Smokescreen

He kisses me sweetly until the phone in the back seat rings.

“Looks like we’re here, baby. Let’s go.”

I slip the jewelry on and grab for my purse. When the driver opens the door and Max helps me out, I shriek. “You brought me to Bacchanalia?”

The driver nor Max cover their smirks.

“I’ve always dreamed of coming here. How did you do this?”

“Come on, I think the rest of the party is inside.” He ushers me through a back entrance where the maître’ d’s waiting and leads us to a private dining area.

Shock causes me to stop at the entrance. Flowers cover every surface, in true Max fashion, and the room is crowded with all our family and friends. My parents and my sister are talking to Laci and the whole Barnes family. What’s so surprising is Sara, Mason, and Matt are also in the mix laughing. Dana and Dave are talking to Landon and Max’s best friend, Chris. All conversation stops and a loud cheer erupts when they see us.

My mom gets to me first and squeezes me tight, “Happy birthday, sweetie. Apparently you’ve been hiding a very big, handsome secret.”

“Can I get to my birthday girl?” my dad bellows behind us and I turn to him.

“Stella?” The familiar touch of Max’s hand on the small of my back pulls me away.

“Mom, Dad, this is Maxwell McCoy. Max these are my parents, Jenny and Sam Sullivan.”

He shakes my dad’s hand but my mom is much less formal, instead hugging him. The next few minutes are chaos as everyone greets us and drinks are passed around. My sister, Amy, sticks close and raises her eyebrows more than once, darting her eyes to the McCoy brothers. I really can’t blame her.

My parents sit across from us at dinner and try their best to grill Max, but there are too many side conversations happening. Amy questions me a little about my new relationship, but I’m careful about what I say with so many ears around. Laci watches me with a knowing grin throughout the meal.

“Max, I’m going to the ladies room.”

His eyes flash between Laci and me and he smirks, getting up to pull my chair back. “Don’t be long.”

My sister gets up as well and follows. The three of us aren’t fully through the door when Laci screeches.

“You’ve been laid, fully and thoroughly fucked.”

I drop down and check under the stalls for other occupants, praying we are the only ones in here.

“Laci, lower your voice.”

“Is this why you haven’t answered your phone since Friday night? The last thing I remember is you dancing with a stranger and then disappearing. Max had a driver take us home when the club closed and sent a message we would see you tonight. Dana called with all the plan changes and had me tell your parents.

“Then you show up tonight, glowing like you’ve been sprinkled in gold. Literally! You’re shoes are shining, the bling in your ears is blinding and I almost can’t look into your eyes because of the shimmer. Jesus Christ, what did that man do to you?”

“Exactly what she said.” Amy points to Laci but looks at me.

“I’m not sure what he’s done to me, but I wouldn’t change one thing. I’m crazy about him.”

“That’s it? That’s all the details? The first night you rode on his bike, I get the whole ‘I almost had an orgasm’ story. Now that you actually have something to share, you have tight lips?”

“Laci!”

“I agree, Stella. I was completely blindsided when Mom told me your birthday dinner was being held at one of Atlanta’s most exclusive restaurants, hosted by your boyfriend. Not to mention the boyfriend is also Atlanta’s most eligible bachelor. What the fuck?”

“Amy, I’m sorry I haven’t told you about him. Nothing about this relationship has been easy or even public. I asked him to keep things quiet until I was sure it wouldn’t impact my business. Truth is, until Friday night, we were still hiding things. Now we’re not. I don’t care who knows. There were some hurdles we both had to jump but those are out of the way.”

“Erica?” Laci questions.

“Gone.”

She nods in approval and links her arm though Amy’s. “Alright, next weekend, my place. Stella and I can fill you in on everything.”