Our cackles moved down the hall, so loud that one of my neighbors came to their door to check and see if we were okay, which sent us into more boisterous laughter.
I forced myself to my knees and pushed the key into the lock. We fell into the floor when the door opened, and for a few moments, both of us had to lean against the door and the wall to collect ourselves.
“We shouldn’t have had that last drink,” Lana laughed.
“Youshouldn’t have had that last drink,” I joked.
“You’re fucking toasted,” Lana replied.
“It looks like you both are,” came a familiar voice.
My laugh fell so quickly that I started choking.
Tyler was home.
He was standing by the bar, pouring white wine into the three glasses he had sat atop. He only had the amber Edison-style lights on above the counter, shadows from his trimmed, dark brown wavy hair fading over his pale face. He must have cut it while he was seeing his parents—probably his mother said something to him about it looking untidy. He looked so much like a pale version of his father standing there that it nearly threw me off.
A bouquet of roses sat in a clear vase beside the wine glasses, a small box by that.
“Tyler,” I managed, gathering my wits and catching my breath. “Tyler, I didn’t think you would be home.”
His dark brows narrowed slightly, a smirk on his lips. “You sound disappointed,” he said.
“What—no.” As I stood, I tripped on my heels again, my drunkenness showing in the stammer. “No, I just… I thought you were still in Florida,” I said once I’d made it to my feet. I smiled at the look on his face and tried to force myself sober.
Though, failing spectacularly.
“Hey,” I said upon reaching him. He wrapped a hand around my waist and kissed me, and I pushed my hand through his wavy hair. A quiet moan sounded from him, and when he pulled back, he gazed at me with narrow eyes.
“You’re completely wasted,” he said, slight accusation in his tone. “I can taste the vodka on your breath.”
I sighed. “I know how much youlovevodka,” I said, knowing it was his least favorite. “Hence why I drank it when I thought you were away.”
He chuckled under his breath, his dark eyes moving toward the door. “Hi, Lana,” he said, and I could feel his body tense up as he spoke to her.
Lana’s happy face had faded, replaced with a fake smile I knew too well. “Tyler,” she said upon reaching us. “Fancy seeing you here a day early.”
“Couldn’t have you stealing my girl away, could I?” he said, hand tightening on me.
“Doubt I’d have to steal her.” She grabbed one of the glasses of wine he’d poured. “She’d come willingly.”
“Play nice,” I said, tapping Tyler’s chest. “Both of you,” I added with a look at Lana.
She grinned coyly and batted her lashes at Tyler, then looked at me. “Only for you, babe,” she said. “So, Tyler, will you be joining our pajama party?”
“I’ll pass,” he said. “I need to catch up on a couple emails and get to sleep. I’ve spent most of the day in the airport.”
“Oh, you poor thing,” Lana mocked with a pout.
I glanced over his shoulder then, truly noticing the roses and the box on the counter. I’d been in such a daze five minutes earlier that I saw it and forgot about it that quickly. “What’s this?” I asked.
“Ah…” He released me, and I smelled one of the roses while he pushed the box in my direction. I did enjoy the smell of roses, even if I preferred sunflowers over everything.
“Open it,” he said about the gift.
I knew what the long box was before I even opened the lid—a diamond bracelet. I picked it up and held it delicately in my hands.
“My mother said it would go well with your dress. Don’t worry, she didn’t show it to me,” he assured me.
