I slip out of Avery’s room with ease and breathe a sigh of relief that no oneis around to see me leaving. I get in the elevator after giving myself a once- over in the mirror to make sure I’m somewhat put together. I know I’m being reckless but I can’t fucking help it.I wanted Avery so much that I almost didn’t care.I make it to the restaurant inside the hotel where we’re having the party. Raegan spots me first and moves towards me instantly, dressed in a white, short backless silk dress that I’m sure she picked because soon she won’t want to wear anything like it. I meet Wes’ gaze over her head and he gives me a nod that I’m pretty sure doesn’t have a hidden meaning but I can’t be sure.“Thank God, you’re here,” she says as she hugs me. “Lucas just got here, but he’s showering.” I almost tell her I know because that’s who called Avery, but I catch myself before it slips out. “Thank you so much for setting all of this up.” She beams up at me and squeezes me for another second befor
I turn around before we get to our kids and I’m grateful there isn’t anyone close enough to hear us. “I don’t know. Can you go five seconds without being a narcissist?” I don’t wait for her response before I keep moving towards Raegan and Lucas and yet they can both sense it as soon as I reach them.“Ah, it feels like old times.” Lucas chuckles as he takes in my annoyed expression.“Your mom says we should take pictures,” I say, ignoring my son’s usual comedic response to our arguing.“Yes, the four of us hardly have any!” She says as she links her arm with Raegan and pulls her towards the corner where they were previously taking pictures.“Correct me if I’m wrong,” Lucas points towards them as they walk away, “but aren’t you not supposed to wear white to any wedding-like functions unless you’re the bride?”Avery’s lips form a straight line and Camille lets out a sigh before turning to Avery. “I would never.”“I know.” Avery nods and our eyes meet briefly before I look away.I hate th
My knee is bouncing nonstop as I chew on my thumbnail nervously when Ihear a knock on the door. I rush to it, not knowing who it is when I fling it open without looking. I breathe a sigh of relief when it’s Theo and he pushes his way inside. “Hey, what happened?” I ask immediately as I take in his defeated expression. He drops to the bed and his head falls into his hands and I immediately fear the worst. Though I’m not exactly sure what the worst-case scenario is here. He shakes his head and looks up at me with sad eyes and I already know what he’s going to say. “I’ll talk to him.”He shakes his head. “Come here, baby.”“No,” I tell him as I turn towards the door, prepared to find Lucas and make him understand my side of this as well. I feel Theo’s hand on my elbow and he pulls me towards his chest. He wraps his arms around me as I succumb to the tears I’d been avoiding every time I thought about this outcome.He lifts my chin to meet his eyes. “Please don’t cry. I hate seeing you up
I make it back to the party and it seems like nothing is out of the ordinary. It’s nearing midnight so the festivities are winding down but people are sitting around talking and a few people feeling their drinks are still on the dance floor. I am grateful that I don’t see Avery’s parents so that’s two less people I have to deal with right now. I don’t see Raegan or Lucas either for that matter, so I’m sure they are somewhere together. I go out onto the patio where I see Bryan and Wes each holding a drink while my brother smokes a cigar. I make my way over to them and Bryan gives me a look.“You got caught?”“Lucas came down and...he’s with Rae,” Wes adds as he gives me a sad look that isn’t judgmental or with any hint of I told you this would happen.“I’m sorry this happened tonight. We were trying to wait until after the wedding to tell anyone,” I tell him because I’m sure this is not what Wes wants to be dealing with on the night of their engagement party.“Clearly, you weren’t tryi
It’s been a little over a week since Raegan’s engagement party and I’vebeen fucking miserable. It’s not bad enough to have gone through the worst breakup of my life, but the man still lives next door. I’m supposed to move out next week, so I’m grateful I’ll eventually have a reprieve from staring out my bedroom window in hopes I get just the smallest glimpse of him. I haven’t talked to Lucas, but I did talk to Raegan after she showed up at my house and forced me to talk to her since I’d been avoiding her calls. I wasn’t sure how she felt about it and I’ll be honest, she scares me a little bit. She told me to give it time and that she still wanted me to be a bridesmaid in her wedding.I’m not sure if that’s only because she still actually wants me to be in it or if it’s also to punish me a little bit by forcing me into a room with Theo and Lucas.Fuck me.While I’m definitely upset and wallowing in the misery of not seeing the man I’d quickly fallen for over the past month, a part of
I should have known Rory coming down to help me move wouldn’t come without a hundred questions and tequila shots.“I still can’t believe I didn’t realize it. Like...it was a shame that nobody had hooked up with Daddy Graham after all this time. What is the actual point of having a friend with a hot dad?” She sucks the lime into her mouth. We’d spent the last two days moving and had actually put a decent dent in my apartment. I have a couch, my bed is set up, and I have WiFi so everything else can wait as far as I’m concerned. My mom left about an hour ago after neurotically organizing my kitchen, and we’d opened a bottle of wine and then switched to tequila right after.I’m lying flat on my back on my couch with my eyes closed, with an eye mask resting beneath my eyes in hopes it will get rid of the dark circles brought on by staying up all night packing and crying all week. “How pissed is he?”Rory, who’s sitting on the floor in front of me, takes a bite of the sausage pizza we order
