Page 75 of Follow Your Bliss

She smiled mischievously. “A remote control. When we go in there, we can’t act like we’re together, but…” She leaned her mouth close to my ear. “Every time you press that button, you make my vibrator pulse for thirty seconds. I want you to go through this whole party thinking about how wet this pussy is for you.” She nipped my ear and got out of the car.

Annnnd I was instantly hard. “This is yourbestbehavior?” I called out. I sat for a minute studying the controls on the remote. How did I get mixed up with such a damn siren? She got our gifts from the back and walked around to where I was still sitting in the driver’s seat, reeling with excitement.

She tapped on the window. I put it down, and she leaned in, her low-cut dress displaying breasts I wanted to bury my face in. “Are youcoming? Or not?”

“You’redefinitely coming.” I shooed her out of the open window and exited my vehicle.

On the sidewalk, I reached for her hand, then pulled back. I couldn’t let anyone see that. I was absolutely being a coward for not telling my whole family about her yet, but she’d been talking to Lily, to her mom, her friends. Why hadn’t she told anyone about us? It’d been over twenty-four hours since I told her I loved her, and she still hadn’t said it back.

Her rose-colored dress hung in all the right places, and her smile pulled on all the right pieces of my heart. Too bad none of that would appease my mother.

I leaned closer to her as we walked. “You look beautiful,” I told her again.

Her face lit up. “Thank you.”

As she pressed the doorbell, I pressed a button on the remote. Her head snapped to me, lips parted. I leaned to her ear and murmured, “Every time you feel that, I want you to know that I wish it was my mouth.”

Rose turned bright red with wide eyes, as if just realizing she’d put herself in a lot of trouble. I raised my eyebrows at her and smiled.

A maid answered the door and let us inside the Hopes’ very fancy house well-kept by housemaids. Tonight it was full of people, most of whom I didn’t recognize. Rose was completely silent and still wide-eyed. Could be her sex toy, or maybe she didn’t know anyone either.

“Rose!” A woman behind us called out. We both whirled.

The brunette who squealed and wrapped herself around my girlfriend was familiar, but the blonde who hugged them both wasn’t.

“Heather! Abby! I missed y’all so much!” Rose said.

“I missed your face!” Heather planted a kiss on Rose’s cheek and left a lipstick stain, and Abby tutted and wiped it carefully off. New arrivals moved through the foyer, and the four of us shuffled deeper into the living room. Heather’s keen eyes darted between me and Rose.Shit.I was sticking beside Rose like we were a couple instead of going further in the party to find my family. Rookie mistake, but I’m glad it only happened in front of her friends.

“Jason Soniat, as I live and breathe.” Heather smiled, looking me up and down and coming straight in for a hug. “How much algebra have you done since we last met?”

“A lot,” I laughed. “Where were you at when I was in college? How’ve you been?”

“Great!” She wrapped her arm around Rose’s waist and pulled the blonde closer. “This is my friend and plus-one tonight, Abby Lalumandier, like the luxury cut flowers.”

“Her family owns the business.” Rose added.

“Hi.” Abby shook my hand. “I’ve heard a lot about you.”

“Nice to meet you, Abby. Hey, you know I’m pretty sure Becca’s bouquets are Lalumandier.”

“Oh, that’s so nice! I hope she loves them.” She smiled and tucked her hair behind her ear, her gaze darting to her friends.

“By the way,” Heather said, “my dad can get a crane for your tree situation. It’s still pretty hard to get through the streets, and he’s prioritized people who work for him. Is Thursday okay?”

Relief infused my chest. “Yes, wow. Thank you so much. Whatever day he can send it works for me.”

Mom called my name. I looked over the crowd and spotted her in the back by the sunroom, waving me over.

“Good to see you Heather, and nice to meet you, Abby. I have to go. Mother of the bride’s calling me.” I pressed the remote, smiled at Rose’s fluttering eyes, and went toward Mom.

Mom was near the sunroom with…well, shit. Misty and her parents.

“Hi Hopes.” I shook Mr. John’s hand and hugged Mrs. Rebecca, but put a hand up to wave at Misty. She fiddled with her earring, her brown eyes gazing at me with something akin to a dare.

“Jason, sweetheart,” Mom said, “I was just talking to Misty about the walking order for the wedding. Wouldn’t you love it if Becca could change the bridal party pairings so you and Misty can walk together?”

I lowered my brows at Mom, dread rising up my spine. “Why is Misty standing in the wedding?”

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