“Lizzie, you didn’t tell us your dad is so hot.” Our friend Kelly fans her face with her hand dramatically.
“Right? Such a DILF,” Rachel says.
“Stop right there, no talking like that about my dad. And you have a boyfriend!” Bean points at Kelly.
“Yeah, but damn, what I wouldn’t give to call that man Daddy for a night.” Kelly wags her eyebrows at Rachel, who winks at her.
I know Alex is sexy as hell, but hearing my friends talk about fucking him feels like rocks in my gut.
Bean glances at me for a second before addressing the group. “Seriously, if one more person says anything about my dad, I’m canceling this whole night.”
Rachel rolls her eyes. “Alright, fine. Are any of Calvin’s friends hot? Wedding hook-ups are the best.”
Haven just grins, not engaging in the conversation at all. And Stephanie’s paying more attention to her phone than us.
By the time we get to the first club, Bean’s hair and makeup are done, and she slips the white heels on her feet.
We dance and drink and dance some more. Unsurprisingly, Stephanie meets up with some friends and ditches us within the first thirty minutes. Hours and hours later, Matt drops me and Bean off last. We stumble up the stairs to my room as quietly as possible, which isn’t very quiet at all. She flops onto my bed face-first. I gigglesnort, cover her with an extra blanket, and crawl under the covers on the other side before falling asleep as soon as my head hits the pillow.
Chapter 33
Invisible strings
Alex
Ican’t tear my eyes off Amelia as she stands next to the limo. The way her dress clings to her body is intoxicating.
She turns her head, glancing at me over her shoulder, and it’s almost my undoing. I’m desperate to go to her, but now is not the time. I knew as soon as I saw that limo that she’d put a lot of thought into making this a fun night for Lizzie.
So I watch her get back in the car and let it drive away.
Fuck.
Checking the time, I head back upstairs to have a drink.
The wedding is happening at a resort an hour or so away, and I’ve rented out the whole damn place until Wednesday morning. Lizzie had asked for a couple of days beyond the wedding, letting guests extend their stay and make it a short vacation if they wanted to. My parents are flying in tonight and we’re all heading out to the resort early tomorrow morning.
I pour a small bottle of whiskey from the minibar into a glass and sip it, thinking about Amelia until my phone alerts me that the car I ordered is downstairs. Then I think about her on the drive to the airport.
The driver parks, and I walk inside.
“There he is,” my mom’s voice rings out loudly, her excitement clear. I turn and find her pointing at me from the escalator.
“I see him, Es.” Dad smiles softly at her. He adores her. Always has.
As soon as she gets close to me, Mom pulls me in for a hug. “You didn’t bring Lizzie with you?”
“She’s out with a bunch of friends having a bachelorette party tonight. You’ll see her in the morning.”
“Oh, I bet Minnie planned something fun. That girl is such a good friend to our Lizzie, isn’t she, Johnny?”
Shit, it didn’t occur to me that they’ve met Amelia, but they’ve come out to visit with Lizzie many times over the years.
“She sure is. Real sweetheart, that one. You flew in earlier than you were going to. Have you gotten to spend time with Lizzie?” Dad asks, clapping me on the shoulder as we turn toward the baggage claim.
“Pretty much all day, every day. She’s dragged me around two states for six days.”
“Sounds like Lizzie. I bet she talked Minnie into coming along. Hardly ever see one without the other.” Mom grins.
