Page 78 of Mr. Big Mistake

I set my glass down at the bar. “No, LaShonda. I have to go.”

She took my hand in hers. “Just one dance. And if you can honestly resist me after that, then I won’t ever pull you aside again.”

“Ever?”

She winked. “If you can resist me, that is. Though, if I remember correctly, that never happened.”

“LaShonda, I have to--.”

“This’ll be fun. Come on.”

And even as I tried to find an exit that wasn’t rude as hell during a wedding reception, I couldn't find one.

Just leave, Brenden. That’s all you have to do.

So, why did I have such a hard time doing it?

21

Kelly

Ipaced the living room back and forth while trying not to look at my cell phone. I mean, sure, Brenden wasn’t home. But that wasn’t something to be concerned about, right? He was a big boy with his big boy business, and I’m sure he had a lot on his plate with projects and things.

Right?

“Come on, Kelly. He told you he’d be home for dinner and a movie.”

I pinched the bridge of my nose and sighed. I turned towards the massive windows in the living room and gazed out over Vegas. The sun had set. The stars were out. And we were supposed to be enjoying a movie on the couch together. But instead, I was here--alone--with our Thai food growing cold.

“Where the hell are you?” I grumbled.

I pulled my phone out of my pocket and crafted a text to Brenden. I wanted to know where he was and what time he’d be home because frankly… I was starving. And if something had come up at work, all he had to do was tell me.

But, I didn't get a response back from the message I sent off.

So, I called his brother.

“Hello?” Zane asked.

“Zane, it’s Kelly.”

“Oh, hey there. Everything all right?”

I heard Karina giggling in the background, and I furrowed my brow.

“Didn’t I call your office phone?” I asked.

He snickered. “You’re fine, it’s okay. I was just, uh, taking a break.”

Karina started giggling again, and I rolled my eyes.

“Ew, gross. Okay. Do you know where Brenden is?” I asked.

Zane chuckled. “Uh, wait. Wait, wait. Brenden? You don’t know where he is?”

“No. He hasn’t come home yet.”

“Karina, stop it,” he whispered. “Kelly, you there?”