Broken Beast

Adam takes them. Hands one to me.

"To marriage." Mr. Fitzgerald holds up his drink. "And the lengths we go to, to protect ours."

"That's very romantic," I say.

"Yes, Cole. To my future wife. And yours." Adam taps his drink against Mr. Fitzgerald's.

Then mine.

He looks to me as he wraps his lips around the glass.

I take a sip. It's a little different—we're at a different place—but it's still citrus perfection.

And all I want to do is taste gin and grapefruit on Adam's lips.

Do we have to stay here?

Can't we go back to the apartment and fuck like rabbits?

"Oh my god, Liam was telling the truth." An excited voice interrupts me. "I can't believe it. And you're so pretty."

I turn to see a young woman in a short dress and expensive shoes.

She has the same blue eyes and intense stare Adam does.

"I thought you were in London," Adam says.

"I was. Now I'm here. Rude." She smiles at me. "I'm Adam's half-sister." She turns to Adam. "Did you not tell her about me?"

"I did," he says.

"It's okay. No one talks about me. I'm the secret shame of the Pierce family. I'm not even supposed to have the last name, but what's Daddy Pierce going to do now, huh? He's six feet under." She shrugs. "You must be Danielle."

"Opal?" I extend my hand.

She nods. "You're so pretty. And your dress, oh my god." She ignores my hand in favor of a hug. Then she turns to Adam and pulls him into an even tighter hug. "I don't forgive you for not telling me you have a girlfriend."

"Adults don't talk about these things the same way," he says.

"I'm eighteen. An adult," she says. "And the 'adults' in our family are only talking about this. Do you know how many messages I have from Liam?"

"Liam isn't an adult either," Adam says.

"Do you think I'm blind? I saw that rock from across the room, Adam! It's huge. Seriously. When did you get engaged? I thought you were still chained to your office," she says.

"We talked about over-sharing," Adam says.

"Yeah, your idea of over-sharing is telling your sister you're engaged. So maybe I'm not taking your advice, huh?" she asks.

"She does have a point there," I say.

"Yes, girl power. Right?" She offers me a high five.

I take it.

Opal laughs. "I like her. And she's so pretty too. Liam told me she was pretty, but wow… look at your boobs."

"Thanks." My cheeks flush.

"Opal," Adam says. "Can you wait until we say goodbye to our friend?" He motions to Mr. Fitzgerald, who's still glaring at Adam.

"Bye, Adam's friend. It was nice to meet you." Opal turns to me. "Do you have older brothers? Do you have any idea what it's like to find out you have older brothers the same day you find out your dead father left you a bunch of money? And that bunch of money is a pittance compared to what his legitimate sons got?"

"I can't say I do," I say.

"It's a trip. Really. Now, forget Adam. Let's sit and talk about your dress. Seriously, it's amazing. Are your boobs real? They look real, but you never know," Opal says.

"Don't ask my fiancée if she's had breast augmentation," Adam says.

"Why not?" Opal blinks. "Half the girls at my school talk about doing it."

"Do you mind if we sit, Adam?" I ask.

"No. Sit." He pulls me into a quick kiss. "I have to talk to Cole."

"Oh?" I ask.

"Work. Nothing you need to worry about," he says.

I don't believe him, but I nod anyway.

"Thank you, Adam," she says. "Thank you, Adam's friend. It's great to meet you. Now, I'm stealing the woman of the hour." She nods to Mr. Fitzgerald then stage whispers to me, "Steal my brother's martini. I want some."

"Sorry. I have a younger brother."

"No. Another over-protective sibling! Danielle, I thought we were going to be best friends," she says. "But we can't if you're no fun."

"How about we bargain?"

She perks. "What kind of bargain?"

"You tell me an embarrassing story about Adam. I tell you… what do you want to know?"

"The martini is off the table?"

I motion to the host stand. She follows me to the hostess, then the hostess leads us to our seats.

"If you can sip without Adam noticing," I say. "I want to stay on his good side."

"Please, he's so in love with you. You're definitely on his good side," she says.

"How can you tell?"

"I've known him a long time. And, honestly, he's never looked this happy. Really, you should get used to people telling you that. Adam makes the moody guys in my poetry class look well-adjusted." She shakes her head. He's ridiculous. "But now… he's almost as happy as the idiots who write dirty limericks."

"He is," I say.

"Yeah. And it's all you, really. So he won't mind if you let me drink your martini."