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“Shh, keep your voice down,” I hiss at her. “And what even makes you think that?”
She rolls her eyes. “Please, you keep looking at each other the way Rhys and I do whenever we’re at one of his boring work things. It’s like you can’t wait for everyone to leave so you can rip each other’s clothes off.”
“That’s more information than I needed about you and Rhys,” I mutter, taking a sip of my beer.
“Well, it’s not like this was an immaculate conception,” she says wryly, gesturing at her very large belly. She’s only a few weeks away now and looks like she could pop at any minute. “What I don’t get is why you’re being so secretive. It’s not like everyone doesn’t already know you guys hooked up. According to Vanessa, your weird vomit sex was all anyone could talk about after the wedding. It made me really glad I wasn’t there.”
“Bloody hell. We didn’t have vomit sex,” I say with an eye roll. “Besides, things are different now.”
“How?” she asks, clearly curious.
Well, apart from the fact we’re not making it up this time... “It just is. I can’t really explain why.”
“Oh my god.” Carly’s mouth falls open so wide I can practically count her teeth. “You have feelings for him.”
“Will you keep your voice down,” I hiss.
“What’s going on?” Vanessa asks, inserting herself in the conversation. Great, there’s no way this could end badly .
“Alastor’s in love,” Carly announces, practically swooning.
“With himself?” Vanessa says with a snort.
“I’m notin love,” I growl. “And can we please stop talking about this when there are so many people around.”
“Why doesn’t he want to talk about it?” Vanessa asks Carly .
Carly just shrugs. “I don’t know. It’s supposed to be a secret or something. Even though anyone who looks can see them eye fucking each other. It’s really uncomfortable.”
“If you’re that uncomfortable you should leave,” I suggest. “And take the rest of the party with you.”
“So you and Jack can have some alone time?” she flashes me an evil smirk. “Nah, I think I’m going to stay a good long while. Or until five thirty, because that’s when Rhys is picking me up.”
Before I can issue a retort, Xav approaches our little group, greeting my sisters with kisses on their cheeks and then clinking his beer bottle to mine. “Hey, mate— enjoying the party?”
“Oh, yeah. It’s awesome. Thanks so much for organising it.” I try to keep my tone genuine, but a thread of sarcasm leaks through. Xav doesn’t seem to notice, however .
“No worries, buddy. Hey, here’s a question—how does Jack know your friend Stevie? I wouldn’t have thought they travelled in the same circles.”
I almost choke on a mouthful of beer and Xavier gives me a couple of firm pats on the back to help out. Judging by the wry smile on his face, I’m guessing he’s putting my reaction down to the horror I’d feel if Jack actually did know Stevie from the same circles I do. Which, I guess istechnicallytrue, but only because I dragged him to Rob’s place that one time.
“I have no idea,” I finally say. “Maybe they just met this afternoon. Stevie’s a chatty guy, he can make friends in minutes.”
Xav nods. “Yeah, you might be right. Should I warn Jack about...you know?”
“He’s a big boy, I’m sure he can handle it,” I say dismissively .
Xavier still looks a little concerned, but he shrugs and takes another sip of his beer, apparently taking my word for it.
“How was Europe?” Carly asks Xav.
His face lights up with excitement. “Oh, it was amazing!”
I listen to him rave about the trip for a little while before extricating myself from the conversation. I want to find Jack so we can sneak off somewhere as planned, but I keep getting waylaid by guests. I know I should be grateful that so many of my mates have chosen to spend their Saturday afternoon celebrating my birthday, and itisnice to catch up with everyone, but it’s difficult to be enthusiastic when I can’t do the one thing I want.
I don’t think it’s even about the sex. I mean, sex is great —especially sex with Jack. And I was definitely looking forward toa lotof sex today. But mostly I was looking forward to just being together. Just the two of us in our little bubble. Talking and laughing and kissing. Watching random shit on YouTube. Just...being
I’m not sure I even realised how much I loved the little world we’d created for ourselves until outside forces intruded on it.
