Page 65 of Release (Symbols of Love 3)

"Adelaide, that's probably enough mojitos for you." Milly gives her a disapproving frown and she plucks that drink out of Addie's hand.

Addie pouts, “Milly, you should have a sip. You look like you could use one. What's wrong with you? You look tired as fuck."

"Addie, shut up. Milly looks fine. And she's right, you've had enough. You're not exactly known for holding your liquor well. And we have to go to dinner." I say and I start cleaning up. I give Milly a side long glance. She does look tired, but I know it's because she's pregnant. She hasn't brought it up so I'm assuming she doesn't want to talk to about it.

"Well, not all of us can have the tolerance of a fucking sailor, Lillian. You're barely buzzed." She says cattily, but I ignore her because she’s right.

Jan grabs the knife and cutting board I'm washing and says, "That's what the dishwasher's for, love. Go sit." She lowers her voice and gives me a meaningful look. “You look a little tired yourself." I don't protest. I'm tired. It's been a long day and the worst is yet to come.

I take a long cool sip of the refreshing drink that I may have put a little too much rum into.

I sigh and lean back on the long marble island we've been sitting at all evening. I stare up at the ceiling and reminisce. "I miss Miami." The alcohol has loosened my lips.

"It's got the most incredible energy. I moved there for work at first, but I stayed even when I started my business because it had become home. Now…I just. I loved living there and now it's just..."

"Just what?" Milly asks, leaning on the counter, her chin resting in the palm of her hand.

"I don't know." I run my hands through my hair and sit, “It's not enough anymore."

"Ah, your voice has got the sound of a woman who's got a man on her mind." Jan says as she joins us back at the counter.

My eyes slide over to hers, the alcohol has made me deliciously relaxed and I feel at ease with her. I quirk my eyebrow in response.

"So, tell me, are Cuban men as delicious as their food and drinks?" She says with a lewd grin and a wink in my direction.

“Oh, yeah…” I drawl suggestively. “But I think the food and drinks are better.” We all laugh at that.

“You sampling quite a bit, then?” Jan asks with a waggle of her brow.

“No—”I start to say and Addie cuts me off.

"She's just reverting to type. When we were girls, Lilly always had a boy on her mind." She takes a long sip of her drink.

"I did not." I snap at her.

"You do so. Milly, back me up here.” She looks over at Milly who’s attention is on her phone.

She answers absently, “Lilly always had a boyfriend and if she didn't, she had a crush. She had posters of these idiotic boy bands all over her walls."

I snort a laugh at that. I did. "Who didn't? Except for you two?"

"We did, just not to the extent you did." Addie walks over and hops onto the stool next to mine. She slings her arm around my neck and presses her face sloppily next to mine.

"Lilly was fast when we were in high school. She had a nickname, didn't you Lilly?” She slurs her words, teasing me.

My hands start to shake, and my blood feels ice cold in my veins. I put my glass down.

"Addie, shut up." I say with a laugh in my voice that is forced I almost choke on it.

But Addie's mojitos have erased any hope of restraint winning the day and she says "Oh, come on, Lil. You were such a sluuuuuuut.” She draws this word out, her eyes closed a huge, drunk grin on her pretty face. “Mmmm…What was it? Milly you remember." She snaps the fingers on the hand around my neck, her fingers flicking my chin. I shove her with my elbow. “Get off.”

"Licky,” Milly supplies flippantly. My eyes fly to her before I can stop them. She doesn’t look up from her phone and misses my horrified gaze. His, “they won’t believe you.” My stomach heaves and my eyes burn as shame and revulsion course through me.

"Oh my God, yes!" Addie howls. "She sucked dick like they were lollipops. She even had a tutorial she wrote up for her friends that was passed around." Addie's eyes close with delight, she laughs and claps at my expense.

Sorrow fuels the tears that press the edges of my eyes and it takes herculean strength to blink them away and face my sister with what she expects. I laugh.

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