I laugh, shaking my head as Sophia wraps her drunken arms around Taylor and gives him a kiss.
Behind me, I hear someone say, “Cute, right?”
I know that voice. I turn to face her, Ava Grace. Her eyes look heavy as she takes me in. I swallow her up. She is in heels, showing off her amazing calves, she wears a sparkly dress, shiny and gold just like her laugh. Her breasts are pressed together, drawing the eye of every man in the room, her curvy hips are accentuated by the form-fitting dress, reminding everyone that she is a woman, as if there were any doubt. She looks like pixie dust. Magic.
“Look at you,” I say slowly, my heart pounding in my chest. I feel like I know this girl inside and out, and all I want to do this weekend is find the time to lay it all out for her. Tell her the truth. That I am the man she has fallen for.
“Look at you,” she says, brow raised. “So, do you want the speech now, or later?” she asks.
My brows furrow. Speech? Does she know who I am?
“Uh, now,” I tell her.
She folds her arms. And then unfolds them. Raises a finger, pointing at me. Fiery and sassy and so damn cute.
“I don’t appreciate the way you told your brother about our night together. Now my sister knows, and the entire wedding party knows. We’re adults here. What kind of dude tells their brother about their hook-ups?”
My eyes widen in surprise. I was not expecting this. “Tell Taylor what?” I’m trying to catch up.
“You told him that we spent the night together.” She crosses her arms, fuming. Damn, I think, this girl has got some ammo.
I think back to the day I saw Taylor after my night with Ava Grace. Our talk at the coffee shop. “It wasn’t like that. He asked where I stayed the night, it came up.” I watch Ava’s eyes consider me with skepticism. “I didn’t give him details if that’s what you are wondering.”
Ava drops her arms as if she believes me, just like that. She sits down at the bar ordering a vodka soda, and I swivel my bar stool beside her. “Honest?” she asks.
“Honest. The last thing I fucking want to do is screw anything up for anyone here. I want my brother to be happy, he deserves some happiness.”
“Oh yeah?” Ava smirks. “Seems like Taylor has a pretty cushy life, does he really need you looking after him?”
“Maybe not. But he’s still my little brother. And life was hard when we were young. Our parents died, and shit, we were in foster homes and stayed with relatives for a bit, but I have always been his family.”
“That’s a pretty heavy confession for a club called Studio 69.” Ava smiles at me, warmly.
I shake my head. “My bad. Sorry.”
“I’m sorry that your parents died.” Ava sips her drink, then surprises me. “A guy I recently dated told me his mom died when he was young too, it just breaks my heart to think of anyone losing their parents when they are young. It just really puts things into perspective.”
I raise a glass, unable to speak, knowing she is talking about me; about Heart of Gold.
She clinks her glass with mine. “To cherishing every moment.”
“Every moment,” I repeat.
She laughs, shaking her head. “Sorry about getting so pissed over Taylor. Maybe it was more me being hurt knowing that after we had an amazing night it was enough for you.”
“It wasn’t enough for me.” I’m trying to figure out how to explain the HOG situation, but before I can, Sophia and Taylor crash into us.
“Ohmigod, you guys are so freakin’ cute!” Sophia squeals. “Are you gonna hook up again? Because you have to, Samson. She needs some fun so bad.”
Ava slaps her sister’s arm. “Shush,” she whisper-yells.
“What?” Sophia slurs, clearly smashed. She would never be so enthusiastic about me having a potential fling with Ava Grace otherwise. Taylor’s arm is snaked around her waist and she wags a finger at me. “My poor sis has had the worst week. She was in love with a man and then he dumped her. Splat. Kablooey. Bang bang bang. Except not. They never banged, did you sweetie?” she says to Ava. “Never banged once, and what is worse—she doesn’t even know him.”
I look over at Ava, her eyes are filled with tears. “Stop it, Sophia, please.”
“I didn’t mean to make you cry,” Sophia drunkenly moans. “Taylor fix something. I messed it up.”
“I’ll help by pulling you away from this situation,” Taylor says, and Sophia acquiesces. She blows kisses to Ava, who smiles back bleakly.
“Well, that was awkward.”
“What was? Your drunk sister? Or the reality that she and Taylor are making out twenty feet away?”
Ava waves her hand in the air. “No, that you heard all that. The entire pathetic truth.”