Claire glanced over my shoulder and then back to me. “You won’t know until you try, and I have a good feeling about this.”
“Scarlett!” Seb’s shout had me whipping around to the door. He waltzed up to her and wrapped her in a bear hug, picking her up off the ground. My feet were taking me in her direction without my having to think about it. As soon as he let her go, my heart stopped beating. And when it resumed, it hammered me at triple speed.
Scarlett had on a pair of ripped jeans and sneakers. Her wild, curly hair was left down, which was a personal favorite look of mine. And her top… her light blue top was the perfect match for her sky-blue eyes. It looked like it was made of silk as it draped carefully between her breasts, only hanging on to her shoulders by two thin straps.
“You came.” I smiled at her, wrapping my arms around her delicate shoulders. I wasn’t sure when it started, but I had this overwhelming need to have my hands on Scarlett anytime we were near each other.
“Of course I came. It’s a party for you,” she said. Her eyes met mine, and Claire’s words from a moment ago rang in my ears. Scarlett’s eyes darted around, and she pulled back from my embrace with a smile.
“What are you drinking tonight? I’ve got your next one,” she said.
“Mostly beer, but the pitcher keeps magically refilling, so I’m good. Let me get you one.”
I asked Ronnie for a new, clean cup for Scarlett and poured her a glass from the pitcher we already had.
I handed her the cup and leaned in, talking just loud enough for her to hear. “You look beautiful.”
Even in the dim lighting of the bar, I could see her cheeks start to turn pink. “Thanks,” she said. She didn’t take a sip of the drink. Instead, she was tracing the rim of the cup with her finger. The simple, innocuous act had me mesmerized.
“I need to be honest with you, Letty…”
“Hey. You’re here.” Maeve came up to us and gave her a hug. Claire followed closely behind. I shot Scarlett a smile and backed away to give the ladies their time together. I would find a time to talk to her later.
“You’re staring,” Wes said in his low, no-nonsense voice.
“I can’t stop myself.”
Seb came over just then with another round of shots.
“I don’t need more shots. I need chicken wings,” I laughed.
“I got you some wings coming. Take a shot while we’re waiting. I don’t think Scarlett’s had one yet. Isn’t that right, Letty?” he yelled to her. Her eyes met mine before looking back at Seb. Instantly, an anger built inside of me at the use of her nickname. That was my name for her. No one else called her Letty. That was our thing, and hearing my name for her on his lips pissed me off.
“Not yet,” she answered. “But if you’re handing them out, I’m in.”
She gathered around the table near me. Her floral scent hit me square in the chest. She reached forward to take one of the shots from the table, and her other hand pressed against my back like she was using me to steady herself.
“Letty, can I talk to you?” I asked.
“What?” The karaoke singer was belting out a tune over the speakers, making it hard to hear. “Grab your shot. Let’sdo this.”
Funny. That was exactly what I wanted to say. Let’s do this. Really do this and see where it goes.
I picked up my shot and tossed it back, my eyes never leaving Scarlett. Her head tilted back, the warm liquid disappearing down her throat. Fuck, that was hot.
Before I had a chance to say anything else, Maeve pulled her into a conversation again. The singing stopped, and everyone clapped for the very tipsy lady as she made her way back to her seat and another guy took her place. I slipped away for five minutes and was back without anyone noticing.
“I’m going to head on out, but if anyone needs a ride tonight, you give me a call, got it?” my father said.
“Maeve’s the designated driver for me, Reid, and Claire. She didn’t want to drink while she’s breastfeeding,” Wyatt told him.
“And I’m walking tonight,” I added, “but I’ll make sure everyone gets home safe. Thanks for coming out tonight.”
“I don’t think a divorce party was a thing in my day,” he laughed.
“Blame this guy. I would have been fine sitting on my couch like I am most nights,” I said.
It wasn’t until twenty minutes after my father left that I had Scarlett tucked into my side, talking to her and Wes at the table—finally eating my chicken wings—when I heard it.
