“So, where are you guys staying?” Star asks him.
He glances nervously around. “I’m not sure yet.”
“Well, you won’t have any trouble finding a hotel, since Wren gave you all that money,” I toss out.
He flinches. “Of course,” he mumbles.
Alarm bells go off in my head. “Dude, you spent fifty thousand dollars?”
Star heaves a sigh. “Not now, Finny,” she says.
“I’ll explain everything to you,” he rushes to say, speaking directly to Wren and Star. “I promise.”
Star smiles at him. “Later.”
He nods and looks relieved. “Of course.” His eyes meet mine again and I look away, breaking contact.
Star threads her fingers through Josh’s and says, “Your baby wants a piece of cake.” She bats her lashes at him. She’s barely six weeks pregnant, but she’s already milking the baby thing.
Josh laughs. “I can take a hint. Anybody else?” He looks around the group. We’re all sitting at a table at Star and Josh’s reception, taking up space while people mill around us. Star and Josh got tossed in the fountain a few minutes ago, so they had to go and change clothes really quickly. Star came back looking more disheveled than when she left, and Josh had a shit-eating grin on his face.
Somebody got lucky, and it wasn’t me.
“I’ll take a piece,” Wren says. Lark raises her hand, too. She’s wearing elbow-length gloves as usual. Pink, to match her dress.
“Me too,” I say.
Josh wheels away and Star watches him with longing in her eyes. I pat her on the shoulder. “He’ll be right back. I promise.” I wrap my hands around my mouth. “With cake!” I whisper-yell.
She laughs.
“You’re happy?” Tag suddenly asks her. “Really happy?”
Star nods. “Beyond happy.” She has a wistful smile on her face.
“Good.”
Star props her elbow on the table and sets her chin in her palm. She nods toward the baby. “Was he what you needed the money for?”
Tag nods. “He was.”
“Do you need any more?” she asks.
I choke on my own spit. “Sorry,” I gasp out as Wren pounds me on the back.
“No, I took care of everything I needed to take care of. Thank you. I’d offer to pay you back, but I don’t have a job yet.” His cheeks grow rosy. Is he embarrassed?Wren shrugs. “It’s not like we’ll miss it.”
He laughs. “Still, I don’t want to be a burden.”
Then he should seriously think about going home. He’s breathing my air. That’s a burden all by itself.
“Where’s its mother?” I demand.
“I’m…not sure.” He looks down at his son. “I wish I knew.” He heaves a sigh.
“You’ll come home with us tonight,” Wren suddenly says. “Star’s room is still empty. And so is Peck’s. We have plenty of space.”
He shakes his head. “I can’t take advantage.” But hope blooms in his eyes. I can see it. I wonder if he knows that. I wonder if he cares.
He can’t take advantage? Like running off with fifty thousand dollars while his dick was still wet from being inside me wasn’t enough?
“Hello?” I cry. “Perhaps you should ask the other people who live there?” I point to myself. My heart is rattling in my chest like a ping-pong ball in a glass. Lark, Wren, and I share an apartment. I don’t think we need more roommates.
Particularly not one who fucked my brains out. Particularly not one who reached deeper inside me than anyone ever has. Particularly not one who scares me.
“He’s our brother,” Star scolds. “It’s not up for discussion.”
“Then you should take him home with you.”
Star rolls her eyes. “I’m on my honeymoon.” She leans close to me and whispers in my ear. “And I’m pretty sure Josh got some sex furniture for me for the honeymoon, and I want to try it out.”
“Ewww.” I groan. “TMI, Star.”
She laughs and looks at Tag. “She’ll be nice. I promise.” She gives me an evil glare. “Won’t you, Finny?”
Fuck no, I won’t be nice. “No promises.” I jerk my thumb toward the baby. “Is he bringing that with him?”
Tag laughs. “I don’t go anywhere without him.” His gaze locks with mine.
The table goes quiet, because there’s force and conviction behind his words.
A man comes up and stops by my shoulder. “Care to dance?” he asks.
I don’t know him, but he’s handsome and he’s got enough balls to ask. I might even fuck him. I’ve experienced a bit of a dry spell since that night with Tag. It’s like my vagina is broken. I look at this guy’s face.
Wait. Did I already fuck him? They all blur together after a while. Who knows? “Love to,” I say. I get up and follow him onto the dance floor. My night is suddenly looking like it might take a turn for the better.
He pulls me way too close way too quickly. I stiffen and he doesn’t take the hint.
“You don’t remember me, do you?” he asks, his warm breath moving over my ear.
Now I remember him. I might forget their names and their faces, but I never forget the way they smell. This one smells like body spray and onions.
“I ate you out for about an hour that night,” he says. He grins like it’s a good thing. Only it wasn’t. It lasted for an hour because he was so fucking bad at it.