Page 69 of The C Agreement

“Welcome, ladies,” he greeted us as we entered. He wore a simple, formfitting green T-shirt with broken-in jeans. He sported a sparkly green plastic top hat on his head and green beads around his neck. “Accessories are to the right,” he said, pointing to a folding table with plastic necklaces, hats, headbands, and sunglasses. “And help yourself to the food and drinks.” He gestured to the island, covered in a lot of green-colored food.

Vivian pushed through a group of people and ran toward us. Her outfit matched Dominick’s, and she wore a grin on her face. She had never dressed so casually, but the biggest surprise was the neon-green three-foot yard glass she had in her hand.

“Holy shit, I think she’s drunk,” Delaney said in shock.

“You guys,” Vivian said in a tone I had never heard from her before. She threw her arms around our necks for a big group hug.

Dominick made a drinking motion behind her back, confirming Delaney’s theory.

“I’m so glad you made it.” Vivian let go and stumbled back. Thankfully, Dominick caught her with an arm around her waist.

“Apparently, my woman’s a lightweight,” he said.

Vivian giggled.

Delaney scrambled for her purse. “Why the hell am I not recording this? She’s never going to believe us when we tell her.”

Dominick grinned. “Don’t worry. I already got a video or two.”

That didn’t stop Delaney from whipping out her phone.

Vivian turned in his arms. “You’re so warm.” She kissed his neck and groaned. “I need a D appointment, Dominick.”

“Not right now.”

“Why?” Her free hand slipped between the two of them. “I know you’re hard.”

This was the first time I had ever seen Dominick blush. I didn’t know him that well, but he was very confident. I hadn’t thought he had it in him to get embarrassed, and I had to cover my mouth to hide my laugh.

“Sorry,” he said to us. “I didn’t realize my girlfriend needed a babysitter when drinking.” He grabbed her shoulders and swung her around to face us. “Baby, we have guests.”

Moving his mouth closer to her ear, he said something we couldn’t hear, but it made Vivian grin.

Delaney hit a button on her phone. “I can’t wait to show her this the next time we go to lunch.”

“You’re evil,” I told her with a grin. “But, uh, make sure you forward that to me, okay?”

“You got it.”

“Would you two mind watching her for a bit?” Dominick asked us.

“Of course not,” I said.

“Thank you.” He gently slipped the yard glass from her grip. “I’ll take that.”

Quickly, I threaded my arm through hers, so she wouldn’t notice her missing drink. “Help Delaney and me find some drinks, okay?”

* * *

CADE

Hitting the doorbell, I waited for my mom to answer, feeling awkward.

My whole life, I had lived in the same house, and even after I moved out, I would walk in, unannounced, whenever I came home to see her. When my mom and Bernie had gotten married, she’d sold my childhood home and moved into his house because it was bigger. After, I felt like a guest when I visited her, which was probably why I didn’t visit enough.

But it was my stepfather who opened the door. “Cade,” he said with a big smile as he stepped back to let me in.

“Hey, Bernie. Mom here?”

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