Free Leo by Mia Sheridan

mom's house while she slept and she reads all these romance novels. So I read several and evidently, it's a thing , the beautiful girl with a gay best friend. It's a cliché. I'm a cliché."
    I burst out laughing. "Ah, okay, well, it works. I guess because of my unequalled beauty, I can only hang around men who aren't tempted to molest me hourly. You're my only choice." I wink at him, slapping him on his ass.
    Landon laughs too, squealing as I smack him.
    An hour later, the kitchen is in full swing. Tina, our boss, a really nice woman in her fifties with a head full of frizzy blond curls and a great laugh, has greeted all of us and is helping load the trays. She owns the catering company, and is a great boss, fair and helpful, with a great, witty sense of humor.
    I walk the floor of the ballroom, offering appetizers to the decked out guests, women in long, beautiful evening gowns, men in tuxes. This event is a benefit to help raise awareness about autism spectrum disorders and so I can't help but to have a soft spot for these party goers. I smile extra big as I offer Tina's delicious appetizers, moving around the room from guest to guest.
    I've been around the room with three trays, when I rush back into the kitchen to fill another one.
    Landon is next to me at the long stainless steel counter, filling his own tray. "Girl, did you clock hottie in the far corner by the bar? Serious meltdown every time I catch a glance. True story."
    I laugh. "I don't think I've made it that far. I keep running out of food mid room. I’ll start over there this time though." I wink and he grins.
    I walk back out on the floor and head over to the bar area, so that I can report back to Landon later. I stop at a small group, smiling as I offer them napkins and hold my tray out to them. It's filled with thin wafers, each holding a glob of black caviar. It looks dreadful to me, but these people are clearing my tray so what do I know?
    As I move away from them, I see the man Landon must be talking about. He has his back to me, but even from this viewpoint, I can tell that he's good looking. All broad shoulders, slim waist and excellent backside. Too bad for Landon though, there's a blond in a red dress glued to his arm. I make my way closer and as the couple turns towards me, I inhale an audible gasp. It's Jake. Oh No!
    Damn! Shit! Shit! Shit!
    My heart plummets to my feet and I stand stock still for a minute, weighing my options for escape. Too late, Jake spots me and his eyes are surprised for a second and then this unbelievable warmth floods them and he smiles like I'm an old friend he hasn't seen in a decade.
    God! I am such an idiot. I close my eyes very briefly and try to rally, shooting him a smile that I really hope looks as fake as it feels.
    "Evie," he says, disengaging himself from red dress and coming towards me, a look of concern on his face. "I didn't know you’d be here." His eyes are wide and glued to me.
    God, he's gorgeous.
    He's also a playing, lying asshole .
    Before I can utter a word, red dress follows him saying, "Jakey, do you know her?" And it must be said, she says this pissy .
    Jakey? Shit! Shit! Shit!
    I glance at red dress and it sucks that despite the fact that she is pissy, I can't deny that she is stunning. Her dress looks like it cost more than my entire wardrobe put together, including my shoes and jackets. Then I look back at Jake and whisper stupidly, "Hi."  God, I am such an idiot!
    Jake clenches his jaw, and although he is talking to red dress his eyes are still riveted on me as he says, "Yes, I do know her. This is Evie Cruise." Almost as an afterthought, he cocks his head at red dress and says, "This is Gwen Parker."
    My eyes cut back to Gwen and I whisper, "Hi." And again, I whisper it stupidly.
    Gwen crosses her arms in front of her large, plastic looking breasts and says, "I don't need an introduction, Jakey, I was just surprised that you know her." Then she hooks herself back onto Jake's arm and glares at