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“Hey, I’d just like a second of your time and then we can get back to the party.” He begins. People cheer and shout his name, causing him to let out a light laugh. “I just want to thank you all for coming and for wishing me a happy birthday. This next year is going to be a big one for me. I’m starting training with the Bruins in September, and I don’t know how much I’ll be able to come around after that. So, it’s nice to have you all here with me to celebrate. I’d especially like to thank my fiancé, Kayleigh, for throwing me such an amazing party. I’m the luckiest guy here and I love you.”
The place fills with awes and people whispering that they didn’t know Holden got engaged. I guess despite introducing me as his fiancé all night, some people never caught on. Someone who clearly didn’t know, is Bianca. As I wait for him to get back to where I’m standing, I see her glaring at me, angry tears filling her eyes.
“How was that?” Holden asks, pulling my focus back onto him. “Too cheesy?”
I shake my head, trying to rid myself of the sympathy I feel for a heartless witch. “It was perfect. You’re perfect.”
“I’m not.” He kisses me. “But I try to be for you.”
I laugh. “Okay, that was cheesy.”
The rest of the night is filled with drinking and games of beer pong in the backyard. Jo is absolutely wasted, confusing Caleb for Jason even though they look nothing alike. Brandon watches her intently as a protective big brother does. Meanwhile, Holden and I are relatively sober and just enjoying the party.
“Hey, thanks for coming guys. I know you were all the way up in Maine, so you really didn’t have to.” Holden says to Jason and Caleb.
Caleb waves him off dismissively while Jason shakes his head. “No. Don’t thank me for coming. Thank me for listening to this asshole have a heart attack for the entire flight here.”
All of us laugh as Caleb scoffs. “It’s a big hunk of metal that soars through the air. Who wouldn’t be afraid of that?!”
“Normal people.” Jason answers.
“Jase!” Josephine slurs, falling into Caleb’s arms.
Jason rolls his eyes playfully as Caleb tosses her to him. “It’s for you.”
“Oh, oops.” She giggles.
Emily leans closely into my side. “I don’t get it. They have zero similarities.”
I shrug, not really knowing what to think of all this. She doesn’t drink often enough for me to have something to compare this to. Holden, however, agrees with Em, looking at Jo skeptically.
“We should all go to the beach tomorrow.” The hammered one announces, yelling it into Jason’s face. He must really like her, because his level of patience is unbelievable.
“Okay, good idea.”
She looks around at the rest of us and we enthusiastically nod along. She smiles proudly as she accomplishes her goal. I love her dearly, but she’s a sloppy drunk.
I’M STANDING IN THE driveway with Emily, waiting for Jo to finish saying goodbye to Jason so we can walk her back inside. Brandon and Holden were in the middle of a beer pong game when the guys said they were heading back to the hotel, so we left them in the back and promised to make sure Jo doesn’t get hit by a car.
“Kayleigh!” Bianca screams angrily, marching towards me.
I give Emily a look. “Look at that. She knows my name after all.” Bianca puts her hand on my shoulder and pulls harshly to turn me around. “What do you want, Bianca?”
“You stupid little bitch! That ring should be mine!”
“Excuse me?”
She crosses her arms and stands her ground. “I spent years being his shoulder to cry on, waiting for him to realize we’re meant for each other. No matter who he dated, he always came back to me. It was only a matter of time, but then you came along and ruined everything!”
The puffiness of her eyes tells me she’s been crying. Does the ice queen actually have a heart? “Look, I’m sorry, but that’s not my fault.”
“The hell it isn’t. What’s it going to take to make you go the fuck away? Money? How much do you want? Name your price.” She starts rummaging through her purse, looking for what I’m assuming is her checkbook.
I shake my head. “I don’t want your money.”
She closes her bag and steps closer. “Then let me put it this way. Break off the engagement. Leave him, leave this state, and never call him again, because if you do – I’ll absolutely ruin you.”
I laugh humorlessly. Emily is about to say someth
