Chapter 33
CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE
ariana
I march right back out into that wedding with a stick of pink bubblegum in my mouth.
Smiling triumphantly, I head to the bar and grab another drink, my adrenaline pumping through my veins. I did it. I got a taste of what I wanted and victory is sweet. I hadn’t walked into that bathroom with the intention of doing more than dancing with him, but I can’t say I’m angry about it.
I take a seat next to Reno at my table, scanning the crowd for Lemmy, who appears to have vanished. He glances at me for long enough to nod in greeting, but returns to his conversation with Oscar and Callum just as quickly.
I let out a little breath, leaning back in my seat, exhausted from the performance of a lifetime. I should really join the girls on the dance floor, but I need a minute. I put my heart and soul into that blowjob. That was the gold medal of all blowjobs.
Boston walks back into the room a few minutes later, EJ by his side. He pauses in the threshold, eyes skirting around the venue. They land on me for a blink and then snap over to Reno, hardening.
Even more jealous than before, it appears. Lovely. I can work with that.
When his gaze slides back to me, I flash him a subtle smile and rest my chin on the heel of my hand, turning my attention back to the conversation that I haven’t been invited into and am not remotely interested in.
I feel his presence storm past the table, not bothering to look my way again. He heads right out onto the patio, where I assume the other groomsmen might be. Far, far away from me.
I watch him go, my attention only being pulled from his strong shoulders when I feel the unmistakable heaviness of someone’s eyes on me.
My gaze flickers to Callum, who is watching me very, very carefully.
I hold his stare, offering a quick smile, and his eyes drop to my mouth, brows furrowing as I blow a little pink bubble.
His green eyes, which are a much lighter shade than Boston’s pretty dark ones, snap up to mine again. He leans back in his seat and lets out a long breath, running his hand over his mouth as he looks away.
Well, this table is remarkably boring.
I stand without excusing myself. None of them really care that I was here, anyway. I head to the dance floor instead and beeline straight for the bride. The vibe in this area is much, much better. Nothing beats dancing with the girls at a wedding. Nothing.
Penny’s drunken smile widens when I join the circle. She holds out her hand for me to take, and I do. What the bride wants, the bride gets. I extend my drink above my head as I join the bridesmaids and watch Avery twirl Penny’s niece around in circles until she’s dizzy.
I made myself walk away from him, by the way.
I did what I did, but he’s still Boston.
He’s still a guy who would absolutely have the power to hurt me.
No question. He’s still Carter’s best friend.
Lingering could have led to more, and putting either of us in that position feels unfair.
Walking away was damn near impossible, but it was necessary for both of us.
It was my good deed after my bad one. Repentance.
Maybe it ends in that bathroom.
The door to the balcony, which I may have been keeping an eye on, opens again. Boston strides back into the venue with Declan at his side. Wyatt and Seth are right behind them. The former’s eyes scan the room, his brow furrowing when he spots Callum’s now vacant seat at my table.
Declan’s eyes find Penny.
Boston’s eyes find me.
And because fate needs to humble both of us, my brother and Arden are heading right for them. They meet them at the edge of the dancefloor and Boston’s face immediately goes slack. His throat bobs as he buries his hands in his pockets, looking like the picture of a guilty man.
He can’t meet my brother’s eyes, so he doesn’t. He looks anywhere but him.
And me.
Maybe I shouldn’t have crossed that line.
I can’t think about it now. Not about his inability to look at me or the possible ramifications of my impulsivity. I can’t. One meltdown this week was enough. The crime has already been committed. I can’t take it back.
I twirl Penny the way Avery is twirling Ellie, which makes Ellie explode into a fit of childlike giggles.
It’s fine. He was always going to be my hardest battle and greatest triumph. The aftermath of the war is typically worse than the actual fight. The way he looks sick to his stomach doesn’t have to sting if I don’t let it.
I look over my shoulder as I spin Penny around and around, because I’m a sucker for hurting my own feelings, apparently.
Boston’s eyes finally meet mine, and I don’t know what I see there. I can’t tell what he’s feeling. This is one of the rare moments where I wish he was a bit easier to read.
With a little shake of his head, he tears his gaze from me, slaps Declan on the back, and heads right for the bar.
I sip my drink innocently, watching Declan’s eyes linger on Boston’s back.
After four more songs and way too much perspiration, I sit back at my boring table with Arden and some of the girls.
Reno is beyond drunk, so he’s currently on the dancefloor, sitting on top of Cole’s shoulders with his tie wrapped around his head.
My brother is beside them, having a sloppy, discombobulated dance-off with the bride.
Declan pulls out the chair across from me and falls into it. Boston drops himself into the one beside him.
I drag my eyes to his face, drinking him in.
Impeccable. He’s indescribable, really. I wish I could do him justice in words.
He’s always transfixed me more than any architecture or blueprint ever has.
I study the slope of his straight nose and the swell of those perfect, soft lips.
All curated perfectly, as if God designed him personally.
There’s handsome and then there is Boston.
He stares at the dance floor instead of looking my way, jaw pulsing.
“Mr. Sweeten, how has your night been?” Arden jokes, smiling over at Declan.
He’s drunk, happy, and still staring at his wife. I don’t think his eyes have left her all night. “I should be up there with her, shouldn’t I?”
“You can take a couple of songs off,” Boston says. He looks across the table while everyone’s watching the dancefloor, relishing in how happy Penny has been tonight.
Our eyes finally lock again.
I smile, raising both my brows.
His eyes dart to my mouth as I blow a pink bubble, and his whole face darkens.
“Anyone want shots?” Oscar asks, getting to his feet. Everyone agrees a bit too eagerly, Boston the loudest of all.
Oh, I’ve totally fucked with his head.
“Grab enough for everyone!” Declan calls, and Oscar throws a thumbs-up over his shoulder.
Declan hops to his feet, rushing to the dancefloor to collect his bride.
I take that moment to greedily look at Boston again, and he slowly drags his eyes back to me like we both can’t help it.
We stare at each other, the memory of what happened making my stomach swoop and flutter.
I see the recollection all over his face when his gaze darts to my lips for the second time in a minute.
How do I feel more satisfied from a sexual encounter where I wasn’t even touched, than I have with any other experience?
Boston smiles just enough for me to notice and my heart sputters back to life. That’s a good sign. He isn’t completely full of regret if he still smiles when I bat my eyes at him.
So, of course, that’s the moment my brother approaches the table with his big grin and his sparkling eyes.
Boston’s smile sinks to the pits of hell.
He keeps his eyes to himself from that point onward. As we all take our shots. As we all sing, and chat, and drink. As we somehow avoid each other like a choreographed dance.
He doesn’t look at me for the rest of the night.