Chapter 21
HARPER
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
Somehow, one drink turned into multiple pitchers of margaritas shared between everyone except Addison, who was DD for the rest of the group. I wasn’t much of a drinker normally, so I was feeling the couple I’d had, a pleasant hum warming me from the inside out.
A couple hours in, after we’d demolished a platter of nachos and several other apps, Avery gasped, her eyes wide as she stared across the table. She snatched Luna’s wrist as she reached for the pitcher of margaritas. “Whoa, whoa, whoa… What the hell is this?”
“What?” Addison asked, eyes pinging between them.
“And why the hell are you wearing a ring?” Avery continued.
“What?” This time, the single word was little more than a screech. Addison grabbed Luna’s hand and yanked it toward her, her mouth dropping open when she got a good look. “Oh my God, is that an engagement ring? I thought you said you didn’t want the ‘government-sanctioned imprisonment’ of marriage!”
Quinn pointed a finger in Luna’s direction. “You totally did say that.”
“It’s Brady.” Luna shrugged as if that explained it and grabbed the pitcher, pouring everyone but Addison another round. Then she added, “Besides, it turns out if you’re handcuffed long enough and teased within an inch of your life, you agree to just about anything.”
“And the thing you agreed to was marrying my brother?” Addison yelled, not giving a single shit about the rest of the patrons in the bar. Thankfully, no one even looked up at her outburst. Obviously, Starlight Cove was used to her dramatics.
With a smirk, Luna leaned back in her chair and tipped her head to the side. “He’s very…persuasive.”
Addison groaned and hung her head in her hands. “Oh God, that sounded like a sex thing. That was totally a sex thing, wasn’t it? I thought we talked about this! No mentioning my brothers and sex in the same sentence when I’m around.” Addison shot an accusatory glare at the rest of the women. “And that’s supposed to go for every one of you.”
Avery held her hands up in surrender. “I’ve been very good. I didn’t tell you anything about the laundry room incident with Aiden on Tuesday.”
“And I haven’t said a word about the spicy scene Beck and I reenacted from the book we read last week.” Everly mimed zipping her lips.
“I also didn’t share the new toy Ford came home with or how many times he made me a very happy girl last night.”
“You’re all the absolute worst, I hope you know that.”
Laughing, Luna reached over and patted Addison’s hand. “Sorry, girl, but Brady has an amazing di?—”
“Okay, all right!” Addison snapped, cutting off Luna and shooting a glare at everyone else, all of whom were quite clearly extremely tipsy.
The table erupted in laughter, and I couldn’t stop a grin from sweeping across my mouth. I didn’t have much to contribute to this conversation, but I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t enjoying the hell out of it. Especially with the buzz of alcohol flowing through my veins. And especially because this was exactly the kind of relationship—the kind of found family—I’d always craved.
“But seriously, what is up with these men?” Quinn asked, shaking her head. “All Ford has to do is look at me a certain way, and I’m done for. I hate it.”
With a grin, Everly leaned over, bumping Quinn’s shoulder with her own. “No, you don’t.”
Quinn let out a heavy sigh, clearly aggrieved. “No, I don’t.”
“It’s like they’re magicians,” Everly said, taking a sip of her margarita.
Avery waved a hand through the air. “Nah, they’re not magicians. They just have magic peens.”
Everyone but Addison laughed, and she glared at each of them in turn. “You bitches always have to ruin a good time, don’t you? I’m changing the subject.” She turned toward me. “So, Harper, catch me up. How are your asshole parents?”
Everly huffed out a surprised laugh. “Oh my God, Addison, I can’t believe you said that.”
“I can.” Avery snorted and rolled her eyes, pouring herself another round. “Her filter’s gone on a normal day, but add in all the pregnancy hormones, and it’s been a ride.”
Addison froze next to me as silence descended on the table, but Avery didn’t seem to realize anything was amiss. She took a huge sip of her margarita and hummed, doing a little shimmy in her seat, oblivious to the silence that had fallen.
Luna placed a hand on the table and leaned forward, splitting her gaze between Addison and Avery. “Add in the what now?”
“Your parents, Harper?” Addison insisted loudly, pretending not to notice how everyone had frozen, their attention zeroing in on her. “How’re they doing?”
“Um…” I shot a glance around the table, unsure what the hell was going on but too drunk to care. This wasn’t something I usually shared with many—or anyone at all—but the words came tumbling out without thought. “I don’t really talk to them anymore. Haven’t for years.”
