Eventually, Wyatt reaches between their bodies and grabs Callum by the chin, his dark eyes cautiously searching for something I don’t think he’ll find. Cal meets his gaze directly, but doesn’t dare speak. There is no making this better. Nothingwill change what just happened. Wy smiles, like that look said enough, and presses his mouth to his without another word.
Callum’s eyes flutter shut, clinging to Wyatt like a prayer.
“I need a drink,” Carter murmurs.
“We all do,” Declan says with a sigh, rising to his feet. “I’ll make a round and then we’ll discuss how to handle Morgan. At least we have a month before we have to see either of them again.”
Boston finally stops typing and drops his phone to the table. He lets out a long breath, glancing up at Cal and Wyatt, relief washing over him when he realizes that amidst all this bullshit, they seem to be okay.
His eyes slowly glide to mine, and I smile gently, mouthing the words:I’m sorry.
I mean them.
He picks his phone back up and leans back in his seat. Within a second, my phone vibrates by my side. It’s him.
Boston
Thank you, and thank you for wearing pink.
I smile, locking my phone and looking anywhere but him as my cheeks turn the same colour as my dress.
CHAPTER FORTY-FIVE
boston
What was supposedto be a night in at Lowesy’s ended up being a night out atIcebox.After the initial shock wore off, there was a need to blow off some steam. The drinks were poured quickly and the tequila shots kept coming. Those, I think, were for Penny’s benefit, because she miraculously calmed down once that shit was flowing through her bloodstream.
When the bar closes, nobody seems to want to go home. Funny thing about pain, isn’t it? It lashes out and it either makes you want to hide in solitude, or cling to the people closest to you. Since this wound involves all of us, involves a person we were supposed to be able to trust, we’re doing the clinging type of coping.
Forker’s place is closest, so that’s where we end up. The girls have put karaoke on the television, and they’re using these light up microphones to put on grand performances for the room. Drunk and hazy, I watch with heavy lids, laughing for most of it because none of these girls can sing. It sounds like someone turned on a bunch of kitchen appliances at the same time and let them run for hours.
“That’s the love of my life up there,” Declan says proudly from the table, pointing at Penny. She’s singing that song fromTitanic, caressing Arden’s face as she does.
Carter huffs a laugh, arms across his chest. “Mine too.”
Wyatt leans forward on his elbows, his brown hoodie bunching up around his neck as he flashes that crooked grin. “Ten bucks says she yells at me to get up there first.”
Dec scoffs. “It’ll be me.”
“Twenty?” Wyatt asks, glancing at him and extending his hand.
Dec smacks his palm into his. “I’m her husband, Wy. I have priority now.”
Arden and Ariana do a duet after that, with Penny on the couch, using her phone as a flashlight like she’s their biggest fan at a personal concert. I don’t recognize the song choice, but it’s something from the nineties, and I’m fairly certain it’s a boy band. I put down a card and risk a look at Saltzy, who is drunker than I’ve ever seen him. He’s grinning from ear-to-ear, swaying in his seat along to the song.
I bite back a smile. I’m happy that these two were able to enjoy themselves after all the shit that was thrown at them tonight. Lemmy is doing her thing behind the scenes, but she isn’t God. If Morgan wants to run with this, there are other journalists and media companies who will take the scoop.
“Wyatt!”It’s a loud demand through the microphone speaker. We all whirl toward the living room. Penny’s holding out the second microphone, smiling wide. “Get up here! I want to sing One Direction!”
Wyatt’s smug grin could blind the whole table. He drops his cards with a smack, and dramatically turns to her husband as he pushes out of his seat. Declan glares at him, reaching for his wallet begrudgingly. Wyatt outstretches his palm as the first notes of the One Direction song play through the speakers,tipping his chin in thanks when that twenty dollar bill is pushed right into his hand.
He dances his way toward the television with a skip in his step, and takes the microphone that Penny is holding out for him. He doesn’t miss a beat as his part begins, not needing to see the television to know his lines—like he’s done this hundreds of times with her.
“You’ve been trumped by the Wy-Guy,” Forker says with a smirk, shaking his head.
Lowesy sighs, crossing his arms in front of his chest. “I always am.”
Saltzy chuckles, placing a hand on his shoulder. He gently gives him a shake. “Trust me. We could be in the middle of a movie, a wedding,anything,and if that girl calls him—he drops everything. It’s the way they are.”
