Kayleigh's pov
As soon as we finished cutting the cake, the music was back on and everyone gathered around Beth to wish her while I stood in the corner waiting for my turn to greet her. After sometime she noticed me, she excused from the crowd and, jogged up to me and hugged me tight. I hugged her back, "Happy birthday sweetheart!" She pulled apart and held my arms as her eyes twinkled in joy, "Kay thank you so much, this is the best birthday party I've ever had!" I smiled in relief, "I am glad you liked it, but how did you know it was me?" She rolled her eyes, "Come on, it doesn't take a genus to figure that out!" We both giggled at that and looked at Pat and Jay who were busy sharing a slice of cake. I picked up 2 glasses of champagne from the waiter passing by and handed her one glass to toast. After she drank a sip, she grabbed my arm "Come, there's someone I'd like you to meet!" I followed her as she walked past the crowd. She stopped right before a group of 3 people and she spoke introducing me, "Kayleigh meet my cousin Nick, and Nick meet my best friend Kayleigh." He smiled and extended his arm, "Nice to meet you! You're even more beautiful in person" I shook his hand as a smile spread on my lips as I spoke, "Nice to meet you too!" I studied him as he looked dashing in black pants and a gold and black sequin shirt, "So you are the pretty lady who planned this party, I have heard a lot of things about you today!" I tucked my hair behind my ear as I blushed, "All good I hope!?" He nodded smiling as I was looking at his handsome face, Beth cleared her throat so we looked at her, "I'll leave you two alone now as I have people to greet!" Saying that she walked away leaving us alone in awkward silence. I looked around as I didn't know what to talk next when he asked, "So Kayleigh, what do you do?" I answered a little startled, "Oh I work at a magazine as assistant writer, What about you?" He picked up a glass of whiskey and then looked at me, "I work at my father's company, he is training me to take over once he retires!" I nodded understanding, "Wow, that's great!" We talked a little more each other, he definitely had 'the boy next door' charm. As we were engaging in small talks suddenly Eddie walked over and grabbed my arm dragging me towards the back door.
He had an angry look on his face, I tried to yank my hand off but I miserably failed to his strong grip. He stopped right before the exit door and pinned me to the wall, his face fumed with anger as he spoke gritting his teeth, "What the fuck is wrong with you?" I spoke trying to get out of his grip, "What's wrong with you? I didn't do anything." He pushed me harder on the wall which made a single tear escape my eye, "you and the other guy were eye fucking back there, Did you really think that I won't notice?" then it dawned on me. I flashed him a devilish smirk, "you don't ask me before fucking around so why should I ask you before flirting!" He looked at me in shock and let go off my hands but still stood close to me without uttering a word. I spoke with my new found smugness, "Now if you'll excuse me. I have a party to attend!" I flipped my hair back and walked away feeling great, from the corner of my eye I saw him still standing there with shock written all over his face. I made a stop at the bar counter and ordered a whiskey on the rocks, drank the content in bottoms up and walked over to where Nick was chatting with a couple of men. He excused himself and took me towards an empty table where we ordered few more drinks and later joined other people on the dance floor while Eddie stood by the bar counter watching me the entire time with his jaw clenched. I was deeply enjoying this, seeing him so miserable and as for me I was so drunk by now that I wasn't really able to pay attention on what Nick was saying, whenever he would say anything to me I would just laugh and nod. He did try to walk up to me a couple of time but I would run away before he could grab my hand. In about 2-3 hours people started to take their leave. Beth came up to me and informed me that she and Patsy are coming over to my apartment so I called a cab for us and looked around to find Eddie and Jay but they were nowhere in sight. I walked in the washroom to splash water on my face, when I walked out I saw Eddie kissing a blonde at the same place where he had pinned me earlier. Tears welled up in my eyes but I blinked them back and ran out where Beth and Patsy agreed to meet me. I hugged them the moment they saw me so they can't see my puffy nose, before they could say anything our cab pulled over right in front of us so we got in the cab and drove towards my apartment. Once we got home we changed in to pjs, I grabbed a bottle of wine and glasses while Beth played some music. By the time we finished the first bottle of wine Patsy was feeling sleepy so she went to sleep in my room while Beth and I sat on the couch and opened another bottle of wine while talking about all the fun we had at the party. Beth walked in to kitchen to find some food when the door bell rang and I told her 'I'll get it', the moment I opened the door, a drunk Eddie jumped over me and kissed me hungrily. I tried to resist but eventually gave in to his warm and hungry kisses, I opened my eyes and saw Beth standing far from us. I pulled apart from him while he still continued leaving trails of kisses on my neck and then out of nowhere he grabbed my neck and pushed me to the wall still while Beth watched in shock, "How dare you flirt with anyone else, you are MINE!" Tears fell from my eyes and then I pointed towards Beth still choking in his grip, he let go off me the moment he noticed her. I coughed in pain from his strong grip while Beth stood there in shock fear clearly visible in her eyes. She took a deep breath and pointed towards the door with anger, "I will deal with you later, GET OUT!" his eyes filled with regret, he looked at me to plead but the damage was done so I shook my head and that was the queue for him to leave and he left without a word.