“I’m sorry, that’s obviously quite terrible, but I can’t pay attention to anything else right now…” Everly shook her head, eyes wide. “Did Avery say pregnancy hormones?”
Finally realizing what she’d done, Avery gasped and slapped her hands over her mouth as she shot her panicked gaze around the table. “Oh shit. Oh shit.” She waved her hands through the air. “No, I didn’t! I definitely did not do that! Everyone pretend you didn’t hear a thing! Just rewind time. What were we talking about before? Addison’s brothers’ magic dicks? Let’s just go back to that!”
Everyone stared openmouthed at Addison, stunned silent, their reactions as dramatic as cartoon characters. I tried and failed to keep the laughter inside me, but it was no use. I fell into a fit of giggles, nearly toppling over. And before long, everyone but Addison joined in until we were leaning into one another with tears streaming down our faces.
“Okay, that’s it,” Addison said, pulling out her phone and shooting a grumpy Gus look in our direction that rivaled any of her brothers. Unfortunately for her, that only made us laugh harder. “You’re all cut off. And I’m calling in reinforcements.”
Group text with Brady, Aiden, Beck, Ford, Levi, and Addison
11:02 p.m.
Addison:
I know I said I’d be DD tonight
But you all need to come pick up your women
They’re drunk off their asses
And annoying the fuck out of me
Ford:
You said the magic words. I will happily come collect my drunk wife because that means this guy’s getting laid. On my way
Levi named the conversation “Trivial Bullshit”
Addison:
Hilarious, Levi
AND WAIT
I need to tell you guys something first
Before your drunk ass women do
Because I totally know they will
I wanted to do this at the morning meeting on Saturday
But my hand’s been forced
I have no choice but to do it now
Beck:
Jesus, what is it already?
Ford:
I’m in my Jeep waiting, so hurry up.
Addison:
Okay, you might want to sit down for this
It’s a pretty big deal
Are you ready?
Levi:
For fuck’s sake, Addison. Spit it out.
Addison:
Okay
You asked for it
Here it goes…
I’m pregnant
Addison:
Hello?
Addison:
HELLO?
Addison:
Why isn’t anyone saying anything?
I said I’m PREGNANT
Addison:
DID YOU HEAR ME?
Group text with Brady, Aiden, Beck, Ford, and Levi
11:08 p.m.
Aiden:
Everyone already knew that, right?
Brady:
For a couple weeks, yeah
Beck:
Same here
Levi:
Got suspicious about a week ago, but yeah
Ford:
Little D’s gonna be piiiiiiissed. Who’s gonna break it to her?
Aiden:
I vote Brady
Ford:
Seconded
Beck:
Yep
Levi:
Agreed
Brady:
Fuckers
Group text titled: Trivial Bullshit
with Brady, Aiden, Beck, Ford, Levi, and Addison
11:11 p.m.
Brady:
Were we not supposed to know that?
Addison:
brADY, STOP BEING A DICK RIGHT NOW
You didn’t know shit
Brady:
You can’t keep anything from us. Didn’t you learn that with the whole sneaking around with Chase thing?
Aiden:
You seriously need to work on your stealth if you’re trying to keep shit like this a secret.
Addison:
Fine
So you two knew
But the others didn’t
Ford:
Sorry, little D
Beck:
Whoops?
Levi:
If you didn’t want people to figure it out, tell Chase to stop palming your stomach like a basketball and standing over you like a fucking guard dog.
Brady:
And he should maybe be a bit more covert when he’s making a 2am run to Bayhaven for whatever your hungry ass is craving.
Beck:
Same with your weird AF requests at the diner. A BLT with grape jelly instead of mayo? I’m supposed to believe that’s normal?
Addison:
I hate every single one of you fuckers
And I can’t wait to share all the gross stuff that’s happening to my body
Levi:
I think I speak for all of us when I say we pass
Addison:
TOO FUCKING BAD
You ruined my announcement
So you’re gonna hear about mucus membranes
And whatever the fuck else I wanna tell you
Aiden:
Can’t wait.
Addison:
Now I mean it…
Come get your women
Margaritas were had
You might need to carry a couple out of here
They ordered another pitcher while I’ve been texting you
Aiden:
Leaving now
Ford:
Yep
Beck:
Right behind them
Brady:
I’m already outside Stan’s
Levi:
I don’t have a woman, so I’m good where I am.
Addison:
Nice try
Harper’s drunk
Like super toasted
But there is a hot bartender here
One of Stan’s sons
The big, mean one
He could probably help her if you can’t be bothered