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This was harder than I had anticipated. When Riley had called me this evening and asked me to come to her house for a girls’ night, I’d said yes because I didn’t feel like I could tell her no. Now that I was here surrounded by the females that had once been a big part of my life, I wasn’t sure my emotions could take this. I didn’t know what Riley had told them, but the moment I had walked in the door, Willa had run over and thrown her arms around me. Aurora had smiled at me and said she had missed me. Then Maggie had walked up to me and handed me a glass of bubbly pink wine with a grin on her face.
“Tallulah, you remember Ezmita,” Riley said as shebrought a tray of cookies over to set on the coffee table.
“Yes, it’s good to see you. Are you and Asa…” I paused, unsure if that was why she was here. The last time she had been around the group had been the summer after graduation.
She blushed, then nodded.
“Finally,” Maggie said, picking up a cookie from the tray. “Asa admitted his feelings and did something about it.”
“Speaking of relationships and all,” Willa said, “I’m just going to grab the elephant in the room by the trunk and get that over with. Don’t be mad at Riley, but she told us what happened. I wasn’t surprised. I’d already figured it was something like that. You’re not a cheater. So that’s all clear, and you’re here just like old times.”
Riley looked at me nervously, and I smiled. I wasn’t upset she’d told them. It wasn’t a secret; it was just hard to talk about.
“Ryker is trying to get him to talk to you,” Aurora said softly.
I nodded my head but said nothing.
“All right, enough of that,” Riley said. “Let’s drink and”—she glanced at the bag in my right hand—“eat whatever Tallulah’s momma has sent in that bag.”
Laughing, I walked over and put the large white bag on the table beside the cookies. Mom had been so excited thatI was going she’d packaged up all the brownies, then put them, along with the lemon bars she’d made this afternoon and all the fudge she had stored in the freezer, in a bag for me to bring. “She can’t help herself,” I said. “Baking and painting are her two passions in life.”
“Oh my God!” Maggie squealed when she pulled out the plastic container with the fudge in it. “I’m going to gain ten pounds tonight.”
The eating, drinking, and talking began, and before I knew it two hours had gone by. There was little I didn’t know about everyone now. I’d been caught up on it all. I wished I knew what I was going to do next. I seemed to be the only one lost. Which made my world even more lonely.
“Oh no,” Maggie blurted out in the middle of Riley telling a story about Bryony. We all looked her way as she jumped up and hurried to the window. “One, two, three,” she whispered, then turned around to face us. Except her gaze wasn’t on the group, it was on me. “It’s the guys. All of them.”
My heart began to beat faster as her words sunk in. I stared at her, unsure what I should do and hoping someone would instruct me. Did I stay? Did I leave out the back door? Was I overreacting?
“Brady is smarter than this,” Riley said, standing up and going to the door.
“Unfortunately Gunner isn’t. He likes to stir things up,” Willa said, frowning.
“I’ll go out there and stop them,” Maggie offered.
“No,” I said, holding up a hand. “No. It’s fine. Really. He must know I’m here. I did come because he sent the invitation. We were going to see each other anyway.” My voice sounded calm, and I was relieved it didn’t give away the current state of my emotions.
“This might be a good thing,” Aurora said, and I knew she was trying to ease my worries. I doubted anything good would come of it.
The door opened. Brady came inside first, and his gaze went directly to Riley. “This is not my fault. I’m sober. However, not everyone is, and, well…”
“Honey, I’m home!” Gunner announced as he pushed past Brady into the house. His eyes went to the food on the coffee table. “I told you they’d have the goods! Tallulah, I love your mother, and it’s fucking good to see you.”
Willa rolled her eyes. “Figures you’d be one of the drunk ones.”
He grinned at her and winked. “Hey, baby,” he said. “I missed you more.”
West came in next, followed by Asa. They both appeared sober. West looked more concerned than anything. He whispered something to Brady, then headed over to Maggie.
“You can have my seat,” I told Asa, since I was sitting by Ezmita.
He glanced at Ezmita and gave her an apologetic smile, then back to me. “I might not need to sit down just yet.”
Just behind him, I heard Ryker curse, then laughter. Nash’s laughter. My heart slammed inside my chest, and my throat felt as if someone had a vise grip on it. Unable to look away from the door, I watched as Ryker came inside with Nash, who was completely hammered and leaning on Ryker for support. My eyes couldn’t take him in quickly enough. I inhaled sharply and felt light-headed. He straightened and pushed away from Ryker, then laughed again.
“The damn steps were moving. I’m good now,” he slurred slightly, then, as if he realized where he was, his gaze moved across the room until he found me.
I couldn’t move, much less speak. I just sat there staring back at him. I wanted to say so many things. I had gone over in my head hundreds of times all that I would say when I saw him again, but I wouldn’t be saying them tonight.
