Chapter 17
Randy
Music floats around the room as I hold Rachel’s hand and we make our way back into the kitchen.
Walsh and Tyler sit at the table, just enough space cleared for their beers.
They talk and scroll through their phones while Dani sways her hips to the music, hovering over Shelby as she adds to her artwork.
Letti and Christian move around the kitchen, cleaning up and laughing.
Letti throws back a shot, but through her laughter, most of the liquid ends up on her dress.
Dani looks over as we enter, scrunching her face in question as she picks up her glass and squints.
“What happened to your face?” Her lips hover just over the rim of her crystal champagne flute.
You can see the moment it clicks, and she frantically shakes her head and throws a hand up in defense.
“You know what… scratch that. I don’t want to know,” she adds quickly.
Rachel blushes beside me, and I’m not even going to stop it because I love that color on her. I love everything on her…especially the smell of me.
Shelby studies us quickly, her eyes hovering over my destroyed bejeweled artwork and Rachel’s red cheeks.
“Drink?” she asks Rachel, the cheeky, all-knowing smile wide across her face. Shelby holds up a spare glass and a bottle of pink champagne as Dani adds the finishing touches to her makeup.
“Yes, please,” Rachel answers, although Shelby has already started pouring and I don’t know if a ‘no’ would have been accepted.
“Okay, Shelby, you are done,” Dani says, standing back and admiring her work.
The girls have gotten dressed since I’ve been gone.
Shelby’s hair is styled, blonde curls framing her face.
She’s in a deep purple dress that falls to her ankles and dips way too low in the back—but that’s Christian’s problem.
Letti’s hair is curled and left down, her silver sequin dress making her look like a perfect ten—Travis’s problem.
Dani’s blonde hair is straight, and she’s wearing a dress with thin straps.
It’s navy blue, and I can see her nipples since she’s apparently forgotten a bra—that’s all of our problem.
I sigh to myself at how stupidly gorgeous these women are, but the woman who captivates me the most is the one right beside me—my problem. And I relish it.
Shelby passes the glass to Rachel, placing the bottle on the table and picking up a handheld mirror to admire the pink jewels decorating her collarbone. “Wow, that looks so pretty!” She smiles.
“You’re welcome,” Dani replies to her compliment, then she gestures to me. “Now, here, sit down and let me fix your crown,” Dani says as she drags me to a kitchen chair.
Rachel takes a seat beside me, while Shelby fixes her smudged makeup.
Christian is freshly showered and ready for the festivities tonight, dressed in black slacks and a white business shirt, the top buttons left open, sleeves rolled up.
He makes his way around the kitchen island, placing a kiss on Shelby’s lips and rubbing his fingers over the newly placed jewels.
He mumbles something to her—I have no idea what he said, but I’m assuming it’s something sappy by the look on Shelby’s face.
Seth enters from the back door, bringing in the last of the mess from the barbeque; he is also ready, dressed in black slacks and a rolled-up, long sleeve, black collared shirt. He throws out some trash and adds things to the dishwasher as Christian’s pours a row of shots.
Seth grabs a shot and a fresh beer from the fridge, then heads in my direction. “Catch up,” he says, passing the drink to me.
I take in the jewels that shine over his knuckles, they are black and somehow look badass on him mixed with his black tattoos. “That actually looks sick, man!” I say, gesturing to his hands.
“Yeah, might lose one in a pussy later.”
“OH MY GOD!” Dani recoils, snapping upright and staring at Seth.
Shelby bursts out laughing, then chokes, barely catching the liquid before it spills.
“Sorry, Dani-girl.” He winks at her.
“Classic!” Tyler crows, nudging Walsh’s shoulder. Walsh just shakes his head.
Seth smirks, like he’s almost sorry for what he said as he takes a seat at the kitchen island next to Christian and throws back another shot.
After finishing Rachel’s makeup, Shelby strolls around filling glasses and pouring more shots because Aussies are apparently nothing but bad influences when it comes to alcohol.
Dani hovers inches from my face, then pauses just long enough for me to take the shot Shelby poured. “Do you think I can put some really slight liquid gold eyeliner on you?”
“What?” I question, looking into her hopeful eyes. I flick a look to Rachel who also just got poured another shot.
“I think it would look wicked!” She leers optimistically.
“Fine,” I agree reluctantly, and she does a little jump and squeal in delight, accepting a shot from Shelby.
“Did Walsh get attacked?” I ask Dani, unable to turn my head, to look at him.
She snickers, nearly spitting the tequila in my face as she laughs. Yep, Dani’s going to be a drunken handful tonight. “What did you do to him?”
“Show Randy your arm,” she says, singing her own praises. She steps back so I can turn my head to look as Walsh holds up his inner arm. There in blue jewels down his arms reads, ‘Football is played by real men…and kickers’.
