“Seriously, who’s meeting us there?” I ask again as I get into the passenger side and shut the door behind me. “That guy from the food drive?”
“Yep. Glenn.” Sophia starts the car and backs out quickly, far more quickly than I do on this steep driveway. “You remember Glenn.” She puts on her turn signal and takes the first left. “I slept with him a few times about a year ago.”
I strain to think back. “I don’t know. I’m not sure I do remember someone named Glenn…”
“His nickname is Slammer. That’s his last name.”
“His last name is Slammer?” I say. “That’s horrible.”
“Well, he’s great in bed. And I’m lonely.”
I put my hand on her arm. “I know what today is, Soph.”
She glances at me out of the corner of her eye. “Lei! You promised you would never mention what today means. We have a pact!”
“I know.” I pretend to seal my lips with my finger and thumb. “And I won’t say anything else. But you know I’m here for you.”
“I do. But I really like Glenn.”
I give her a look.
“Okay, fine. I’m not sure I can trust him at all. But I’m willing to find out. What could go wrong?”
* * *
The tingles start on the back of my neck as soon as we walk into the saloon. I glance around, feeling like I’m being watched.
When my gaze locks with a pair of sapphire-blue eyes, I halt, causing Sophia to slam into me from behind.
“Sorry,” I murmur, my eyes not leaving Brayden’s.
“What is it?” she asks me as she scans the bar. “Ohhhh. Your secret crush is in the building. Welllll. Tonight just got a hell of a lot more interesting. I may not have invited Slammer if I’d known about this little development.”
She raises her hand and waves enthusiastically at Brayden, who gestures us over to the corner where he’s standing with two beautiful blond women and two handsome dark-haired guys. One has facial hair, and the other is clean-shaven, but they’re both equally attractive and well-built.
“Who are those other guys?” Sophia whispers to me.
“No idea,” I say as I drag my feet getting over to him. “Not sociable” is a kind way of describing my level of comfort in a group gathering. And not having a warning that I was about to meet Brayden, as well as four other people who look far more together than I feel inside, is making my palms sweat.
But luckily, Sophia’s the opposite of me. She charges forward, introducing herself and me before Brayden even has a chance to open his mouth.
Brayden shifts his gaze to me, and my pulse immediately picks up. His hair’s damp, like he just got out of the shower. His cool blue shirt matches his eyes, and the top two buttons are undone, and the sleeves are rolled up, revealing light blond hairs on his arms. God, he looks better every time I see him.
“Have you all met June? She’s Leleila’s sister.” Sophia asks his friends.
The guy with the facial hair shakes his head. “We don’t live in the area, and we all just flew in today. We haven’t been to Brayden’s new job yet.” He shoots Brayden a meaningful look. “I can’t wait, though. Seems like lots of new shit is happening in his life lately.”
Brayden clears his throat and introduces his four friends as Cam, Ayden, Bella, and Jasalie. I should have realized the two guys were his cousins, but I’m far too busy trying to think of what to say.
“Where—” The word comes out raspy, and I clear my throat and try again. “Where do you all live?”
Ayden and Bella explain how they just moved from Maine to L.A. where Jasalie also lives, and Cam says he lives in Minnesota but grew up in Louisiana.
“And Leleila, you two met through your sister?” Cam gestures between me and Brayden, whose focus is squarely on me.
“Um.” I fidget with my purse strap. “We re-met each other. I kind of accidentally dumped granola on his head.”
Ayden and Cam laugh, and Ayden’s ocean blue eyes flash with something as he gives me a closer look.
