Rather than replying, I wrap my arms around his waist, my head resting on his chest. Levi doesn’t hesitate as he wraps one arm around my shoulders, the other resting on the back of my head.
“So cute,” I hear JJ say, and I snuggle just a little more into his chest.
“Gross is what it is,” Blue follows up and this time I scoff.
Pulling away from Levi, I turn around to look at my best friend with what would be a scolding expression if I could keep the smile off my face. “Hey now, you wanted this for me.”
“Doesn’t mean I want to look at it.”
Before I can muster up a retort, Cole approaches the table carrying six glasses, three in each hand. I raise a brow as JJgrabs two so he can set down the rest and she extends one in my direction. I gratefully accept before turning to Blue once more.
“How’s my boy?” I ponder as I sidle up next to her, JJ on my other side as Levi slips in next to Cole. “I miss that little fluff ball.”
“He’s the best,” Blue replies, immediately reaching for her phone to show me a few pictures. “I can’t believe how big he’s gotten, though. He takes up half my bed.”
I laugh as she shows me proof. “Welcome to my world.”
“You need to let me watch him sometime,” JJ says from my right, leaning in so we can hear her better. “I think I’d be up there for his favorite aunt.”
Blue’s eyes narrow playfully. “I will have you know that title is strictly reserved for me.”
“Not for long,” JJ quips back, a smile tugging at her lips. “I make the best treats. Last time I checked, you almost burned down your kitchen trying to make cookies.”
“Hey,” Blue snaps back quickly, pointing her finger at JJ, but I see the twinkle in her eye. “Cookies are hard, okay? It’s not my fault that the recipe wasn’t clear.”
RJ laughs as I bite into my knuckles to keep mine at bay. Levi’s eyes are bouncing between the two of them, a slight arch to his brow. “Because why wouldn’t you think that forty-three minutes in the oven was accurate?”
I burst out laughing this time as Blue makes a distressed sound. “I told you guys, there was a smudge on the container.”
Everyone is laughing now except for Levi, who looks between all of us with a confused expression. I rest a hand on Blue’s arm and take a sip of my drink before turning to him.
“Blue was never the competitive type until JJ came along,” I state, but then I tilt my head. “Actually, I take that back. She was never overly competitive until JJ came along.”
“Careful,” Blue hums as she elbows me gently. “Or else I might think my competitiveness actually annoyed you over the years.”
I rest a hand on my chest and widen my eyes. “Oh, never.”
Blue pushes me playfully as laughter echoes around the table. We talk for another few minutes, us girls poking fun at the boys before they decide to drag us to the dancefloor. It seems like an hour has passed before I feel parched, deciding it is time to go rehydrate.
“I’m going to go grab a drink,” I announce to the group before I maneuver my way through the throng on the dance floor to get back to our table.
Reaching for my half-finished beer, I take a swig and dig through my purse for my phone. When I click the screen on, I freeze, my eyes scanning the three missed calls and five text messages.
Heather
I just got a call from Claire. I’m going to pick her up now.
She didn’t tell me what happened, just that she wanted to go home.
Package secured.
She seems okay, don’t worry. I’m taking her back to my place for the night.
She doesn’t want you to worry or ‘ruin your night’… but I wanted you to know. She’s in excellent hands, don’t worry. I got things here.
I slam my drink back down on the table and shove my phone in my purse, frantically swinging it over my shoulder before Imake a beeline for the exit without saying a word to my friends or Levi.
Why didn’t she call me?That is the only thing that is running through my mind. Claire calls me for everything, always. Have I been giving her the impression lately that I was too busy for her? And if I have, what kind of mother does that make me?
