Page 118 of Drive
“Yeah,” he said as he looked over at me. “If that’s okay.”
“Of course it is!”
I looked at the bartender. “Line them up.”
Thirty minutes later, the four of us, Neil, Paige, Reid, and I were laughing hysterically at Paige, who was doing a spot-on impression of our mother, which even Reid could appreciate. I had the bartender substitute Paige’s shots for water, and she didn’t seem to notice. We knew we were supposed to be somewhere, but for a brief moment in time, we captured a glimpse of the old days, and we weren’t ready to let go. I caught Reid’s eyes on mine, and it was probably because I was watching him just as hard.
“You okay, sis?” Paige asked as I swallowed down another shot. I was done drinking due to my shitty attention span and wiped my hands after sucking on a lime and tossing it in the glass. I learned my limit years ago and rarely strayed.
“I think the better question is, areyou? I’m not the one who’s about to get married.”
“Could’ve fooled me,” Reid muttered, just for me to hear. I cut my eyes his way.
“I don’t want you stressing,” Paige said. I cut her off fast.
“I’m fine.”
“I know I made it hard on you,” she said softly. “I’m sorry.”
I grinned at her. “You’re a bride.”
“I’m getting married.” She hugged me close as we sat on the bar stools, while Neil and Reid stood talking behind us. “He keeps staring at you,” she said bluntly.
I saw Reid’s eyes drop to the floor and he grinned. He was busted because Paige wasn’t talking quietly at all, and I couldn’t convey it quickly enough.
“Paige,” I said with big eyes. “They can hear you.”
“Do you still love him?”
Reid’s gaze landed on mine as Neil rattled on about their honeymoon trip to Jamaica
Paige rattled on, too, as if we were speaking about the weather. “I know it was only like two minutes y’all were together, but if this upsets you—”
“Paige,” I whisper-yelled as she continued to talk out of her drunk ass.
“Noooo,” she said with a confident grin. “You’re happy with Nate. And who wouldn’t be. The manisbeautiful.” Reid’s jaw ticked, and I nodded to Paige.
“There you are!” my mother yelled, and all four of us jumped.
“We have rehearsal right now,” she said, motioning us with her hands in her ridiculous dress. She looked slightly frazzled as she spied the empty glasses on the bar.
“Bear?” my father asked, appearing behind her. “Who do we have in here?” he asked as he took a step forward.
Heat burned my face, and I began to panic while Reid took a step forward to introduce himself.
“Reid Crowne sir, it’s nice to meet you.”
My father cringed and stared at Reid’s hand as if he were going to take it offafterhe claimed his head.
I jumped from my stool. “Daddy, it’s cool.”
“This Reid,” my mother said with a clueless smile in his direction. “I like him, honey. He’s going to gift Paige the limo for tomorrow.” She grabbed Neil in her clutches as Reid tried to work his magic yet failed.
“I think you should leave,” my father snapped, his eyes glaciers shooting right at Reid. “Right now.”
Reid stood stunned as I pushed my dad a few feet back. “Daddy, don’t. I’m begging you. Don’t.”
“What’s he doing here?” he asked, flicking a silver-gray gaze—the color of mine—back at me as if I’d physically hurt him.
