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Her head popped out from around the corner. “It looks like a sack on you.”
I snarled. “Gosh, thanks.”
“It’s my welcome back party, Meli. You know our brothers invited everyone. Do you really want to wear something that doesn’t show off your killer body?”
Turning my gaze back to the window, I looked down at my brothers and Wade setting things up for the party. A few months ago, I would have been dressing sexier and sticking a few condoms in my purse just in case. Now I wasn’t sure how to read my emotions. Maybe it was this book I was writing. Or the perfect evening I had spent with Wade watching movies.
I closed my eyes and took in a deep breath. I needed to have fun. To let loose and stop worrying about every little thing Wade Adams did or said.
“Did you hear? The foreman’s house is finished,” Waylynn called out from her bedroom.
My eyes snapped open. “Really? Wade will be happy to have his own space.”
Waylynn walked past me to her closet. “Yep. I overheard him telling Trevor he felt like he was wearing out his welcome by staying in the main house.”
Guilt washed over me as I thought about the last two days. When I woke up the other night, wrapped up in Wade’s arms on the sofa, I freaked. We had both fallen asleep and I had never slept so well in my life. I had rushed away from Wade and avoided him ever since.
I stood and followed her into the closet. “He shouldn’t feel that way.”
Waylynn looked at me. “I also him heard him telling Trevor he thought it was time to maybe start dating.”
A weight landed on my chest, and I gasped for a breath.
Handing over a green dress, Waylynn looked in my eyes. “Looks like he took the hint of you ignoring him the last two days.”
My mouth fell open, but nothing came out.
“Wear this. It will make your eyes and hair stand out.”
And like that, she walked away, leaving me in her closet with a feeling of dread so overwhelming I felt sick to my stomach.
A few pieces of curly hair fell from my bun. Waylynn was right. The green dress brought out the red in my hair and my blue eyes made for a bright contrast.
As I walked down the stairs, I saw my parents carrying two bags. Chloe walked a few steps behind them.
“Where are y’all going?” I asked.
My father turned and said, “We are taking Ms. Chloe to the Marriott resort for a couple of days.”
I laughed. “You don’t want to stay for Trevor’s welcome home party for Waylynn?”
“No, sweetheart, I think we’ll be skipping this one.”
I kissed my father on the cheek. “Probably a good thing.”
He rolled his eyes as my mother touched the side of my cheek.
“Oh, Amelia. You look stunning.”
“You look like a princess!” Chloe said.
Leaning over, I kissed her on the forehead. “I’ll miss you, Chloe. Maybe we can spend a couple days together when you get back? There’s a carnival coming to town!”
Chloe jumped and cried out, “Yes! I love carnivals, Aunt Meli!”
Laughing, I ruffled her hair and looked back at my parents. “I promise things won’t get rowdy.”
My father stared like I was on drugs. “You do know this is Trevor throwing a party. And now that you’re all old enough to drink… Please make sure no one drives afterward.”
“I promise, we’ll keep everyone safe, Daddy. Paxton and I will be on watch.”
He smiled and kissed me on the cheek. “I love you, Amelia. Have fun.”
“Have fun, darling,” my mother added.
With a wave, I watched the three of them leave. I headed to the kitchen, listening to the music the DJ was spinning. The party had started an hour ago, and I was kind of surprised my parents lasted that long.
The second I stepped out the back door, I was transported to Trevor’s parties back in the day, the ones that I would sneak into. Things changed after we all came back from college. Sure, we had fun at Cord’s Place, but none of my brothers had thrown an infamous Parker party since I’d turned twenty-one.
“I’m the One” came on and I watched as mostly everyone danced on the makeshift floor. I searched for each of my brothers. Trevor was dancing with a girl I recognized from high school. She had been two years ahead of me but I couldn’t, for the life of me, remember her name.
When I spotted Cord, I rolled my eyes. He was dancing with two girls at once. Steed and Paxton were sitting off in the corner, lost in each other and totally ignoring everyone else. Tripp was standing with a few guys from his class in high school, probably talking politics.
I couldn’t see Mitchell anywhere. I was positive he had taken today off from work.
