There he is. The relentless flirt who has absolutely zero intention of wanting to actually settle down with anyone.
Guys like Bennett like the chase. They don’t actually want to catch anyone.
“How could I forget?” I toss over my shoulder as I leave him filling the doorway and walk over to the cabinet and pull out a vase, depositing the flowers inside. “You know, one of these days, someone’sactuallygoing to fall for your act, and then what? Can you imagine… monogamy?”
For a second, a flit of panic crosses his face, and a shudder has his broad shoulders shaking, but he shrugs as if he’s unbothered. “I could be a one-person kind of guy. Easy.”
“Mhmmm.”
“I told you, if you gave me the time of day, I’d scoop you up so fucking fast, girl.”
I laugh. “Yeah, I bet.”
Bennett takes the vase out of my hands and shakes his head. “Let me. The birthday girl doesn’t need to do anything but drink a fuck ton of fruity drinks and wear that cute little tiara.”
Oh. I’d forgotten he’d brought that.
My gaze falls to where it’s sitting on the kitchen counter, and I pick it up.
I’ll look absolutely ridiculous in a tiara that says Birthday Girl, but I guess… you only turn twenty-one once, right?
“Here, let me do the honors,” Bennett murmurs as he takes the tiara out of my hands and gently places it on top of my head, then steps back to take a look.
When he whistles, low and slow, I shake my head and give him an eye roll.
“I look stupid.”
“Fuck no, you look amazing. That dress…” He lifts a fist to his mouth, pretending to bite down. “The tiara just brings itall together.” Turning, he calls out down the hallway, “Let’s go, lovebirds. Time to celebrate the birthday girl!”
I find myself smiling so much that my cheeks hurt, dressed in a silly tiara that probably does actually look ridiculous, wearing a dress that makes up for it, and suddenly… I realize I’m no longer even thinking about Wilder Hawthorne and his stupid, handsome face.
CHAPTER
TWENTY-ONE
MAISIE
I thinkI’m drunk for the first time like… ever?
Maybe just tipsy?
Maybe aliiiiiiitttttlebit drunk.
Not that I have very much to go off, but my arms feel so loose and heavy at the same time, and the music is so perfect, and I’m having so much fun.
I’m so glad that I didn’t stay home tonight, but even more glad that I have Bennett bringing me these fruity drinks every time I finish one.
This is number three. Or is it four? No, no, it’s number five.
The room sways slightly around me, and I blink, trying to keep myself upright.
“Taking a break, ’kay? Gonna go sit,” I mutter to Lennon, whose eyes are as glassy as mine. We’ve spent the last… I dunno how long giggling on the dance floor, while Saint and Bennett hovered over us like we’re princesses seeing the real world for the first time.
He’s soooo ridiculous, but I am thankful that he’s all… protective over my bestie.
I slowly make my way over to an empty table near the dance floor and wave to Lennon once I sink down into the chair. Shesomehow ropes Saint into dancing, which is freaking hilarious since his version of dancing is mostly standing there while she grabs his hips and moves them to the music, his expression his signature broody.
What’s actually surprising is that as ridiculous as Bennett usually is with the flirting, he’s mostly just been sweet and fun. He’s flirted, duh. I think it’s actually his defense mechanism to the world, but he’s really just danced and laughed along with me and Len.
