Page 50 of Accidentally Forever
“Wait, you used to date Crew?” Isabella asked as she leaned toward us. Only interest covered her face, not any judgement.
“Yep,” Brooklyn answered for us. “And I thought that Lexington did too, but he keeps telling us the two of them didn’t date. I just thought that third time was the charm with finding his Montgomery Princess or Prince.”
“You are thinking entirely too much about this,” I told her.
“I find all of this fascinating.” Isabella looked between us before she and Brooklyn went to start the game. “I thought we had the family drama in the Cages, but I am loving learning more and more about the Montgomerys.”
“It’s not weird at all for me,” Daisy answered after a moment.
I bit my lip and tried to believe her. “Okay.”
A wry smile covered her face. “Crew and I are just friends. And we have been for a while. In fact, I’m pretty sure we were nearly just friends when we were dating.”
“It’s thenearlyjustpart that gets weird. Considering well…you know.”
Daisy shrugged. “We are of an age, live in the same area, and have similar and decent taste in men. I’m surprised overlap hasn’t happened more often in this family.”
“I’m just going to say that Crew is hot, and if things don’t work out between you two, I’ll be there,” Brooklyn said. “Three for three and all that.”
I glared at her, and she held up both hands.
“Kidding. I mean, Crew kind of scares me. While that could be exciting, I like the two of you together. I’m going to go bowl now and try not to break any toes.” She scampered off, Isabella beside her.
I let out a breath, confused and yet entertained. “See? Weird.”
“Not weird. The two of you have had a connection for years. And in case you’ve forgotten, I’m married. I have a child. I am very much over Crew. Not that he isn’t a lovely man. But he’s not mine. He’s all yours. Butifyou’reworried about it, then you should talk to him.” She paused. “Are you worried whathethinks?”
“I don’t. He’s always been who he is. He’s good enough. Better than that. He’s…he’s Crew. He is who he is. I can’t say this right.” I felt like I was putting down the man I was falling for down, and that was not the case. He was just…everything. And always had been. I felt like I was learning who this new person in my life was even though he’d always been there. He hadn’t changed. But maybe I had. Or how I perceived him.
She shook her head. “No, I understand. Because he doesn’t need to improve. Other than how all of us as humans need to improve. The two of you just click. He talks more with you around. And it’s not a growl or a grunt. I’m not going to ask what your intentions are or where you think it’s going, because that’s not my business. And frankly, it’s weird when people asked about me and Hugh. But I’m here to talk. Or if I’m the last person you want to talk to, you know every single person in this group here, and those who couldn’t come with us tonight, are here for you. We love you, Aria. In case you have forgotten.”
I glared at her as I wiped away tears. “Why are you making me cry at girls’ night?”
“Because it’s my purpose in life. Now, I see my order has arrived.”
I turned to see a waiter arrive with two trays of shots, and I rolled my eyes. “Really?”
“We have a car service to get us to the next place and a ride home. We are going to have fun.”
I took the first shot with a thank you to the waiter, stared at my family, to blood and connections, and held up the glass.
“To girls’ night.”
“And not breaking any toes,” Brooklyn added.
I glared at her, then each of us tapped the table with the bottom of the glass and tossed the shot back. Some reached for salt and lime, but sadly, I could shoot tequila without any of that. I couldn’t touch dark liquor, and just the scent of rum got me buzzed, but tequila and I were friends.
We bowled, and I did not break anyone’s toes. Though I did toss the ball over the bumper and into the next lane. The drunk frat guys next to us cheered me on and bought all of us a round shots.
So really, my bowling was the best. It got us free drinks.
Once we were done, we cleaned up our mess, made our way into the SUVs that Daisy had acquired for us, and the drivers took us to the next place.
“What on earth is a cupcake bar?” I asked, chugging water in the backseat.
“We get to decorate our own cupcakes and eat as many as we want,” Daisy answered before she chugged her own bottle.
“This sounds like a bad idea in my case,” Isabella said. “All that sugar after tequila?” She shuddered.
