be unforgettable, as I wanted...God! He was beautiful. With only part of his suit. The white blouse with undone buttons, a little creased at the neck as if he had tried to open it in a hurry, the sleeves of the blouse pulled up to his forearms completely covered in tattoos. The navy blue pants, the only immaculate thing about him, sculpted his body perfectly. His sublime hair was a mess, which I confess made him look more dangerous. My eyes followed him as he greeted some friends and grabbed a large bottle of whisky out of the air. Which one of his friends had thrown.
- Girlfriend, you're literally drooling. - Alice gave me a little nudge on the chin and then a wink. - Do you really like him? - She let out a sad smile. - Look, Nicole... - She sniffled. - I know this isn't the time or the place, but there are so many nice boys out there, and you're beautiful! As beautiful as Vivian and me.
I cut her off as soon as I realized where the conversation was going.
- Look, I know you're worried, but I'm a big girl. It's not like there's anything going on between us, we've never spoken. - I disguised it by looking away, as if those words wouldn't hurt me.
- Hey, love, you're gone. - A handsome boy caught Alice's eye, abruptly cutting off the conversation. She turned and kissed his lips sweetly.
I realized that this was the same guy she was with before.
- Nicole, this is Alec.
- Alec, this is my faithful squire Nicole.
We greeted each other. They looked at each other and kissed and I gave them their privacy.
Not that they'd known each other long, but she seemed very comfortable with him and I didn't want to interrupt.
She gestured and I realized that she wanted to go, but she didn't want to leave me alone. It wouldn't be fair for her to stop going out with someone because of her friend without a date. Some boys had even hit on me. I wasn't stupid, I looked good, but the one I wanted hadn't even looked at me.
- It's okay, Alice. - I said in an inebriated voice and gave her a big smile. She was reluctant to leave me, but she understood and nodded, returning my smile.
- Do I have your cell phone?
- Yes. - I said.
- I have mine and Vivian has hers. You can call me at any time, I'll be here in a second if you need me. And please, drink some water. - She walks over to a place full of sealed water bottles and puts one in front of me. She gives me a kiss on the cheek and heads off, probably looking for the privacy of the deck or boathouse to stay with Alec. But first he shouted over the music, reminding me:
- Enjoy these two hours before Matthew comes to pick us up.
I felt bad about being alone. But my friends didn't need to know. I'd made my choice, and with the exception of drinking, that was my usual behavior today, just like at other parties. I was tired of not accepting invitations from any guy who wanted to be with me. I just couldn't do it because I had really developed a harmful obsession with Luck. No, it wasn't healthy, but f**k, most people deep down weren't.
Not two minutes later, I decided that I didn't know where those thoughts were coming from, I'm not like that... it was probably the drink doing the thinking.
- Gin and tonic, please," I asked, my voice slurred and my stomach a little upset. I placed my order with a guy who was making drinks for some of the girls at the pool table. I knew he wasn't a bartender or my subordinate, but the drink apparently gave me the courage to open my mouth without shame. He was a friend of Luck's, I think his name was Antony, I know that because I remember him always hanging around with Luck at other parties.
- I think I'm going to need his ID. - A man in his twenties said with a playful smile, pushing his drink glass at me.
I laughed dryly. I wasn't in the mood. It was probably the only night of freedom I would have before Madeleine returned and I went to Wharton College in Philadelphia to study finance and investment management. After that, I'd be running Diamonds Enterprises with Madeline, and I'd be there alone, drinking, ignoring all the singing to dream about someone I couldn't have.
- You shouldn't hit on clients. - Your tone is amused. - Are you going to hit on me too if I want a drink?
- Suck my c**k Luck. Do you think I'm your waiter? I only serve pretty girls. - Antony, smile at me. Both dimples appearing on his swarthy face.
I turned in surprise to Luck. He was sitting next to me, one arm resting on the counter. Smiling mischievously, he was looking at me with the most beautiful blue eyes I'd ever seen.
You don't look underage. - He smiled at me, sipping his drink from the bottle.
I looked at him for a moment and couldn't tell if he was talking to me. I admired his lips touching the drink, the veins in his neck bulging slightly, his chest rising and falling slowly.
- Or maybe it is? - He looked at me, squinting his eyes and leaving me breathless.
- As if that ever mattered to you. - His friend Antony interrupted. He laughs and leaves the bar.
- Shut up, you son of a b***h! - Luck swears, and I can't tell if he was really being mocking.
It sounded like his friend was joking, but it made me tense up.
When he turns to me, I say - Yes, I mean, no, I'm not underage.
Yes, it was a lie, but let's face it, seventeen wasn't such a bad age, I was going to have a birthday soon, I think that's what he meant about being underage. After all, I knew Luck was seven years older than me.
He smiled again, looking pleased.
- And what's a beautiful girl like you doing here, all alone?
I hadn't realized I was holding my breath until I let it out deeply. I admired him for a few minutes before answering. Was I imagining it or was it really happening?
- I'm sorry, I didn't mean to disturb you, but you were here alone." His eyebrows drew together in disapproval, and he stood up and turned around.
Instinctively, I stood up and grabbed his arm. He gave me a surprised look and then moved closer.
- Don't go. - It was the first thing I could think of and say.
- Okay - he left a space in his words for me to introduce myself.
- Nicole... my name is Nicole.
He came close to my ear and whispered:
- I've been looking at you for a long time, N-i-c-o-l-e - he said slowly. - My name is Luck and, by the way, you look very hot.
Fuck, that couldn't be happening! Not to me! He never looked at me, and today he came to talk to me. All right, the "show for 20 bucks" outfit is attracting a lot of attention, but man, it's Luck Petrelli! And he's flirting with me. I tried to smile as normally as possible so as not to look so silly.
- Well, what college are you going to, Nicole?