Page 86 of Serenade Me

“I guess.”

“Don’t tell Jez. He’ll put frogs in her bed.”

“She’s used to it – she’s engaged to Seb!”

“First round’s on… DAD!” Hailey comes over, a tray full of shots in her arms. Our collective yell of appreciation fills the bar.

***

“So, hey, I hear you’ve become quite the heartbreaker,” Cadence says as she comes over to sit on the stool next to me later. The seat is empty after Emily and Anca left for a girls group trip to the bathroom.

“And where did you hear that?”

“A little French birdie told me.”

“And what did the nosy French birdie tell you exactly?”

“That I should probably come visit and see you one last time, before Jez kills you.”

“Fuck.”

“Seriously, what’s going on with you two?”

“I thought we were in the middle of an awkward cease fire.”

“Not you and Jez, idiot. You and her.”

I don’t say anything, just pick at the label on my beer.

“Honey, I flew five thousand hours to get here because my darling fiancée thought you needed a cuddle. Talk to me. What’s going on with you two?”

“What isn’t?”

“That bad, huh?”

“No, that good.” I turn to her and shrug.

Her face softens. “Aw, Maz.”

“No. No ‘Aw, Maz’. She’s Jez’s sister, Cadey,” I sigh.

“Yeah. And you’re his friend.”

“Bros before hos?”

“No. What I meant is, in the end, the happiness of the people he loves most will be what’s most important to him. Trust me.” She gives me a slow nod, and for just a moment, I want to believe her that this will all end well.

I lean over and give her hand a squeeze, “I’m glad to see you.”

“You too, and while your face is still pretty too,” she laughs and pinches my cheek again.

I’m about to lean in and give her another hug when we hear a loud shout from the other end of the bar. I can just make out Emily and Anca standing there surrounded by a growing group of men.

“Shit.” I jump to my feet.

“Whoa, wait. Let’s just see what’s happening.”

“I don’t need to see what’s happening, those guys are harassing them.” I take a step forward, before a leather clad arm thumps against my chest.