I'm Not The Only One (Scomiche)

12: Party

"I'm waiting patiently though time is moving slow."

Make It To Me by Sam Smith

—-

The event was more of private party among the staff of the magazine. It was to celebrate our recent success since our sales in the last two quarters had gone up by thirty percent. I was tasked to help in the preparations so I had been at the venue for three hours and was busy making sure that the catering and the mobile bar was set up.

I was seated at the table reserved for me and the girls, nursing a cocktail, when Lia and Caty arrived. Lia was in a short black dress with matching black pumps. It made the perfect contrast to her fiery red hair that was loosely framing her face and draping her shoulders. Caty, on the other hand, wore her blonde hair in a side fish braid and was dressed in a one-shoulder royal blue knee-length dress that matched the color of her eyes.

"I knew it. He was too afraid to go here," Lia declared as she took the seat beside me.

"Coward," Cathy added as she sat beside Lia.

I raised an eyebrow at them. "First of all, hi, ladies. You both look stunning tonight." I smiled. "And if you're referring to Scott, he's coming. I just had to go here earlier to take care of some stuff."

"Oh, is he? Well... then I'm excited," Lia said with a sparkle in her eye.

I glared at her. "Bitch, don't even think about it. I know you love me and all that shit but not tonight, okay? The same goes for you, Caty," I said, my eyes shifting to the blonde.

"What?! I didn't even say anything!" she said defensively.

"You were thinking it." I sighed. "Be nice, please? For me?"

They looked at each other before looking back at me.

Lia sighed. "Ugh, fine. I'll try."

Caty gave me a sweet smile. "Yes, yes. Fine."

I smiled back. "Thank you."

"Hey!" came a voice from behind us. We all turned and found Brookes with a huge smile on her face and a gorgeous man on her arms. She was wearing a bloody red dress that was the same shade as her lips topped with a cream-colored coat and matching peep-toe stilettos. Her brunette locks were pulled into a neat ponytail. We exchanged air kisses when she arrived at our table.

"Chadd! You're here!" Caty exclaimed.

"Hi, ladies, Mitch," he acknowledged us with a smile. "There have been certain changes at work lately so hopefully you'll get to see more of me from now on."

I glanced at Brookes who was beaming, obviously happy with the new setup. She and Chadd have been together a little over two years. However, since he worked as a field service engineer, he was often traveling. We've hung out a couple of times on the rare occasions he was not busy and was home, and the general consensus among Lia, Caty and I was that we adored him and that we hated Brookes because damn bitch was lucky to have him.

Chadd was, in every sense of the word, a beautiful human being. He has a dangerous, sort of bad boy appeal to him, with his tall 6'3" frame, buzz cut, five o'clock shadow and light brown skin. His eyes were a dark shade of grey, his nose was a little pointed, and his thin lips were often pressed into a thin line. He had prominent cheekbones and angular jaws. He packed muscle in all the right places, too.

But the hard and mysterious edge his features gave him all tended to disappear whenever he was around Brookes. The man was definitely smitten and in love. It was very obvious from the way he gazed at her when she wasn't looking, or how his lips curled upward at the things she said. He was also not shy of showing his affection towards Brookes even when we were around.

A part of me has always wanted what she has - not the man, obviously, but having someone who was head over heels with me and was not afraid to show it. I also wanted to have someone whom my friends approved of, someone who got along with them. Scott was neither of the two because of the kind of relationship we used to have, but I held out hope that things would change. In the recent weeks things have been changing, but tonight was going to be the first time they'd all meet him since we officially got together. To say that I was nervous was an understatement.

I was pulled out of my thoughts when my phone buzzed. Everybody else was already seated on the table, the only unoccupied chair being Scott's.

Scott: "Baby, I'm parking the car. Be there in a few. x"

I released a deep breath I didn't realize I was even holding. It was a relief to know he was actually coming. I know he promised but deep down I feared he would bail out at the last minute.

"So... where's your boyfriend?" asked Brookes.

"In the parking lot, actually. He'll be here soon," I replied with a smile.

She nodded her head slowly. "Oh. Tonight will be... interesting then."

I rolled her eyes at her. "I already warned Lia and Caty. Please be nice? Poor guy's so nervous already."

"As he should be," she retorted, glaring at me.

"Chadd." I shifted my gaze to him him. "Keep her claws away from Scott, please?"

Brookes crossed her arms over her chest and turned to face him with one eyebrow arched. "Chadd?"

He met her gaze for a few seconds before he faced me. "Sorry, Mitch. But if I get in the middle of this she might just claw my eyes out," he said with a hint of humor in his voice. 

I sighed. "Girls," I said a little louder to get all of their attention. "Be. Fucking. Nice. To. Scott. Okay?!"

"Speaking of the devil," Caty announced, straightening her back. All of us turned our heads and I saw Scott near the entrance.

"Little shit actually came here tonight," Lia mumbled.

When Scott finally spotted me, a smile spread across his lips and he gave me a little wave.

"You girls owe me fifty bucks each," Caty said with a chuckle.

I didn't even have time to comment on what was happening among the girls because at that moment, my eyes were locked on Scott, who was now walking towards us. My heart picked up its pace, not from anxiety or fear or anything that I was feeling five minutes ago but because of happiness. To me, Scott's presence was a big deal and a big step in the right direction.

I stood up when he reached our table. "Hi, baby," I greeted him with a warm smile. Then I tilted my head up and leaned in, softly pressing my lips to his.

He wrapped one arm around my waist. "Hi," he replied with a grin when I pulled back.

I faced the girls, all of whom had fallen silent in the last couple of seconds. "Scott, remember Lia, Caty and Brookes?" I asked as I pointed to each girl.

"Yes, of course. Hi, everyone," he said shyly.

"Oh, and this is Chadd, Brookes' boyfriend. Chadd, Scott."

Chadd stood up and extended a hand. "Hey, man, nice to meet you."

Scott accepted his hand and shook it firmly. "Nice to meet you, too."

"Let's sit?" I motioned for Scott to take the seat beside me.

It was only barely a second after he sat down that Lia spoke up. "So... Scott. You know -"

"Can I have everybody's attention please?" came Sherry's voice though the speakers.

Dear god. This is going to be a long night.