Page 24 of Connected By Stars
“Where did everyone go?” I grab a chair and fold it before stacking it with the others.
“Noah and Emma headed upstairs to bed,” Skye turns to look at me. “We told them we would handle the cleanup. Bell said she had a headache and was going to go sleep it off.” I resistthe urge to go and check on her because I don’t think I have it in me to walk away this time if she asks me to stay.
Sophia picks up empty wine bottles and sticks them in the garbage bag. “This was a really fun party. You guys did an awesome job.” Sophia smiles at Skye and me.
“It was a team effort. The fire dancers were a hit. I’m so glad we went with them over the tigers.” Skye looks at me and laughs.
“Tigers are still cool, but I’m glad we went with the fire dancers, too. It seemed like the safer route.” I grin at Skye as I finish stacking the chairs. The girls grab the trash bags as Cole and I put the chairs back under the stairs.
We quickly clean the back deck and head inside. The caterers came back to get all their dishes and put the leftovers in the fridge, so there’s not much to clean up.
I turn to Cole and Skye. “You guys go get some sleep. Sophia and I can finish up here before I go.” We say our goodbyes, and they leave to walk back to Emma’s house.
“You’re not staying here?” Sophia asks after they’re gone. “You’ve had too much to drink to drive home.”
“I know that. I’m going to catch an Uber to Joe’s. I’m not in the mood to sleep yet.”
“Which is code forI’m going to go find someone to hook up with.” She rolls her eyes at me.
That’s not my plan, but I let her think what she wants. I can’t sleep here tonight with Bell sleeping so close to me. I don’t trust myself not to go to her, and I don’t want to go home to an empty apartment right now. The space has been feeling lonely lately, and I don’t like it.
“One of these days, you’re going to get tired of one-night stands and will want more.”
Her words hit too close to home. I may already be there. “I think we’re good here.” I change the subject and look around tosee if we missed anything. “Thanks for helping with cleanup.” I pull out my phone and order an Uber.
“Be safe tonight. Call me if you need me.” She gives me a hug. “Love you.”
“I’ll be safe. Love you too.” Yawning, Sophia goes up the stairs to get in bed with Bell. Jealously hits me straight in the gut.
I turn off the lights and lock the door behind me as I wait for my ride. I glance at my phone and see it’s after one. Joe’s is open until three, but the crowd shouldn’t be bad this late at night. Hopefully, I can find a table in the corner and not be bothered while I drink her out of my system.
I takeanother sip of bourbon and can tell my head is getting fuzzy. There are just a few people here at Joe’s, so I’m able to sulk in the dark corner and be by myself. I can’t get that kiss out of my head, no matter how much I drink. I take another sip and hear a familiar voice.
“We meet again.” I look up and try to focus on the girl in front of me. At first, I have trouble placing her, and then I remember it’s the pretty brunette from the other night. Groaning, I put my head in my hands.
“If you’re here to tease me about one of the most embarrassing moments of my life, I’m not really in the mood.”
Laughing, she sits down. “I’m not here to tease you. It happens.”
“Well, it doesn’t happen to me.” I take another sip of bourbon, and she eyes my drink.
“I take it you still haven’t dealt with your problem yet.”
“Thanks for the observation, captain obvious.”
She laughs again, and I give her a small smile. She seems like a sweet girl.
“I’m a really good listener if you want to talk.” She takes a sip of her water.
“I made out with my best friend’s younger sister tonight.” I blurt out.
“Wow, okay. I didn’t see that one coming. So are you sitting here drowning your sorrows because you regret it?”
I shake my head. “I don’t regret it. That makes me feel even worse. Noah’s my best friend and knows what I’m like. He knows my past with women. If he knew I wanted his sister, he would kill me.”
“Does she want you?”
Images of her blue eyes filled with longing appear in my head, making my heart beat fast against my chest. “I think she’s wanted me for a long time, but I refused to acknowledge it. It was safer for her if I didn’t let myself look at her that way. She was good at hiding her feelings from me, but now that I can see them, I know they’re deeper than what she’s let on,” I admit to her softly.
