Page 70 of Finding Emotion

“And it was my idea,” Jami said, squeezing Skylar’s hand. She burped, and her other hand flew to her mouth. “Whoops. I had to drink more than a little to do that.”

Skylar took in her sister’s flushed cheeks. “I’d say, you little lush.”

Jami pouted. “Malcolm won’t ever touch me when I’m drunk like this.”

“He’s trying to take care of you,” Celia reassured her.

Erin snorted. “But Jami would prefer if he took care of her in another way. Am I right?” She nudged Jami’s arm.

Skylar’s sister blushed but nodded. “Just as well we’re crashing together, I guess.”

“About that.” Erin bit her lip.

Katie leaned across the seat to grab her friend’s arm. “You said you wanted it to be just us girls tonight. That you were worried you were clinging to Nicholas too much.”

Erin groaned. “You were the one that told me my worrying was stupid, and you know what? You were right! Are you happy?”

Katie released her. “Immensely. Can you say that again?”

Erin flopped back in her seat. “You were right, okay?” It was her turn to pout. “Screw sleeping alone. I’d rather drool on Nicky Boy’s neck.”

“And you probably do.” Katie laughed.

“Oh, she does.” When the women’s eyes moved to Celia, she flushed. “I mean, you did during your initial recovery period.”

“Ooh, Celia, you perv! You watched us together.” Erin grinned at her.

“No!” Celia flushed. “I was supposed to be taking care of you, but Nick came, and I only peeked—” She pursed her lips as she cut herself off. “This is only sounding worse, isn’t it?”

“At least you realized,” Jami said with a pat.

“You weren’t even allowed to have sex then,” Celia said.

“Shit, yeah, don’t remind me. Those were dark times, chick.”

They all laughed, and Skylar enjoyed watching it. Each of them seemed really happy. Even Jami, who’d been through hell not that long ago.

Skylar had kind of felt that way that morning, before she’d loaded on all of her baggage again.

The house where the limo dropped them off was normal-looking, with a white picket fence and everything. The guys, and two sleeping babies, weren’t expecting to see them.

Damon’s sloppy grin made it obvious they’d been drinking too. The absolute beam he was shooting her was pretty adorable as he patted the cushion beside him. “Skylar, sit here.”

She was tempted to sit in his lap instead, but worried that would embarrass him in front of all his friends. She still gave him a hard kiss before settling in, and his drink-flushed cheeks got a tinge redder. “Hey, Mr. Sweetface. Having fun?”

His head leaned on her shoulder. “More now,” he murmured sleepily.

Skylar laughed. She took his empty shot glass out of his hand and leaned toward him to place it next to the tequila bottle on the end table. Her jostling as she moved back had his head sliding down to rest in her lap instead.

Skylar’s hand went to his head, finding his hair soft as she stroked it. Their position reminded her of when he let her sleep against him the other night. “Has he drunk any water?” she asked. When she looked up, she found quite a few of them staring at her. She focused on her sister. “In fact, none of you have drunk much water. It’ll help the hangovers in the morning. I should know.” Her lips twisted as she was reminded of all the times she’d imbibed too much. Not just alcohol either.

“Good idea,” Malcolm said, steering Jami toward the kitchen.

Erin had already found Nick’s shoulder. She looked a lot like her brother in the way she used her husband as a pillow.

Celia held out her hands toward the man with the baby resting on his chest. “You know she can’t stay sleeping there.”

“Let’s go put her down together.” Skylar had heard a lot about Trenton from the women, and found his smile as gentle as they’d claimed. He stood, shifting the baby to rest in one arm while he wrapped the other around Celia.

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