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I stepped away from the bar and glanced out into the hall. Calista was hugging her cousin while Palmer cried. Calista’s hands ran up and down the length of Palmer’s back.
“Shit, is that Rylan Greene? Tell me my sister hasn’t seen you yet.”
I turned to find Dion behind me.
“Damn it. Can you believe this shit show?” he asked.
We looked around at all the lookalikes. I lifted my wrist to check how long before Dori was supposed to make her “surprise” entrance.
“My grandma is her best friend. I can believe it.” I rocked back on my heels. “Plus, I had to slip the DJ the music she wants played when she arrives.”
He ran his hand down his face.
“Do I even want to ask?”
“‘Raise your Glass’ by Pink.” I choked on my beer from the laugh sputtering up my throat. “I thought for sure it was going to be Dean Martin or something.”
“Did you really?” Dion asked with no surprise on his face.
“Nah. I half expected ‘Gin & Juice’ by Snoop Dogg.”
Dion spit his drink all over the floor, laughing. “I can actually imagine her doing that.” He imitated Snoop Dogg with his hand in the air, moving his body to the beat of the music.
“What’s so funny?” Calista joined us and crossed her arms, apparently unimpressed.
“Rylan is. Who knew he was so funny!” Dion smacked me on the back and grabbed a waitress, telling her about the spill on the carpet.
“Dion!” Jamison’s son Callum ran up and pulled his cousin away to discuss video games.
I turned to Calista. “I guess that leaves us.”
“I need a drink.”
As she turned, a squeal erupted through the speaker and I looked toward the front of the room, where my grandma had the microphone. She tapped it as if she was a comedian or some pop star everyone had been waiting to hear from. “She’s pulling in now. Everyone hide!”
The lights went out before I could find a place to go, and the only source of light was the candles floating in the bowls on each table.
“Is this really necessary?” Calista said in a low voice.
My body buzzed at having her so near in the dark. I stepped closer to her when I knew I shouldn’t. My hand fell to her hip as though I had no control of my appendages. She stiffened for a moment, and I held my breath until she sank into my hold. Her back fell to my chest, her head on my shoulder. One thing I’d always liked about Calista was her height—I didn’t have to bend down to kiss her.
“What are you doing?” she whispered. Her minty breath fanned across my cheek.
“I have no idea.”
I allowed my lips to fall on hers, knowing the consequences. She hated me, but she couldn’t deny me. Which would probably only make her hate me more.
I slid my tongue along the seam of her lips and she opened, her tongue sliding into my mouth and meeting mine. She swiveled in my hold, her arms moving around my neck, and my hands slid down her back. The kiss wasn’t nearly as powerful as that first one years ago—more like a homecoming—but the longer it lasted, the more I wanted to push her under the table so that when the lights popped on, we’d still be in a bubble where no one knew anything.
But sadly, we were warned before the lights popped back on.
My grandma’s whisper into the microphone was an ice bucket over my arousal. “She’s here! Shhh. One. Two.”
At three, I ended the kiss and stepped back right when the lights turned on. I blinked and took a slug from my beer as if nothing was new.
Everyone screamed surprise, and Pink’s voice sounded from the speakers. Dori pretended to be surprised, and her small great-grandchildren rushed to her as if she’d had the entire thing choreographed.
I side-eyed Calista. Her hands were over the back of a chair, gripping it so hard her knuckles were white. Her back rose and fell with her deep breaths. Our eyes caught for a moment, and I knew she felt what I was. She wanted to leave this party and be alone with me.
