She places her palm over her heart. “Me? Of course not.”
I squeeze her side. “Well, this should be fun.”
We join them in the open kitchen where Avery is talking to Noah as she kneels down, stroking Aspen. Noah’s eyes flick to Jessica.
“Go give your girl a hello kiss,” Avery says, standing and taking one of the stools next to Lily. I don’t miss the side-eye she gives Mason as she does. Aspen follows her and sits at her feet.
“Here girl,” Mase says, but Aspen ignores him in favour of Avery, and I can’t help but smirk.
“Hey, sweet girl, you have fun?” Noah asks Jessica, pulling her into his arms for a kiss.
“I did, thank you, and the girls said yes,” she replies, grinning from ear to ear.
“Said yes to what?” Mason asks as he plucks an olive from the bowl on the counter.
“To being my bridesmaids,” Jessica replies.
I swear I hear him mutter something under his breath, and clearly, I’m not the only one.
“Do you have something to say?” Avery asks, and I swear you could cut the tension between them with a knife.
“Nope, not a thing, Siren,” he replies.
She grinds her jaw, but instead of responding, she rolls her eyes, flicks her hair over her shoulder, and looks towards us.
“Anyway, of course, we said yes, Jess.”
“I told you not to worry,” Noah whispers before kissing her temple.
Jessica lets out a breath. Sometimes, it’s easy to forget how much she struggles with her confidence and self-worth, but I’m glad she finally has friends like them in her corner.
“We’re touched you’d ask us,” Lily says as she fiddles with her necklace. “Who doesn’t love a good wedding?” she says with a wistful sigh.
“You’ll be next,” Avery says, pointing to Lily before reaching for an olive at the same time as Mason. She quickly pulls her hand away as if she’s been physically burned.
Mason arches a brow as he grabs an olive and tosses it into his mouth, a smirk playing on his lips.
Lily’s cheeks heat. “Yeah, maybe, we’ll see.”
“What’s everyone drinking?” Noah asks, stepping away from me and Jessica.
“Wine, if you have any?” Avery replies.
Mason coughs and mutters under his breath, “I think you’ve had enough, don’t you?”
She pushes to her feet so fast her stool almost topples over.
Aspen lets out a woof as Avery rounds on Mason. “I couldn’t give a shit what you think,” she says, stepping up to Mason, her hands on her hips. “So how about you keep your damn opinion to yourself,” she says, poking him in the chest.
He grabs her hand and tilts his head to the side.
“Easy, Siren,” he says with an edge of warning. “If I didn’t know better, I’d say you were purposely goading me.”
Her lips part, and he leans forward, the entire room crackling with energy.
I don’t know if they’re about to fuck or fight.
“You’re an arsehole,” she says, indignation in her voice. “You act as if your opinion of me matters when I couldn’t give a flying fu?—”
