“No, they didn’t date,” her fiance discloses, not without a hint of glee, the corners of his lips twitching. “They just slept together. Once.”
“Apparently it was enough,” Marius mumbles, tumbling over onto his head.
I down my glass and slam it onto the bar. “Argh, guys! Shut up!”
Jez ignores me and gets up from the couch to refill my drink, giving me a pointed look as he does. “Anyway, we hate her. And right now we’re not happy with Dennis either, for lugging her on us. No offense, Hailey.”
She shrugs. “Hey, what my dad decides is up to him. I’ve got my own job to do. And well, I like her. From what I know of her.”
“Me too,” Cadence chimes in, tugging on Sebastian’s ear when he scoffs. “I think you guys are just being jerks. If Brad’s okay with it, you should be too.”
I smile at them gratefully. “Thanks girls. Take care of her, okay?”
I wander back to my room, trying not to stare out the window and wonder if she still sleeps like she used to, on her back, with one leg bent up and the other stretched out straight, an arm flung over her eyes to block out the light.
Just the way she looked the last time I saw her.
Brad
Eight Years Ago
She smells like jasmine. Skin porcelain white, delicate, fresh, of the night. Even now, with the sunlight softly filtering through her lace curtains, the day slowly dragging itself awake, she smells like the absolute stillness of night. Like mystery and something hidden, dangerous but undeniable.
Her arm is warm against my bare chest and I pull on her waist, cradling her against me. She wriggles and mumbles something in her slumber. I wonder if she’s dreaming of us last night. There’s a tensing around my middle as the memory floods my own brain. Her hot, damp body under mine as she held herself open, waiting for me. Then finally, feeling myself slide into her, taking her and giving to her all at once. My heart races as I remember the way she arched her back, pushing herself against me, taking me deeper.
“Hmm, Brad?” she mumbles softly into her pillow.
I press my lips against her bare shoulder. “Shh, Butter, I’m here. Get some more sleep.”
“Mmmokay. Don’t leave okay?”
“No, I’m not leaving. Ever. Just… just get some more sleep.”
My fingers brush a curl from her face and follow the curve along her neck and down her spine. She shivers a little at my touch and it thrills me.
I roll over onto my back, not wanting to disturb her. The clock on her nightstand tells me it’s 6:26 a. m. Her favorite coffee shop opens in four minutes and it gives me an idea. Inching at a snail’s pace to the bottom of the bed, I quietly slide my pants on and creep out the front door, careful not to stir the rest of her family.
***
“Two double caramel lattes and two croissants and a Greek yogurt to go, please,” I order at the coffeeshop ten minutes later.
“YO, BRADLEY!”
I turn to see my bandmates strolling through the cafe door. I’m not surprised to see them wearing the tattered remains of their suits from last night either.
“Good God, what stinking gutter did you guys climb out of?” I grin at them.
“Yo mama!” Jez hollers back.
“OOOH!” Seb and Marius exclaim in unison.
I let my mouth drop open in mock offense before replying. “Hey! I’ll tell her you said that and that’ll be no more roast dinners for you.”
“Shit. Sorry, reflex. You know I love Mrs. Windsor,” he apologizes sheepishly.
Marius comes over to me and slings his arm around my shoulder. “What about you? You fucked off outta there so fast, I barely had time to throw your violin after you.”
“Ah shit, did you…?”
“Relax, I’ve tucked your precious Ivy all tight and snug in her case.” He’s referring to my nickname for my violin.
“So? Where were you?” he asks me again.
“Nowhere. I just went home,” I say, bracing for a round of questions.
“You’re wearing the same clothes, pecker-breath,” Sebastian grins.
“So?” I busy myself with gathering sugar and napkins hoping they’ll take pity on me.
“So, you went home and went to bed. Then woke up and put on the same clothes and decided to go get a coffee at 6:40 a. m. on a Saturday morning.”
“You are so smart, you could be a detective if only you had half a brain.”
“Two lattes, two croissants, and a yogurt!” the girl at the counter calls out.
I ignore it, turning to Sebastian and pinching the underside of his arm.
“Ow!” he yells and tries to pinch me back, but I duck out the way. “Fuck-knuckle! Isn’t that your order?”
“Is it?” I say, putting on my innocent face that has never fooled anyone, ever.
“Nice try. Sounds like you ordered for two,” Jez says with a grin spreading across his face. “Oooh, you dog you, don’t tell me, you finally infiltrated the lion’s den!”
“Shut up,” I growl at him as I collect my order from the counter.
“I knew it”
“Fuck off, I’ve gotta go.”
“Yeah, maybe brush your teeth before you climb back into your bed in those clothes you wore last night!” Marius calls after me, as I run out the door to my car.
“Fucking idiots,” I mumble as I drive back to Emily’s house. Juggling the drinks and paper bag, I quietly shut the car door and make my way up the driveway, hoping her family are still asleep and I can creep back into her room.
“Windsor! What are you doing here?”
I spin around to see Silas following me up the driveway. Unlike me and my mates, he appears to have already showered and changed into non-prom-wearing attire.
“Um. I’m here to see Emily,” I explain, almost dropping the coffees in surprise.
He stares at me for a moment, sunglasses hiding the expression in his eyes. “It’s a bit early, don’t you think?”
“Well, you’re here, aren’t you?” I reply, shrugging my shoulders.
He sticks his hands in his pockets, his chest suddenly seeming a little wider. “Well, I’m her boyfriend.”
It takes everything I have in that moment not to throw the coffees in his face. Instead, I calmly ask, “You sure?”
“What do you mean?”
“Well, last I heard you guys had called it off.”
“Nah, that was just a fight. She just needed some space. Anyway, she texted me last night. She said she wanted to see me. So here I am.” He lifts his sunglasses up on top of his head and gives me a wink.
“She texted you?” I don’t believe him. She can’t have.
“Yeah.”