Page 50 of That First Moment

I spun my head to glare at her, my jaw dropped as low as it could go. She was telling the truth, but I wasn’t about to admit that. Whenever I went out with Madeline, I was a one and done kinda girl. It wasn’t just for Elliot’s benefit that night. I. Am. A. Lightweight.

“I amnota lightweight,” I argued.

“Daxton, back me up here.” Jillian turned towards Elliot. “You’ve seen our girl drink. You must know she’s a lightweight.”

“Yea,Daxton,choose who you back up.” I turned my glare towards Elliot.

Raising both his eyebrows, he gave a smile.One that said, “If I don't choose my girlfriend I’m screwed, but I always want to be loved by the family. So choose my words wisely.”

“I mean”—he shrugged—“I’ve seen you drink at the Piano Bar, and then that night after Madeline’s wedding.”

The wine glass appeared in front of me as I looked at Elliot. I began filtering through my brain, trying to find the lie I told Jillian all those months ago. How did I meet my boyfriend Daxton? Didwe meet at the bar, did we meet at the wedding? I was pretty damn sure we met at the bar. In fact, I was certain of it. I took the glass from Will, watching as Elliot wiggled his eyebrows when he cracked the can of beer open. I lifted the rim to my lips and tasted the sweet mango.

“You two met at the wedding, right?” Jillian asked.

Shit.

Chapter Nineteen

-Elliot-

Jamie was, in fact, a lightweight.

I had pulled back two beers, and was nursing my third as Jamie topped off her glass of wine. There was no crazy party to be had, just four adults playing the random board games that we found in the closet. We played a round of Clue (it was Colonel Mustard with the Revolver), a game of Life (Will won that by a landslide), and now we were halfway through Monopoly and Jamie was drunk.

Very drunk.

I had gone to the kitchen, bringing her some bread and a glass of water, which, thankfully she took without question, but she still managed to drink the entirebottle of mango wine.

Once we were 90 percent done with Monopoly, with Will, once again beating our asses, I grabbed the basically empty wine glass from Jamie and stood.

“I think it’s time I get this lightweight to bed,” I said as I was leaving the living room, putting the empty beer cans in the recycling and Jamie’s glass in the sink.

“I am not—” Jamie started.

“We know, we know . . .” Jillian laughed. “You’re not a lightweight. You’re just the one who couldn’t remember how you met your boyfriend, even before you got drunk.”

“I’m not drunk. I’m happy. And I know exactly how I met him.”

I paused, placing my hands on the counter watching Jamie and Jillian through my eyelashes.

“I met him at Madeline’s wedding and we went out for some drinks. Sooo,” she drew out the“o,”her lips making the perfect circle. “We technically met at both—the wedding and a bar.”

“And we go to the Piano Bar on occasion with Milo and Madeline, so it works. She only ever has one drink though.” I pushed my palms off the counter, walked over to Jamie, taking her forearm gently. “So, yes,babe, you are a lightweight and it’s time we take you back to our cabin so you can drink some more water and go to bed.”

“Fine,” Jamie gave in, “but we’re bringing Clue.”

“Jamie,” I groaned as she pulled free from my grasp and walked over to the board games. “We don't need to bring Clue.”

“Yes!” she shouted, only to be shushed by Jillian. “Oh . . .” She bent her back and raised a finger to her lips, grabbing the game and holding it close to her body. “The babies are sleeping.” Her voice was a whisper now and then she turned back to me. “Yes, Dax, weneedto bring Clue. I want to play again.”

I chuckled at her, shaking my head as she walked past me to the door. “Okay, I guess we’ll bring the game back tomorrow?”

Will waved. “Night, Daxton. Make sure she drinks some more water, or we’ll hear about it in the morning.”

“Ha, yes, please make sure she drinks some water,” Jillian echoed.

“I’m not drunk,” Jamie protested.

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