The bar is so loud and it’s been a while since I’ve been in a place like this.It’s also huge and I have no idea where they are. I’ve watched that video she sent me at least ten times on my way over here and each time I get angrier for torturing myself by watching it. I should just delete it.Don’t you fucking dare.The way she gasps my name the second she goes over the edge and shoots the sexiest wink to the camera, almost has me coming in my pants every time. There are two large bars both positioned in the center of the room and I walk around one and then the other before I see her in that sexy gold dress. I get closer and fuck she looks gorgeous, like she’s been out in the sun since the week I’ve seen her making her even more bronzed than usual. Her lips are painted red and quirked up in a smile towards some fucking asshole standing next to her.Fuck that.He leans down to whisper something in her ear, his hand resting at the small of her back, and I instantly feel the aggression r
After a very long forty-five minutes—trying to wrangle two intoxicated girls alone is no easy feat—I’m back at my house with Avery. As soon as we’re in my room, she’s already pulling off her clothes.“Avery,” I tell her just as she pulls her dress over her head. “Do you want to shower with me?”“I think...maybe we shouldn’t...”“Oh,” she scoffs, “we definitely should.”“I just don’t want things to get more complicated between us. I mean things are still unsettled with Lucas and—” I shake my head. “This puts us right back where we were two weeks ago. Sneaking around.”She stomps her foot. “You came to get me!” “Because you are drunk.” “And? This is not new! I know how to get myself home when I’ve been drinking, Theo. You wanted to fuck me and now you’re having second thoughts while I’m naked in your bedroom? You sure picked a fine time to stop thinking with your dick!” She unsnaps her bra and as her perfect tits spring free, I instantly crave the taste of them.“Avery.” I groan. “You’
Ten Months Later“Mrs. Graham,” I wrap my arms around my wife—as of twenty minutesago—and press a kiss to her neck.She turns around and rubs her hands up my chest before she reaches upon her toes to kiss me. “Mr. Graham.” She scrunches her nose. “You know? I think I’m just going to call you husband instead. Mr. Graham makes me feel like I’m thirteen again.” She giggles.“I don’t care what you call me as long as you’ve got this ring on your finger.” I rub the wedding band I’d just slid on her finger that joined the four-carat oval-cut engagement ring. We’d snuck off to the bridal suite for a moment before we have to join everyone at the reception and I am hoping that I can entice her to let me see what’s under her dress again. “You look so beautiful,” I tell her as I help her take her veil off. “I am the luckiest man in the world.” I cup her face and press my lips to hers.“Theo...we really can’t.” She giggles. “It’s bad enough we started the ceremony twenty minutes late because som
That night, the three of us and Raegan and Wes are at Theo’s house for dinner when Lucas speaks up. “So, how’d Camille and Shawn take it?” Lucas says as he takes a bite of the steak Theo had prepared.Theo and I exchange a glance. “Well...”Lucas’ eyes widen. “Holy shit, they don’t know?” “My mom does!” I say and Lucas’ mouth drops open.“Oh, shiiiiit. Please. You both owe me. Just let me be there when you tell Shawn.” He puts his hands together like he’s praying.Raegan giggles and shoots me a look. “You do kind of owe him.” “You’re absolutely not helping,” Theo interjects as he glares at her. “I’ve helped a lot, thank you very much,” she says with a snap of herfingers. “Besides, this is not why we’re here. We’re here to talk about wedding things.” She points back and forth between her and Wes. “This is the whole reason you’re home,” she says to Lucas as she smacks his arm. “Tuxedos. Tomorrow. All three of you. Ten a.m.”“Yes, I know,” Theo says like he’s heard this a hundred times
A few days later, I’m at the café at the crack of dawn to help my momwhen Lucas walks in and my mouth drops open. He casually waves and I immediately run around the counter. I’m hoping that his being here means he’s forgiven me or at the very least wants to talk, and that’s something.“Lucas.” I stop myself before I hug him in case he isn’t ready for that yet.“Hey, Ave.”“You look good.” I nod at him because he does. I haven’t seen him in almost three weeks and he looks like he’s lost a bit of weight but somehow also gained some muscle. He’s typically clean-shaven but he’s got more of a beard coming in and it’s startling how much more he looks like Theo now.“Been at the gym and running.” I nod. “I heard you moved.”“I did. You should come by and see it.” I hate how awkward things are between us when they’ve never been this way. Is this the new normal between us? “You want some coffee or breakfast?”“Sure.” He smiles. “Whatever. You know I like everything.” I move around the counter
