Total pages in book: 69
Estimated words: 68882 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 344(@200wpm)___ 276(@250wpm)___ 230(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 68882 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 344(@200wpm)___ 276(@250wpm)___ 230(@300wpm)
“Same, girl,” Lucy agrees.
“We don’t have to invite the guys,” Stella says. “It’s really not that big of a deal. I just thought it would be fun.”
“I think they were feeling left out,” Josie says, surprising me.
“Really?”
“Yeah, I talked to Drew earlier, and he seemed a little down that the guys don’t get to help us celebrate Liv tonight, since they’re close to her, too.”
“Okay, now I feel bad,” Liv says. “Let’s invite the men to dance with us. We keep dinner just for ourselves, and they can come be silly at the club. We just won’t let Liam go streaking.”
I snort at that idea. My little brother went streaking one time. Sure, there have been other times that he strips down and jumps in the pool.
He’s always had a thing about being naked. Weirdo.
“I’ll text Liam and Ike,” I say, reaching for my phone. Everyone does the same to let their brothers and significant others know to meet us.
Not one of them turns us down.
“I’m kind of excited about this,” I say as we walk outside to where the limos are waiting to take us to dinner. We’re all glammed up and ready to hit the town.
Dinner was delicious, and most of us ate as much pasta and bread as our bellies could hold and still look good in our dresses.
Which, surprisingly, was a lot.
And when we walk up to the club, the first thing the bouncer says is, “Where are Abby and Emma?”
The two youngest cousins step forward, their eyes wide.
“This is a private party, so while I know they’re underage, I’d love to include them,” Olivia says to the brawny bouncer.
“That’s fine, ma’am, but I have to mark their hands so the bartender knows not to serve them alcohol.”
He pulls a black marker out of his coat and draws big X’s on their hands.
“Not pretty but necessary. Y’all have fun tonight. I’m out here to make sure no one crashes your fun.”
“Thank you.”
We all high-five him as we walk inside. The music is already loud, the lights pulsing, and from what I can see, our guys are already here.
I scan through them and find Ike at the bar, sipping on ice water.
“I’m sorry! I thought we’d get here before you so that I could introduce you to everyone.”
“No worries,” he says with a smile and plants a kiss on my lips. “I introduced myself.”
“We like him,” Liam says with a nod. “It’s all good.”
Standing next to Ike, with our backs against the bar, we take it all in together.
“That’s a lot of women,” he says.
“There are a lot of us.” I laugh and accept a lemon drop martini from the bartender. “I think I’ll slowly introduce you to everyone as time goes on. It’s a little less intimidating that way.”
“I can live with that. You smell fucking fantastic.”
I grin and lean my cheek on his shoulder. “Thanks. I love that spa.”
“I’m going to get you a weekly standing appointment there.”
I look up at him in surprise and then laugh. “I wouldn’t say no to that. Oh! I love this song. Let’s go shake it.”
“Just to warn you, I’m not a great dancer.”
“I don’t care at all.”
I take his hand and lead him onto the dance floor, where Liv and Vaughn are locked in an embrace, and Stella is making gagging faces at them.
“They’re getting married next week,” I remind her. “Let them be mushy.”
“Fine, but after the wedding, no more mushy.”
“Hey,” Gray says with a frown. “I like mushy.”
We’re all on the floor, jumping and moving and being goofy. Sometimes, we take breaks to get a drink or use the restroom, but for the most part, all of us are just dancing the night away.
And when the DJ plays a slow song, Ike pulls me into his arms to sway on the floor. I’ve never been so comfortable in my life. He says he can’t dance, but he’s wrong. He moves his big body incredibly well.
It’s damn hot.
But I’ve noticed all evening that there’s something in his eyes that doesn’t look happy. Not at all. He’s doing a great job of covering it up, but I know something is still bothering him.
“You okay?” I ask, looking up into his eyes.
“I’m better than okay, sweetheart.”
I grin and decide not to press him further. We’re out to have fun tonight, and we can talk about whatever’s bothering him when we’re alone.
When the song ends, we walk to the bar for another drink. Martini for me, more water for him. Out of the corner of my eye, I see someone stumble.
“Abby?” I frown as the nineteen-year-old just smiles over at me with glassy eyes. “Oh, Abs.”
“Hey! Soph! I’m good.”
“Good and wasted,” Ike mutters as we approach her.
“Abby, you’ve been drinking.”
“Psh.” She waves me off but then giggles. “I only had a couple sips from drinks on the tables. It’s only a little bit. Don’t worry.”