I can't help but bark out a laugh as everyone else joins in. “That's classic.”
“Aww, poor Walsh,’ Letti laughs, tossing back the shot Seth just handed her. Then she rises, gliding toward Shelby, a fresh shot in one hand and a full glass of champagne in the other as she drops into a seat at the table.
“Throw it back,” Letti says to Shelby, encouraging her to catch up.
Shelby doesn’t hesitate, throwing it back while Letti holds the glass in place, making sure she gets every drop.
Shelby cringes at the taste, but laughs at her friend’s actions, because there is nothing like two best friends being bad influences on each other.
“Check out Christian’s,” Dani laughs.
Christian sighs and pulls his shirt away from his neck to show off his still noticeable wound. The scar from the bullet now has red gems like blood splatter that trickle over his collarbone and down his bicep.
“Oh my God, Dani,” Rachel half laughs.
“What? That’s funny.” She shrugs.
“What did she put on you, Tyler?” Shelby asks as she sits at the kitchen table as Letti carefully places jewels around her right eye.
Tyler turns to his left to show just under the sleeve of his shirt that his right bicep says ‘Evil Twin’ with a skull and cross bones in green jewels.
“Suits you, man.” I nod.
“Knock, knock.” We hear as Travis and Merrick enter the kitchen, drink in hand and more lodged under their arms.
We all greet them with a cheer, and yes, you can tell the alcohol is kicking in the louder this house gets.
Once I have permission from Dani, I stand and shake their hands.
Two great friends, and I’m glad they made it to our place before the party.
I introduce them to Rachel. Merrick takes a seat at the table while Travis wraps his arms around Letti, talking to her in private as they laugh together.
Seth hands Merrick a shot as we pass the bottle around for everyone to fill their glasses. “Toast,” Christian yells, “Walsh, you are usually good with these things.”
“Umm,” he hesitates but stands, and we all gather and look to him.
He thinks to himself for a few seconds. “T-to differences…because with differences comes understanding and acceptance, and with acceptance comes love. With love comes family, whether it be blood or friendship. So, a toast to my family and our differences, may we be forever accepting.”
“Aww.” Shelby and Dani gush.
I smile to Walsh and my friends as we all share a toast together. Saluting our glasses high, I realize these are the moments I live for, good times with great friends.
Our group remains speechless for what feels like minutes, throwing back our drinks and taking in Walsh’s words of wisdom until it’s broken by a tipsy Shelby.
“Travis and Merrick need to be bejeweled.”
Both guys look around the kitchen questionably, Travis is mid sip as he studies all the glittery jewels.
“What the fuck are you talking about?” Merrick asks, but I know he can see the assortment of artwork displayed on everyone.
“Don’t ask!” Tyler replies, rolling his eyes.
“I wouldn’t know what to put on them,” Dani shrugs, throwing back the last of the champagne in her glass.
“Letti’s hole is my goal,” Walsh shouts, leaning against the kitchen island, while everyone bursts out laughing. “I think I’ve had too many shots.” He stares at his empty shot glass and mumbles to himself.
“Is that going on my forehead?” Merrick jokes as Christian hands him another shot.
Travis playfully pushes at him as he throws back his shot, spilling some down his chin. He laughs and wipes at it.
“Where’s Emma?” Letti asks.
Travis cringes. “Hmm, maybe next question, baby.”
“Oh, okay.” Letti shies away.
“It’s okay, Letti, we broke up. It was very messy, but it’s done now...I hope.”
“Give that man another shot,” Tyler yells as Christian passes him the nearly empty tequila bottle.
“Man, we have demolished that bottle,” Walsh adds.
Letti does a zipper motion across her lips and Merrick smiles and shoots her a wink.
“It’s all good, gorgeous,” he says to her. “I’m just hoping I don’t run into her tonight. I don’t need any more drama.” He shakes his head in exhaustion and throws back a swig of his drink, swallowing. “I’m so done.”
“Sounds like a story for another time,” Tyler says, holding up the now-empty tequila bottle. He throws it back, his tongue sticking out as he gets the last few drops from the bottom.
Dani wrangles up some jewels and spells out “Eat, sleep, hockey, repeat,” in blue across Merrick’s bicep, and “Don’t puck with me,” in black down Travis’s inner arm.
Once the boys have been officially inducted into our glittery, bejeweled club.
I clap my hands together. “Guess we should head off to the party
“Grab your roadies,” Shelby yells. “Let’s go!”
All the couples seem to make a beeline to each other, and I’m no exception, walking straight over to Rachel and wrapping my arms around her waist. “Ready, baby?” I whisper into her ear and place a kiss on her cheek.
She smiles and nuzzles into my affection. “Grab me a drink and let’s go ring in the New Year.”