“Um ...something strong.”
He nodded giving me a sympathetic quirk of his lips.
The kitchen looked like a grandma’s circa 1990, which it was.When he’d revealed that they party at Nora’s grandma’s from time-to-time, I’d needed some convincing to stay.But he’d pointed out that it would be the best place to get to know people and promised to take me somewhere else if I was uncomfortable.Now, the party’s location had nothing to do with how uncomfortable I was.
I followed him to the middle of the kitchen with its oak trim throughout, blue countertops, and a wallpaper boarder depicting ducks in a pond over and over.Nora stood with her arms crossed over her chest, the alcohol on the island directly behind her.She lifted an eyebrow at a man about Emmett’s height with thick, dark hair.The man was dressed casually but everything fitperfectly.Just anyone might assume that his jeans and T-shirt took as little attention to put together as Emmett’s, but there was no way.
I knew a fuckboy when I saw one.Though, I was possibly giving myself too much credit, because I hadn’t clocked Remi as one.
While I was dealing with my own drama, there was still enough room inside of me to hurt for Sadie.She was sticking to her plan and ghosting her own fuckboy.But I knew it took something from her every time he texted.
But this stranger had a cocky purse to his lips, and a glass of amber-colored liquid over ice, pinched between two fingers.
Judging body language alone, Nora held all the power here.
He turned his head, and his grin grew warm and welcoming.“Emmett.”
They shook hands before pulling each other into a quick hug.
“Seb, what’s up?”Emmett answered.
“No complaints.How are the horses?”
“They’re good.Lots of work.”
Nora tilted her head, and I got the sinking feeling that she could see the emotions I was hiding.“Alicia, thank you for coming.”
“Happy to be here.”I pointed to the ducks in the pond.“I’m weirded out it’s your grandma’s house.”
She laughed.“You should be.It’s a weird group that decides this is what we want to do.”
“Why do you?”
“Nostalgia?Every time my sister comes back to town we do this.Grandma loves it, because one of these people are going to notice something needs to be fixed and they just show up and take care of it.In the spring, Ransom noticed the gutters were all messed up, and this was the first year Gram didn’t have water in her basement.It’s a good trade off.”
“All right, that’s sweet.”
“It is.”
“Alicia?”Seb asked extending a hand to me.
It was warm in mine, but I didn’t completely trust the polite gesture.“Seb?”
“Yeah.Sebastian.”
“I’m sorry, I should have introduced you—” Emmett began but Nora interrupted.
“Should you, though?”
Seb’s hazel eyes sparkled, clearly delighted.“Don’t mind her, she doesn’t know it yet, but she’s in love with me.”
I snorted.“Obviously.”
Nora reached between Emmett and Sebastian to pull me next to her.Turning her back to them, she gestured to the alcohol bottles and mixers arranged on the island.“What do you wanna drink?”
I considered my options, maybe it was the house reminding me of my pre-bar days, but I shrugged and said, “How about rum and coke?”
“Classic.”She spared Emmett and Seb a glance over her shoulder as she grabbed a red solo cup and started heavily pouring the rum.“He’s Elijah’s business partner.”
