“Not really, no.”
She seemed to like that. “Oh? Why not?” Bree asked, smiling and fluttering her lashes.
“Not really my type.”
Bree stepped closer, leaned in, and lowered her voice. “Whoismore your type?” She looked up into my eyes, one brow up and the corner of her mouth curling.
My stomach dropped. It wasn’t inappropriate on the face of it, but I wouldn’t be okay with my girlfriend talking to Miles that way. We wouldn’t break up over it, but I’d be upset with her.
Actually, if Ryder walked in right at that moment and started talking to a guy the way she was talking to me, I’d be pissed. More than pissed, fucking enraged, and hurt, and kinda sad.
“Um.” I backed up and chuckled, feeling my face redden. “I, uh…”
Bree laughed, gripping my arm tighter and letting her head hang back. “It’s okay. You can tell me later.”
My skin crawled. She wasn’t hitting on me, but it also wasn’tnotflirting. I think if I gave it back to her, she would’ve recoiled. Not made a scene, but made it clear I was being inappropriate. Like she just wanted to know she had my attention, not that I should have hers.
We hung out there for another hour, and it was the first time I really paid attention to Bree. Not that I could do anything else. She was always the off-center of attention. Others spoke, laughed, and joked as if she were allowing them to entertain her. I’d never noticed it before, and I fucking hated it.
I also never noticed how much Bree drank. She never got a fresh glass or garnish. When it was three-quarters empty, she’d put it behind her, and when she picked it up, it was three-quarters full. She must have tipped the bartender really well to keep it on the sly like that. Anyone paying attention to her performance rather than her behavior would think she had only a single vodka soda the entire time.
Miles sat next to her, smiling and laughing, and making jokes right along with everyone else. But he looked and sounded flat. Or, no, not flat… empty. Not showing emotions so much as performing them. It was familiar, and I couldn’t remember the last time there was a genuine smile on his face. How long had he been that way? Was I such a terrible friend, or just that fucking oblivious?
At five minutes to midnight, Bree exploded. Miles couldn’t see her once the clock struck twelve. A panic ensued. Who was drunk? Who could drive? How many people could fit in what cars? How would we get the cars left there in the morning before the wedding? It didn’t matter. Miles had to get out.
The guys were all staying at the Becketts’, and the girls at the hotel with the rest of Bree’s and Miles’s out-of-town family. Jason wasn’t drinking and offered to drive Tyler, Connor, and a few cousins. I was sober too, and could’ve offered to drive, but I let the chaos wash over me. I should’ve at least taken Miles as his best man, but I kept my mouth shut.
Yes, I was scared that if I were alone in a car with Miles, I’d let it all slip and ruin his wedding, our friendship, and his family, but really, I wanted a moment alone. Just a single secondto take a breath before the chaos of the day ahead consumed all of us.
I had parked next to Bree’s sister and was about to pull away when they walked out. I didn’t know where anyone else was, and they didn’t see me sitting in my car. Bree had her phone to her ear, but spoke to her sister loud enough to hear through my closed window.
“For FUCK’S sake, Annabelle! You’re such a fucking drunk slut. You couldn’t justpretendto not drink? If we show up at the hotel now, they’ll… Yeah, Mom? She’s drunk, and everyone saw her… I know, she’s a fucking disgrace. Can you or Daddy come back and pick us up?… I don’t fucking know!…”
Bree and I made eye contact through the window. My chest felt like it was going to explode.
“Wait, never mind, the best man is still here… No, Miles is with someone else… I don’t know why he didn’t… You should be happy you don’t have to come get us!”
She hung up, then tried to open my back door, but it was locked. After trying again, she knocked on my window. “Hello? Open up.”
It wasn't a question, or even a demand, just annoyance. I unlocked my door, and she shoved her sister inside before coming around to the passenger side.
Once she sat down, her annoyance was gone. She was drunk, not sloppy like her sister, who shut her eyes as soon as the door was closed, but pretty trashed.
“Thanks, Finn. ThankGodyou didn’t take Miles. We would’ve been stranded!”
“Yeah. No worries.”
“And you already saw what a drunk slut she is. Sorry about that.” Bree laughed. I never realized what an unpleasant sound it was. “So, we’re cool, right?”
“Absolutely.”
“Great.” She smiled at me. “I always knew I could trust you.”
“Uh, yup.”
Her smile turned lopsided, and her eyes swam in their sockets. “Should’ve had Miles hang with you more. But that’s okay. When we move, you’ll come over all the time. You’re a good influence on him.” She laughed. “From one moral influencer to another. Just don’t go making a brand outta it.”
“Uh, I won’t?”
