Page 29 of Something Borrowed

Chapter Eleven

She was even beautiful pounding back a giant fish bowl filled with disgusting blue-iced daiquiri’s, he thought, watching as Adrianna and his sister sipped furiously quickly on the straws in one of the famous drink offerings Bourbon Street had to offer.

Grinning, she looked up at him. “Are you sure you don’t wantmore?”

He pushed the offered drink back. “I am not a big drinker and I promise when I do drink, I want it to taste like something far more appealing than toilet water.”

“Hey!” His sister’s eyes grew wide as she slapped at the air, “do not insult the fish bowlgods.”

Jim busted out laughing, taking the disgusting drink from the women. “I think one of you has had more than enough.” He pushed off the stool in the Olde Absinthe House and nodded toward the door. “I think they need to walk some of this off. Nextbar?”

“We are not both drunk . . . yet.” Adrianna added, grabbing the now cool shot of Absinthe off the bar and tossed it back. Gagging, she smacked her hand into her chest. “Fuck, that is even worsecold.”

He took her hand, helping her off the stool. “That is a far cry better than the slush you two have refilled twice.” He eyed the fish bowl in Jim’s hands.

“Party pooper,” Kailey called with a laugh and took off, leaving Jim trailing after to in an attempt to keep her from hurting herself.

“Betcha haven’t seen that side of your sister before?” Adrianna asked with a sparkle in her eye as she threaded her fingers throughhis.

“I have not, and I must admit, I’m pretty damned impressed at how well you’re holding your alcohol.”

She smirked, eyes dancing with amusement. “I’m not drinking nearly as much as it appears. I bite the tip of the straw about seventy percent of the time. Kailey has gotten most of it. I just wanted to see how you were in a party setting.”

“You little minx,” he shouted over the roar of Bourbon Street’s usual merriment. Tugging her against him, he slipped his arm over her shoulder, still leaving their hands entwined. “And how am I in a party setting.”

She pouted, “Rather boring actually. I kind of like it though.”

“I’m not sure if I’m offended ornot.”

“Not,” she shouted as the caught up to Kailey and Jim outside the Tropical Isle mini stand where Jim was handing over money for a Hand Grenade.

“And why isthat?”

“Because it means you’re not a party animal, and neither amI.”

“She’s lying!” Kailey hollered with a smile. “You should have seen her at the bachelorette party.

“That doesn’t count! That’s a once in a lifetime thing.”

“You better believe it is,” Jim called, kissing his wife quickly.

Jaxon couldn’t help but be happy for his sister, but at the same time, he felt as if he’d missed out on so much of her life. He didn’t know she liked to have fun – that wasn’t the sister he’d left behind. There was no way he’d known just how truly happy she and Jim were, because he hadn’t been there to see it. The military had shaped him into a much better person than he would have been if he’d stuck around New Orleans, but it also made him miss out alot.

“I think, you had best start to party with Kailey or she’s going to pissed when she realizes she was drunk alone,” Jaxon said, handing his card over to the bartender. “One Hand Grenade, tall”.

“Jaxon,” Adrianna leaned up next to him, “I wanted to do something else with you tonighttoo.”

He couldn’t help the snort that burst out at her statement. “Trust me darling, I can still make sure you scream even if you’re boozin’.”

“You say such sweet things to me, Jaxon Donovan!” She cried, letting Kailey drag her towards the music sounding from a bar whose name he couldn’t see and he’d long forgotten.

“They’re a pair of something,” Jim said, offering him a beer in a plasticcup.

He nodded. “They certainly appear to be.” Jokingly, he tapped his plastic cups to Jim’s. “To you, for somehow having to navigate these two on a fairly regular basis.”

Jim choked on his sip. “From the way things are going I think you’re going to be around for a while, when you can getaway.”

The statement brought out a grin. He’d gone to sleep last night thinking about falling in love with Adrianna, and sometime between the random Rouses’ stops and watching her broadcast from the studio, he’d fallen in love withher.

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