“Heidi and Emery are excited we’re together again.”
“I noticed that. Jensen and Landon seemed to already know.”
“Oh, yeah. I hope that’s okay.” She gave me a look of pure innocence. “I didn’t think it was a secret.”
“It’s definitely not a secret.”
“Well, good.”
“Morgan wants you to come to Fourth of July with us.”
“Oh? What are you guys doing?”
I laughed and put my hand in hers. Then, I brought our clasped hands up to my lips. “One day, we’re going to get you to say y’all, babe.”
“Not likely.”
“For the Fourth, we go to the marathon downtown at the ass-crack of dawn. Then, there’s a parade, we grill out, and there are fireworks at night.”
“Count me in,” she said with a giddy bounce to her step.
“Oh, also, I kind of got you something.”
She glanced around uncomfortably and then back up at me. “Why?”
“Because I care about you.”
“But…I didn’t get anything for you.”
“That’s okay. This is to help with your promise.”
“My…promise?” she asked skeptically.
I pulled out the paperwork I’d been carrying around all day to give to her. She took it out of my hand and read the headline.
“Austin, you didn’t!”
“I did. I signed you up for the summer art class at one of the studios in the Art District.”
“You can’t do that.”
“Well…I just did. And it’s paid for you, so you can’t back out.”
She sputtered in confusion, looking down at the paper and then up at me and then back at the paper. “Austin!”
“Babe, I’m finding you inspiration. I said I would. Plus, I’ll be there. So, consider it a date.”
She shook her head in disbelief. Her eyes were looking up at me, as if it was the first time she’d ever seen me. “Why will you be there? You don’t art.”
“I know.”
“And you’re really going to come to a painting class all summer?”
“I really am.”
“Damn you, Wright.”
Then, she threw her arms around my neck and kissed me again with that sweet cherry flavor.
It was torture, letting her go. I could have disappeared, like Sutton and Maverick, and been really fucking happy. Julia might even be up for it. She was adventurous in bed, but I wanted to prove that I was in this for good. If I could give up alcohol…eventually…then I could hold off on sex in a public place. At least…this time.
“Go hang with Heidi and Emery. I have to do this for a while, and then we can head out,” I told her.
“All right.” Her eyes darted to the open bar. “Are you going to be okay with all the alcohol?”
“Yeah. I’m fine.”
She frowned. “You say that, but I do want to help.”
“You’re helping, just being here.”
It was true. When she was around, I was much less tempted to dive face-first into a bottle.
“Okay. Text me if you need me. I’m going to look around this house because, holy fuck, Austin.”
I laughed. “Yeah, Jensen likes to go all out.”
“That he does.”
She kissed me one more time before running back to Heidi’s and Emery’s sides. Heidi hip-checked her, and they burst into laughter. Emery stuck her finger in Julia’s face, and she held her hands up. Then, she pushed Emery and Heidi together, as if to say, Don’t worry; I won’t break up this love affair. Heidi slung her arms over both girls’ shoulders, and then they disappeared into the next room.
Patrick appeared at my side. “Don’t panic.”
“Panic?” I asked in confusion. I tore my eyes from where Julia had disappeared to look at Patrick. “Why would I panic?”
“I didn’t know they’d show up.”
“They?”
But Patrick didn’t have to tell me. I could see clear as day who he was talking about as Maggie and Mindi walked into the house. Maggie caught my eye with a characteristic smirk before walking straight to the bar.
“What the hell are they doing here?” I asked.
“I don’t know. You said nothing was going on.”
“Nothing is going on!”
“Okay. So then…she probably won’t even come talk to you.”
“Aren’t you talking to Mindi again?”
Patrick frowned. “Define talking.”
“I hate you.”
Of course, Maggie steered directly toward me with Mindi hot on her heels as soon as they had drinks in hand. Maggie was tall with chestnut brown hair that barely brushed her shoulders, and she was wearing her standard-issue skimpy dress and heels. I’d hardly seen her in anything else. She was carrying a glass of white wine and a beer.