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“As requested. Quite a crowd you’ve got going here.”
“Oh, you know.” Felicity waved her hand at the people behind her, some dancing, most standing in clusters talking and staring. “I mentioned you were coming, and suddenly everyone wanted an invite. I hope you don’t mind. I know huge parties aren’t your thing.”
“No, it's fine.”
“We can’t stay long anyway, I’m afraid,” Aidan lied, slinging an arm over Viv’s shoulder. “I have a meeting later.”
Felicity poked her lip out in an exaggerated pout, and Viv wondered how much she’d had to drink already.
“Well, in that case, can I steal her for a minute?”
Viv glanced up at Aidan and then tracked his gaze around the room until it landed on Nico standing in the far corner, who gave them a quick nod and a signal that everything was clear on his end.
“Yeah. I’ll go grab something to drink. You want anything?" he said to Viv.
She shook her head. “No, I’m good for now.”
“Okay.” He gave her hip a squeeze. “I’ll come find you.”
He didn’t immediately move from his spot, instead watching Felicity pull her into the crowd as if he didn’t like the idea of her being out of his sight. She had to admit, it made her a little uneasy too.
With a party this big, it was impossible to know who was or wasn’t there. When she glanced up at Nico again, he was following her path through the crowd, and that made her feel a little better about not being able to see Aidan.
Winding through the guests, Viv listened to snippets of conversation. Someone expecting and hoping her parents didn’t find out, another couple getting engaged, someone cheating on her boyfriend with another woman. She turned at that one to see Aubrey Capone, worrying her lip over her infidelity. Libby would love that bit of gossip.
When they finally cleared the last of the crowd and spilled onto the patio, the cool night washed over her skin. It felt like coming up for air after being underwater. Viv recognized the group of people clustered around a fire pit that was cracking and popping. Dani with her mystery date, Alex sipping out of her own plastic cup, and Alex’s brother, RJ.
“You actually made it,” Dani said, pressing a kiss to Viv’s cheek. “Viv, meet Paula.” She indicated the curvy blonde.
“I was told I’d get to meet you tonight. It’s great to finally put a face with a vague description.”
“Where’s Aidan?” Alex wondered, taking a sip of whatever she was drinking.
“He’s getting himself a refreshment.” Felicity gestured over her shoulder with her cup.
“You left him alone in there?”
Viv chuckled. “He’s got a gun. I’m sure he’ll be fine.”
“A toast,” Felicity said, raising her glass toward the fire. “I said a toast!” she chided when no one else did the same.
Once all the glasses were raised, she started again. “A toast to happily ever after and great parties and being delightfully buzzed on a Friday night.”
“I think you’re a little more than buzzed, Liss,” Dani said, but she drank to the toast anyway.
The patio doors opened, spilling more guests and music into the night, and Dani jumped up, eyes bright. “I love this song! Come on, babe,” she said, grabbing Paula’s hand and leading her inside to dance.
RJ stood next. “I need another beer. Anyone need anything else to drink?”
At the chorus of no’s, RJ disappeared inside again. In the silence that followed, Felicity swayed on her feet, humming along off key to the song currently playing. At the sound of a crash from somewhere inside the house, her eyes shot open.
“Shit, shit.” She set her half-full glass on the edge of the fire pit. “Those drunk assholes better not be starting a fight and breaking anything I can’t replace.”
She took off toward the house, and Alex sighed. “She says that like she’s not also drunk. I’m going to go provide backup. Are you okay out here by yourself?”
“Yeah. Don’t worry about me. If you see Aidan, will you tell him where I am?”
Alex’s answer was a smile before she trailed Felicity into the house. Alone, Viv stared into the flames, suddenly regretting asking Aidan to come to this party in the first place. Everything felt so different, she felt different, and she wondered for a moment if anything would ever feel the same again.
