Chapter 74
KC
Brittney’s graduation party is tonight. I’m so proud of her.
We invited Steffan and Greg to Chicago for it too.
Her parents came up yesterday and took her to dinner and celebrated with her and Skyler.
Tonight’s the night her other friends and I get a turn to show her how proud we are and how much we love her.
She’s still staying with Skyler but hasn’t moved much of anything out of the storage building.
Ajani and I rented out Darla’s Pub for the party tonight.
We’re finishing up the table decorations and Jared should be back from the airport with Greg and Steffan any minute.
I’m so excited that we will all get to spend the evening together.
It’s been too long. I’ve already got the DJ lined up to play our favorites.
The chime at the door alerts me that someone’s here. “Hey, we’re back here!” I yell out.
I hear a gasp before I turn around. It’s Brittney. “This is beautiful, ladies!”
“You’re not supposed to be here yet!” I cross my arms, pretending to be mad.
“No, it’s okay! I invited her early so we could have a drink together before the whole party arrives.” Ajani puts an arm around Brittney and me. “You guys are my best friends, and I’m thankful every day that we all got introduced.”
I kiss her cheek. “We love you too, babe.”
“Yes, we’d be lost without you!” Britt slaps her ass.
“So, what shall we drink first? I made jello shots!” Ajani shouts.
“You made them? Or had someone make them?” I tease.
“I can confirm that I brought them here.” She reaches over to grab one for each of us. “Strawberry shortcake…”
“Mmm, that sounds delicious,” Brittney cheers.
“Proud of you, bestie. I never doubted you, and now we have a lawyer in our corner whenever we need one!”
“Cheers to that!” Ajani clinks her small plastic cup against ours.
We lick around the rim and swallow the shot whole.
“Wow. I need to know who made these for you. They are ah-mazing!” I lick my lips.
Ajani uses her fingers like she is locking her lips closed.
“Uh-huh. I’ll get it out of you one way or another.” I bump my hip against hers.
“So, you and Beau?” Brittney says as she sits at a table.
Ajani’s cheeks go rose red. “I mean… Yeah, I think so!” She buries her face in her hands to hide from us.
“And your dad still doesn’t know?” I ask.
“Oh, fuck no. I told Beau that’s all on him, and good luck.” She laughs. “If he really wants to be with me, he’ll make it happen, right?”
“Right!” Brittney and I say at the same time.
“Hello! We’re here!” Greg yells from the front of Darla’s.
“They made good time,” Brittney whispers.
I look up at the clock in the corner. “Yeah, they really did.”
“There’s our girls.” Steffan squeezes in between Brittney and me. “I’ve missed these sandwiches, deeply.”
“We’ve missed you too, handsome.” Brittney pats his chest lightly.
“Yes. Hope you plan to stay up late, Mr. Fireman.”
“Hey, I can’t help that I usually have a bedtime. Most of the time, my twenty-four-hour shifts usually turn into a shit show, okay?”
“Yeah, yeah. We got your walking cane ready for you in the back.” Brittney shoves him and walks away.
“Nuh-uh. I don’t think so, sassy pants.” Steffan lets go of me and chases Brittney around the table.
“Geez, you really did get slow,” Brittney taunts.
“That’s it.” Steffan jumps up onto a table and grabs Brittney into his arms. “Got you!”
Brittney’s smile falls as she stares at Steffan. “Yeah, for now. Enjoy it while it lasts.”
Greg comes up next to me, bumping his butt against mine. “Some things never change, huh?”
“Yeah, I guess so.”
Jared smacks my ass and wraps his arms around me from behind. “What are we talking about?”
“Oh, nothing. When will the rest of the people be showing up?” I ask as I watch Steffan and Brittney whispering to each other.
“Uh, looks like Skyler’s here now.” Jared points to the door, and my eyes follow his hand.
“Hi, Skyler!” My high-pitched tone pulls Brittney from her bickering with Steffan.
She runs over to him and jumps into his arms. “Hey, baby.” She kisses his lips as he continues to stare daggers at Steffan. Boy, if looks could kill…
“Who are your friends?”
Greg walks over to Skyler, offering his hand. “I’m Greg. Nice to meet ya, man. This is Steffan. We’re old friends from their hometown.” Skyler reaches out and shakes his hand.
Steffan walks over and does the same. Skyler hesitates before shaking it. “Nice to meet you both. Glad you could make it to celebrate my smokeshow.” His arm wraps around Brittney.
Brittney smiles at me, but it doesn’t reach her eyes. “But we aren’t just celebrating my graduation tonight… Let’s celebrate these two on the closing of their new home!”
Jared lifts me up into his arms, twirling us around. “Yes! We’ll have a housewarming party after we thoroughly break it in.”
I slap his chest. “Shh, none of that!”
Ajani looks around the room. “Where’s Beau?”
Skyler shrugs his shoulders. “He said he had to take care of something before coming to the party tonight. I didn’t get the impression he’d be too late.”
Ajani’s eyebrows furrow. “Okay. Looks like more people are starting to show up. Let the guest of honor go, Skyler, so she can say her hellos.”
Skyler brings Brittney in for a tight hug, and he whispers something into her ear before looking at the group. The smile she’s wearing drops, but then she quickly plasters it back on.“I guess I do have to share her tonight.”
“Let’s go, ladies!” Brittney uses her hand to signal for us to follow her, leaving the guys alone to talk.
I felt a tension earlier between Skyler and Steffan. I hope there isn’t any drama tonight, for Brittney’s sake.