46. Auden
It’s damn hard not to go to the bar for a drink. I see the vodka flowing, the rum being poured into shot glasses, and champagne flutes being handed out to everyone. I won’t fuck up again, that was one of the biggest mistakes I regret wholeheartedly.
It won’t happen again.
But I don’t expect Storm not to drink tonight. He has no more than two drinks all night. I don’t know if he’s doing it because he doesn’t know anyone and doesn’t want to be drunk around them, or if it’s because of the shooting glares he’s been sharing with Evan all night. I’m half expecting a fight to break out, but I don’t think Storm is like that.
Storm and I walk off the dance floor, out of breath and holding hands, when the DJ announces it’s time for the bouquet toss. We head for the bar to quench the dryness of my mouth and the fatigue from dancing for the last hour and a half. He can dance, I’ll give him that.
He stands behind me, leaning an arm to either side of my body, and kisses my neck a couple of times, singing “Hotel Key” as he does it. It’s my favorite thing of his when he sings to me. Dancing with him is one of the most memorable and romantic things anyone has ever done. What helps is he can sing, something I can’t wait to watch him do in our apartment on a late winter night.
What brings me out of this moment is Evan, he’s sitting at the other side of the bar talking with Ryan and a couple of the guys, glancing over at Storm and me every so often. I don’t mind it. I kind of like the attention I’m getting.
“What can I get you?” the bartender asks.
A sneaky smirk spreads on Storm’s face. “Two virgin rum and cokes.”
“So, two cokes?” the bartender questions.
Storm nods with a chuckle. “Yes.”
I turn, leaning my back on the bar to face Storm. “You think you’re funny, huh?”
“I’m freaking hilarious.”
I giggle. “You’re a fool.”
“A fool for you, babe.” He sticks his tongue out, making me roll my eyes and emitting a laugh from him.
Our soft drinks are placed on the bartop and Storm takes out a couple of ones, placing them in the tip jar. He’s a bartender, so he knows what it’s like to live off tips. I steal a couple of lemons and squeeze them into my drink before I take a gulp.
Millie was nice enough to move around a couple of people last minute so that Storm could sit with my parents. I am sitting at the head table, but we spend all our time together when food isn’t being served.
Glenn and Lorie smile at us as we approach their table, and I can tell by the rose in my mom’s cheeks that she’s had a few tonight.
“Saw you crazy kids on the dance floor,” she says, smiling. “You sure can move, Storm.”
He chuckles, tapping his leg so I can sit on his lap. “My mom’s a dance teacher. I’ve been shaking my hips since before I could walk.”
“How’re you enjoying yourselves tonight?” Lorie asks. “Doesn’t Millie look beautiful?”
“Her hair keeps falling out,” I mention, taking a sip of my drink. “Other than that, she looks like a princess.”
Lorie gushes. “If you ever get married, I think you should do it in Frank’s backyard right under the willow tree.”
“Oh, my God, stop.” I put my hand on my mouth and look at Storm over my shoulder.
He kisses my shoulder. “Let’s get settled before we rush into anything.”
“You’re moving in with each other after dating for a week,” Glenn points out. “I think rushing into things is shot out the window, don’t you think?”
Storm gulps his soda. “It feels right.”
My mom looks at my dad and wrinkles her nose, making her slanted eyes nonexistent. “Should I give you my permission now, or later?”
“Now would be perfect.” Storm winks.
I blush, looking at my dad whose smile slowly disappears. Uh-oh. It’s the talk he had with Evan when I first introduced them. The dad talk. He’s a cop, it’s only natural for him to be protective. To do background checks. And my personal favorite is when he shows up to dinner in uniform and takes his holster out, leaving it on the table. He scared the shit out of Evan that way and made Sean laugh. But I admire my dad the most for this. His undying love.
“You have the means to support yourself? I don’t expect my daughter to support you,” Glenn warns. “Your parents, are they okay with this?”
“I would never expect that either, sir. I have a hefty chunk of change saved up and I landed a job in New York for a managerial position a few days ago. One day, I plan to buy a little place where I can open my own bar. It’s always been a dream of mine,” Storm answers. He always knows the right things to say. “And my parents can’t wait to meet Auden. We moved fast, yes. Stumbled a little, but when you know, you know. She saved my life the night we met, that’s why I call her my angel. I couldn’t live without my angel.”
Lorie pouts, looking at Glenn with a smile. “I like your honesty, Storm. It’s admirable.”
He sips the soda. “So, whether I ask for your permission now, sir, or when we’re ready. I do hope you’ll say yes.”
Glen nods slowly, looking at me. My cheeks are hot, and I’m nibbling my lower lip hating this so much. I wish we could have spoken over dinner or even breakfast in the morning. “Keep her smiling, and we’ll have this conversation when the time is right.”
Storm kisses my cheek and nods in agreement, chuckling when Millie tosses her bouquet in our direction, landing at his feet. “If this isn’t a sign, I don’t know what is.”
He picks up the bouquet and I wrinkle my nose at him, shaking my head. “We’re not even labeled as boyfriend and girlfriend, slow your roll.”
Millie squeals coming up to us and pulling me into a hug. “Guys, come! We’re all taking shots,” Millie yells out, pulling us to her table.
Millie is beyond her limit, but who am I to say anything? I used to be that obnoxious drunk girl at every party that people would walk away from and roll their eyes at. That was a dark time in my life. I haven’t had the itch to drink like I have the past two days. My mouth is watering just staring at the bottles behind the bar. One more sip, I keep telling myself. A little sip to quench your thirst.
