Page 35 of Keep Me

Quickly, she sits upright and recomposes herself. “No, don’t use that.”

My smirk turns into a scowl. “Why not?”

“Because it’s too…”

“Too what?”

“Nothing. Just say darling.”

“I don’t want to saydarling,” I argue.

“Why do you always have to be so difficult?”

“You’re the one being difficult…mo ghràidh,” I add that last part with a hint of humor.

“Ugh!” In a fit of frustration, she bursts out of her chair and stomps angrily out of the room. Just before I hear her footsteps on the stairs, she hollers back, “This is sure to be a disaster, and it will be all your fault!”

I can’t help but laugh as I lean back in my chair, teacup in hand, propping my boots up on the table the same way she did.

Chapter Twelve

“Barclay!” I hear the sound of my oldest mate, Liam McNeil, just as the front door opens. He ignores the valet at the door taking jackets, and he comes barreling toward me with a laugh.

“McNeil!” I reply with a wide grin. He throws his arms around me and pounds his fists on my back in a brutal hug.

As we pull away, he grabs my face. “I haven’t seen you in months. You got uglier.”

“I felt bad for taking all the ladies. Had to even the playing field for you.”

He lets out a boisterous laugh. “How kind of you.”

I lead my oldest and closest friend into the sitting room, where a few of our other guests are already waiting. Most of them are coupled. Friends from uni who have all grown up together. We still have the same old parties we had when we were young. They’ve just changed…a little.

The only truly single ones left from the old crew are McNeil and me, but he’s about to learn that I have technically left him as the only stag at the party.

This is the first time my friends have visited since I stopped throwing wild parties. Nearly two years it’s been since then, andalready I can feel their eyes and expectations. This won’t be like it was before though, or so I keep telling myself.

What I promised my sister was true. This weekend will not end up like one of those parties.

Sylvie is still up in her room, and I’m starting to get nervous that she’s really not coming. Should I go up there and check on her? I’ll drag her out if I have to.

The rest of my friends greet Liam with enthusiasm as my eyes keep scanning toward the staircase at the foyer, waiting for her to make her way down.

“Let me get you a drink,” I tell Liam as I lead him to the bar.

“Thanks, mate,” he replies. I pour two fingers of Macallan into a glass and pass it to him.

“It’s good to see you again,” he says with a crooked smile before lifting the drink to his lips.

“You too,” I reply.

I notice out of the corner of my eye that Liam’s gaze tracks carefully around the room, but he’s not focusing on the people. It’s almost as if he’s looking for something.

“What are you looking for?” I ask with a chuckle.

“What the hell are you up to tonight? You ain’t got any of that kinky shite going on, do you?”

I nearly spit out my whisky. “I told you already. I’m done with that shit.”

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