After a very long forty-five minutes—trying to wrangle two intoxicated girls alone is no easy feat—I’m back at my house with Avery. As soon as we’re in my room, she’s already pulling off her clothes.“Avery,” I tell her just as she pulls her dress over her head. “Do you want to shower with me?”“I think...maybe we shouldn’t...”“Oh,” she scoffs, “we definitely should.”“I just don’t want things to get more complicated between us. I mean things are still unsettled with Lucas and—” I shake my head. “This puts us right back where we were two weeks ago. Sneaking around.”She stomps her foot. “You came to get me!” “Because you are drunk.” “And? This is not new! I know how to get myself home when I’ve been drinking, Theo. You wanted to fuck me and now you’re having second thoughts while I’m naked in your bedroom? You sure picked a fine time to stop thinking with your dick!” She unsnaps her bra and as her perfect tits spring free, I instantly crave the taste of them.“Avery.” I groan. “You’
The bar is so loud and it’s been a while since I’ve been in a place like this.It’s also huge and I have no idea where they are. I’ve watched that video she sent me at least ten times on my way over here and each time I get angrier for torturing myself by watching it. I should just delete it.Don’t you fucking dare.The way she gasps my name the second she goes over the edge and shoots the sexiest wink to the camera, almost has me coming in my pants every time. There are two large bars both positioned in the center of the room and I walk around one and then the other before I see her in that sexy gold dress. I get closer and fuck she looks gorgeous, like she’s been out in the sun since the week I’ve seen her making her even more bronzed than usual. Her lips are painted red and quirked up in a smile towards some fucking asshole standing next to her.Fuck that.He leans down to whisper something in her ear, his hand resting at the small of her back, and I instantly feel the aggression r
I should have known Rory coming down to help me move wouldn’t come without a hundred questions and tequila shots.“I still can’t believe I didn’t realize it. Like...it was a shame that nobody had hooked up with Daddy Graham after all this time. What is the actual point of having a friend with a hot dad?” She sucks the lime into her mouth. We’d spent the last two days moving and had actually put a decent dent in my apartment. I have a couch, my bed is set up, and I have WiFi so everything else can wait as far as I’m concerned. My mom left about an hour ago after neurotically organizing my kitchen, and we’d opened a bottle of wine and then switched to tequila right after.I’m lying flat on my back on my couch with my eyes closed, with an eye mask resting beneath my eyes in hopes it will get rid of the dark circles brought on by staying up all night packing and crying all week. “How pissed is he?”Rory, who’s sitting on the floor in front of me, takes a bite of the sausage pizza we order
It’s been a little over a week since Raegan’s engagement party and I’vebeen fucking miserable. It’s not bad enough to have gone through the worst breakup of my life, but the man still lives next door. I’m supposed to move out next week, so I’m grateful I’ll eventually have a reprieve from staring out my bedroom window in hopes I get just the smallest glimpse of him. I haven’t talked to Lucas, but I did talk to Raegan after she showed up at my house and forced me to talk to her since I’d been avoiding her calls. I wasn’t sure how she felt about it and I’ll be honest, she scares me a little bit. She told me to give it time and that she still wanted me to be a bridesmaid in her wedding.I’m not sure if that’s only because she still actually wants me to be in it or if it’s also to punish me a little bit by forcing me into a room with Theo and Lucas.Fuck me.While I’m definitely upset and wallowing in the misery of not seeing the man I’d quickly fallen for over the past month, a part of
I make it back to the party and it seems like nothing is out of the ordinary. It’s nearing midnight so the festivities are winding down but people are sitting around talking and a few people feeling their drinks are still on the dance floor. I am grateful that I don’t see Avery’s parents so that’s two less people I have to deal with right now. I don’t see Raegan or Lucas either for that matter, so I’m sure they are somewhere together. I go out onto the patio where I see Bryan and Wes each holding a drink while my brother smokes a cigar. I make my way over to them and Bryan gives me a look.“You got caught?”“Lucas came down and...he’s with Rae,” Wes adds as he gives me a sad look that isn’t judgmental or with any hint of I told you this would happen.“I’m sorry this happened tonight. We were trying to wait until after the wedding to tell anyone,” I tell him because I’m sure this is not what Wes wants to be dealing with on the night of their engagement party.“Clearly, you weren’t tryi
My knee is bouncing nonstop as I chew on my thumbnail nervously when Ihear a knock on the door. I rush to it, not knowing who it is when I fling it open without looking. I breathe a sigh of relief when it’s Theo and he pushes his way inside. “Hey, what happened?” I ask immediately as I take in his defeated expression. He drops to the bed and his head falls into his hands and I immediately fear the worst. Though I’m not exactly sure what the worst-case scenario is here. He shakes his head and looks up at me with sad eyes and I already know what he’s going to say. “I’ll talk to him.”He shakes his head. “Come here, baby.”“No,” I tell him as I turn towards the door, prepared to find Lucas and make him understand my side of this as well. I feel Theo’s hand on my elbow and he pulls me towards his chest. He wraps his arms around me as I succumb to the tears I’d been avoiding every time I thought about this outcome.He lifts my chin to meet his eyes. “Please don’t cry. I hate seeing you up