The Day to Remember by Jessica Wood Page A

his piercing blue eyes into me, sending a jolt of excitement through me. His lips curled in a wicked smile, and I knew he was trouble.
    “Thanks. Now I’m going to go check up on Jill and Glo. I’ll be right back,” Steph gave me a wink and began to walk away.
    “Steph,” I hissed under my breath, “I’m not interested.”
    Steph rolled her eyes and whispered back, “Emma, relax. It’s just innocent flirting. Something’s obviously up with Brandon that’s gotten you all on edge. You need to relax and get your mind off of him for the night.”
    “Steph,” I hissed again after her as I watched her walk to across room where Jill and Glo were playing shuffleboard with two guys.
    “Don’t worry. I don’t bite. I can tell you’re a good girl,” said Damian as he checked out Steph’s backside as she walked away.
    I rolled my eyes, but s omething inside me resented his comment, “No, I’m not. I make mistakes,” I retorted.
    He laughed. “You don’t even know what a bad girl is.”
    “I—” I began to protest, but stopped. He was right.
    “You seem like a sweet girl who probably deserves a sweet guy. But, if you ever want to be a bad girl, give me a call.” He scribbled his name and number on a thin, paper coaster and handed it to me. “I won’t say any ‘I love yous,’ but I promise you a great time with no strings attached” He licked his lips and winked at me. His piercing, blue eyes illuminated against his dark, bronze complexion. Everything about this guy oozed sex and danger. And a small part of me was turned on by him.
    I smiled nervously and accepted the coaster. “Thanks. I, uhm, should go and check up on my friends,” I said as I shoved the coaster with his number aimlessly into my purse and quickly walked away from the bar.
    I knew he watched me walk away, as he had done with Steph. I could sense his eyes looking me up and down and a shiver ran down my body. A part of me was excited by this man, but I knew that I wasn’t the type of girl that could have a night of fun with no strings attached. Damian was right. I had no idea what a bad girl was. I was a nice girl, and right now, all I wanted was to be with Brandon.
    ***
    The air was chilly and I felt light drizzles of rain fall on my cheeks as I entered the lobby of Brandon’s building. Nervous energy jolted through me as I waited for the elevator to take me up to his condo on the penthouse floor.
    It was Monday and he had invited me over tonight for dinner and “to talk.” I was excited to see him, but I also knew this wouldn’t be your ordinary dinner date. Whatever he had to tell me, it must have been big. It had been causing a silent rift between us for over a week now—a tension that was almost palpable in the air. That terrified me.
    I knew I would be devastated if I lost Brandon. The amount of pain that had hit me with the misunderstanding with Desiree was still fresh in my mind. Whatever this was, I knew it would not be a misunderstanding. It would be real, and it would be much more painful.
    I drew in a deep breath, trying to calm myself, and knocked on Brandon’s front door.
    “Hey you,” he smiled at me warmly when he opened the door and pulled me into his embrace. “God I’ve missed you.”
    I sunk into him and inhaled his familiar, comforting scent of aftershave and laundry detergent. “I’ve missed you too.” I looked up at him and pulled his face down to mine. Our lips met in a slow passionate kiss that melted away some of my anxiety.
    “I’ve definitely missed that,” Brandon whispered when our lips separated. “So how are you? Did you have fun with your friends this past weekend?”
    “Yeah, we had a great time. Here’s your keys. Thanks again for letting us stay over at your place. It was definitely much more comfortable than my studio. ”
    He chuckled, “I think I should be the one thanking you guys.”
    I looked at him in confusion.
    “I arrived home to a much cleaner place than I had left it.