Chapter 63: TOO CLOSE
"What is her problem anyway?" Monica asked curiously. She was just meeting Jasmine for the first time but she could tell that girl would be trouble.
"I know, right? Love can’t be forced," Cassandra replied and linked her hand with Erika’s and they both went to a table together to have a drink.
"I see you two are getting along pretty well", Erika commented while sipping from her glass.
"Yeah, Monica is made with cool bones and unlike some other influential friends who always seem to let their reputation get into their head, you two are way better", Cassandra spoke openly about her opinion. Erika could tell that the girl thoughts were way mature for her age.
"Well, thank you sweetie", Monica replied to Cassandra’s compliment with a smile.
Erika nodded and the three of them cheered to a new friendship.
The song started and it was time for everyone to dance with their dates.
"Excuse me ladies. I would like to steal my date for a dance now", Jake interrupted them. Monica got up from her seat and followed him to the dance floor. Ethan came along and took Erika away as well.
The music was a soft tune and even the older couples didn’t mind and joined the younger generations on the dance floor. Ethan placed his arms on Erika’s waist while she hooked her arms on his neck and they both stared at each other lovingly as they moved accordingly to the tune of the music.
On the other side of the dance floor, Felix placed one of his hands on the waist of his date, Piper while she placed a hand on his shoulder and the other enclasped with his.
Monica who was dancing with Jake couldn’t help but glance at the other side where Felix and piper were. She released a tired sigh.
"Are you alright?" Jake asked her and she instantly nodded.
"I’m alright". What was she expecting anyway? For Felix to ask her to the dance even though they weren’t together anymore? How stupid was that? She resisted the urge to smack her head at that moment for thinking of such a thing.
When it was time to exchange partners, Ethan was the one to dance with Monica while Erika had to dance with Daniel.
"This is an awesome party, isn’t it? You’ve finally met your future in laws", he teased her.
"They are really nice", she commented.
"Of course they are. Don’t your remember that you’ve already met them back when you were still younger?" He asked her but Erika wasn’t able to answer the question as it was time to exchange partners again and this time, Felix got Monica.
He held her waist while she awkwardly placed her hands on his shoulders in a stiff motion. The air had suddenly changed around them and the music seems to have faded, making them drown in silence.
Felix decided to break the silence, "So how have you been?" He asked her, making her jolt her neck head up to meet his ocean blue eyes.
"Just breathing, as always", she responded and her answer only amused Felix.
"Is that so? Well, aren’t you going to ask how I am?" He questioned her. It was time to exchange partners again but Felix didn’t let her go.
Stunned, Monica tried to release herself from his grip. Felix leaned in to whisper, "Why are you always that eager to leave?"
His deep voice sent shivers to her body and his musky scent nearly drove her crazy due to their close proximity. She glanced at Jake only to make eye contact with him and he didn’t look happy.
"Let me go", she softly muttered.
"Hmm?" Felix leaned back and raised his eyebrows at her as if he didn’t understand her words. "But it’s not time to exchange partners yet".
Monica stayed to dance with him but she was mostly stiff. When the music ended, she didn’t waste any second and quickly bolted from there to go to the bathroom.
Erika went to her parents to go talk with them for a while and Mr Davis quickly took the opportunity to talk to Ethan.
"Ethan, were you serious with what you said earlier? You are not going to marry Jasmine?" Mr Davis questioned Ethan.
"You heard right, I told you several times that I was never going to marry your daughter so what were you expecting? That I would suddenly have a change of mind? Even after what your daughter did to Erika?" He questioned back as he glared daggers at the old man.
Speechless, Mr Davis could only think of how to turn Erika bad in Ethan’s mind. "But she only did that in order to get you back. How can you be sure that Erika is a good one for you? She is a divorcee, she left her husband and laid a trap for you and she succeeded", the old man turned the tables around.
"You mean the trap that your daughter laid for me but didn’t succeed? I’m sure that she must have already informed you about her big fail. I love Erika and she will be the one I will be spending the rest of my life with, not Jasmine so stop disturbing me", Ethan spat without any remorse and walked away.
Jasmine who has overheard her dad’s conversation couldn’t help but she’d more tears. Her make up has been smudged because of her tears.
"What are you girls talking about?" Ethan asked Casey and Erika who were laughing to a joke and it got him curious.
"Oh, I was just telling Erika how you scared the new maid that mum hired one time. You didn’t even need to do anything, only your stone-cold face was enough to send her packing", Cassandra said in between laughs.
"You are so wicked", Erika commented while laughing also. Ethan could tell that she was already drunk from the look of her flushed face.
"Alright ladies, I think it’s time to go home now", Ethan announced and went to go tell his parents and Erika’s family that he would be taking them home. There was nothing for him to do there anyway, Ethan thought to himself.
A body guard helped to put Cassandra in the car and he helped Erika inside and he drove away.
