Page 65 of The Killer Card

Chapter Twenty

Naomi

My phone buzzes in my clutch, and the moment I unlock the screen I'm rolling my eyes to the heavens.

I know my brother too well and I know exactly what he’s phishing for without having to ask. But, with a sigh, I humor him anyway.

My eyes find Graham across the room with little effort and I kind of hate that. I hate that my senses are somehow trained to find him. Like I’m the world’s best homing pigeon but only for Graham fucking Rosales.

His bubbles pop up again before I can refute or correct that statement.

I suck my teeth when a picture of Graham working out, clearly pulled from his social media pops up on my text thread. He has no right to look that hot when he’s that sweaty. And of course, it’s a shot where he’s not wearing a shirt so all eight of his abs are in the shot. Who even took this picture?!

I roll my eyes so hard I see my brain.

After the incident with Clara four years ago, Nathan made himself more of a presence at The Pink Flamingo. Which meant he was stuck around his long-term on and off again boyfriend. The two of them ended up back on again and in a miraculous turn of events, never went back off. They’ve been married an entire year now, which is really impressive for my brother.

I shut off my phone, shoving it back in clutch, reaching for my water. I’ve been occupying the same high top at this little shindig for the last hour.

A bunch of Elias and Rowan’s family drove in today so they can attend the rehearsal dinner tomorrow. Ivelisse and the sister I have yet to meet have caught Clara in a rapid-fire conversation I could never follow even if I was fluent in Spanish. Cousins and nephews and nieces run in between groups of adults, trying to catch up to Cristian. Not the party type, he brought a soccer ball to the outdoor event and has offered whoever can steal the ball from him one hundred bucks. Meanwhile, Nelly has taken full possession of Elias’ eldest niece’s baby daughter and refuses to give her up.

I’m pretty fucking sure if she batted her lashes at him hard enough, Elias would let her kidnap that baby. If she’s not knocked up by the time they come back from their honeymoon I will not only be shocked, but I will owe Clara so much fucking money. The way they go at it, I’m surprised she’s not pregnant right now. I know for a fact she had her IUD removed weeks ago. She Facetimed me while she was having it taken out, as if this was an experience I absolutely needed to be part of.

I mean, it totally was. I did not however, need her to show me the little device once it was out of her.

A belated shiver racks my spine. Sometimes I fear we might be a little too close. Love them both to death, but I could live without the overtly detailed descriptions of either Elias or Rowan’s girth.

“Cold?”

“Fuck!” I nearly jump out of my own skin when Graham appears behind me. Okay, maybe I’m not a homing pigeon for him. I didn’t even notice him making his way over here. Hand to my chest, I glare at him. “You scared the shit out of me.”

He smirks. “Now we’re even. You know, from when you startled me the other day.”

“I was already on the porch, asshole. You failing to notice me was hardly my fault.”

I raise my glass to my lips. I had the bartender put my water in a Tom Collins glass with a wedge of lemon to be more discreet about not joining the festivities. What I told Cristian the other day was true. I really don’t want to make a big deal out of this whole sobriety thing, especially not the week of Nelly’s wedding. Tomorrow is her rehearsal dinner and then the wedding. Then she’ll be off on the most amazing honeymoon with the man of her dreams. I’ll tell her after.

I will definitely tell her and Clara after.

“This dress is familiar,” Graham notes, setting his beer down on the high-top next to my glass. I look down at the black satin number with the very open back. I paired it with a pair of gold heels which are now killing my feet. I used to never notice that before, how much my feet hurt. Turns out alcohol numbs everything. “Black is a little ominous for a wedding party though.”

“Don’t worry,” I raise my glass to my lips. “My rehearsal dinner dress is greener than your eyes.”

“Not neon I hope.”

I snort, remembering the horrible bridesmaid dress Flora Hastings picked out for Nelly’s last wedding. “God no. Emerald,” I assure him.

“Same heels?”

I look down at my gold, strappy shoes. “Maybe?”

He nods appreciatively. “That’ll look great on you.”

I cock my head and my hip. “Since when do you take interest in women’s fashion, Graham Rosales?”

A slight smirk pulls at his mouth. “I was taught complimentary colors at a very young age, Naomi Mychal,” he rebuttals with my full name. “I grew up rich remember? Poverty is a newly acquired status.”

“You’re not impoverished,” I roll my eyes. “And I’d bet my Amex you have more than… Nintey thousand in the bank?”