Millie starts handing out shot glasses of orange juice, I take one and sniff. It doesn’t smell like alcohol. Storm does the same and shrugs a shoulder, taking a little sip.
“I think it’s just orange juice,” he whispers.
“There’s vodka in there,” Millie’s sister says. “I poured Millie’s vodka-orange juice in them.”
Storm doesn’t hesitate and takes the shot from me and fills another shot glass with water from the table. I’m infuriated that Millie would try to give me alcohol. Drunk or not, she knows the blackouts I went through that led to my sobriety.
“Thanks, but I don’t want any.” I wave the shot of water off, that urge to take an actual shot with alcohol in it taking over. I had the taste on my tongue just last night, I’d still be vulnerable to it. And I don’t want to go there again.
I think Storm notices my urge since I let out a rush of air from between my slightly parted lips.
“Oh, c’mon! Don’t be a party pooper,” Millie says, placing another shot in front of me.
“I think we’re gonna get some air,” Storm says. “I need a smoke anyway.”
Millie takes the shot, too plastered to notice how idiotic she is being. I can’t blame her, either. Millie never lets loose. It’s her wedding night, I won’t hold anything against her.
Storm leads us out of the reception hall into the beautiful evening. It’s nothing like the nights where he lives; the whole sky lights up and you can see actual stars. Whereas here, you’re lucky if you see one or two.
I groan and plop myself down on a bench outside the reception hall, rolling my head back. Storm stands before me, resting one arm on either side of me on the back of the bench and kissing my chin.
I keep my attention on the night sky. “You have no idea how badly I want a drink right now.”
“I have an idea on how to distract you,” he says, kissing my neck and nibbling it softly.
I tilt my head forward to look at him. “How’s that?”
“Well, we go to the hotel room. Slowly, and I mean slowly, we take off this dress, that thong, but let’s leave on these shoes. I like these shoes. And I’ll kiss you here.” He kisses my lips. “Here.” He kisses my neck. “And slowly make my way to my favorite spot.” He trails his fingers up my thigh. “Once you’re begging me to fuck you, I will plant my face between your legs so you scream my name as loud as you can. The entire hotel will know how good I fuck you by your moans.”
“Think that’ll be enough to suppress this urge?”
“Baby, when I’m done with you, your legs will feel like rubber.” He licks his lips. “It’ll be more than enough.”
I giggle, pulling at his tie so I can kiss him. If it were up to me, I’d take him right here on this bench, but as luck would have it, Ryan, Evan, Sean, and a few of their friends make their way out of the reception hall, cigars in hand and whiskey in the other. Storm looks over, separating our lips for a moment. He smirks and kisses me again. Definitely showing these gawking men what’s his.
“Charlotte?” Sean calls, making Evan punch his chest. Sean rolls his eyes and lets out a laugh, calling my name again with a French accent. “Char-lotte.”
I pull away from Storm. “Mm?”
Sean nods his head at us. “Wanna share a smoke with your boy toy?”
“Sounds good to me,” Storm says, helping me up, then slithering his arm around my shoulders.
Ryan, Millie’s husband—the dark-haired Italian with bright hazel eyes—takes cigars from his breast pocket and hands one to each of us, I wave it away, though. I’ve never smoked cigars before and I’m not about to start now. Three years smoke-free. “Well, this isn’t awkward.”
Storm chuckles. “If I had a nickel for every time someone said that tonight.”
“It’s Storm, right?” Ryan asks, cutting his cigar and handing the cutter to Sean.
Storm nods, staring at the cigar cutter. “Yessir.”
Evan cuts the tip of his cigar and passes the cutter to Storm. “Unusual name.”
“It’s more of a nickname that stuck since I was a teenager,” Storm answers, fishing for his lighter. He lights the cigar and takes a few puffs from it. He sure is sexy with a cigar in his mouth. His voice is off, he sounds like he’s holding in the smoke. I’m not sure if this is how you’re supposed to smoke cigars, but Sean smokes it the same way. “So how do all of you know each other?”
“Sean and I went to high school together,” I reply, moving a lock of hair from in front of my face. “Evan and I went to college together where we introduced Millie and Ryan.”
“What about you two? You said you were going outta town to meet your biological father and next thing you know, bam.” Ryan raises his eyebrows and waves his hands.
Sean nudges Storm’s side. “New boy toy.”
“She walked into my bar and I was a goner,” Storm says, placing his hand on his chest and chuckling. He looks at Evan and arches an eyebrow. “You know what it’s like, you’ve been with her before.”
Evan nods. “She didn’t give in to me that quickly.”
Storm pulls me closer to him. “I’m just lucky I guess.”
There’s something about him I absolutely cannot get enough of. He’s like this drug I’m addicted to without knowing what the side effects are. That’s okay, though. I like this drug and I hope I stay addicted to it for as long as I can.
Sean snorts. “Ha! It’s ’cause Storm’s hotter than you.”
Evan glares. “Fuck off.”
I clear my throat, feeling the awkward tension from every gaze that Evan shoots at me. I want to leave but I know I can’t do that to Millie, no matter how hard this is for me. I grin at Storm. “I’m just going to use the restroom.”
“Mm,” he hums, blowing smoke in the opposite direction of me and grabbing my wrist to leave me with a kiss. “You gonna be okay?”
I nod, licking my lips as I disappear inside. All the while hoping Evan won’t say something stupid and make Storm regret coming tonight.