Smiling, I yelled over the music, “Until Tuesday night. Decided I needed a little beach relaxation.”
Gage tilted his head to the side and smirked. “Well, if you need someone to relax with, I’m your man.”
Deciding to play along with his little game I quirked one eyebrow and leaned into him whispering, “For some reason I don’t think I would get much relaxation with you.”
Gage winked and brought his beer to his lips. Flicking his tongue out just long enough that I got a glimpse of the bar in it before wrapping his mouth around the bottle and taking a long hull. He was evil.
Out of the corner of my eye I saw Larkin and Jenna walking- or more of Jenna dragging my drunk brother- towards us. Gage stepped back when they got close and watched Jenna. I could see the hurt in his eyes.
Jenna flung her arms around me and yelled into my ear, “So glad you came early! Evie will be so excited when she wakes up and sees you. She has missed her Aunt Co.”
Smiling at Jenna I glanced over her shoulder looking for Gage. I saw him being pulled in the opposite direction by a group of guys. Each fighting to be next to him like he was some real life God. He glanced over his shoulder, catching my eye and a small grin formed on his lips as he slid his eyes down my body.
Pulling my attention back to Jenna I said, my voice a little strained, “I’ve missed her too. I can’t believe she’s two already!”
Larkin flung his large arm around my shoulders. “How the hell is my baby sister?”
I could smell the alcohol pouring out of his mouth. His breath was pungent.
Cringing, I placed my hand on his stomach and shoved him. “How much have you drank?”
Jenna shook her head, “The guys got here early and apparently started the party around four this afternoon. The girls and I went to dinner and met them here.”
Larkin tried to focus but his half lidded eyes made it impossible. “I have a lot to celebrate. I knocked Jenna up again. Two times, sis. Two fucking babies. Can you believe that?” Larkin held up his hand and counted out loud, “One…two…three…four. Shit, no not four. We don’t have four kids, right babe?” Larkin shifted his eyes to look at Jenna who smiled and slowly shook her head and held up three fingers. “Yes, right, three. I’m going to be a dad to three kids.”
My mouth dropped open as I stared at Jenna. She was smiling and stifling her laughter.
“You’re pregnant?” I asked in shock.
I watched as Jenna bobbed her head up and down saying, “I am. With twins, your brother really did it good this time.”
Larkin grabbed Jenna around her hips and pulled her into him saying, “No baby, I did you good. It takes total talent and focus to make two babies. Two fucking babies. Not one. Not three. But two.”
Jenna pushed away from Larkin and covered his mouth, “Shut it Mr. or there will be no more getting of anything.”
The whole table was laughing. My brother, the big, bad football man just got put in his place by such a tiny girl. Letting my arms fall from holding him upright, he struggled to grab the table. I wrapped Jenna in a tight hug. “I’m going to be an aunt, again and again. Can I request a niece and a nephew?” I leaned back.
Jenna giggled and wrapped her arms around Larkin’s waist and kissed his chest. “I’ll see what I can do.”
Standing next to Jenna and seeing how happy she was with my brother, even in his inebriated state, made me a little envious. I wanted a love like theirs. Granted it wasn’t all roses and fairytales in the beginning but they found their happiness.
The waitress dressed in a tight black t-shirtthat readWet Spot came to our table with a bucket full of ice and beer. “Here you go guys. If you need anything else just yell. My name’s Leigha.”
Sadie grabbed a beer, handing it to me. “Girl, I remember college. You need a beer.”
Taking it from her I scoffed, “At least you didn’t have a pain in the ass brother making you go to be a damn doctor. Shit is tough.”
Larkin stuck his tongue out at me before Tyler grabbed him and started walking. “Let’s go outside, see if we can catch a shark.”
My brother had no idea what he was being drug off to but he didn’t put up a fight as Tyler pulled him away. “High ho high ho off to sharks we go,” Larkin sang as they walked away.
Sadie and Jenna shook their heads and laughed. “Men,” Jenna said.
Sadie huffed, “You mean boys? Can you imagine what our kids will be like when they are their age? Ugh, don’t even want to think about it.”
Jenna’s eyes got huge. “Oh God. Don’t even go there.”
Both Sadie and Jenna rubbed their bellies. Looking at Sadie confused, before I asked she smiled. “Yep, baby number three is cooking.”
“Wow. Congratulations! Frannie is a few weeks younger than Evie, right? And you were pregnant at the wedding. You and Ty have been busy.”
Sadie giggled. “Yes we have been. Frannie is almost two, Gwen was born on January ninth, and I am due with this baby November seventh.”
“I don’t know how you do it. Just having Evie wears me out,” I said as I took a small drink from my beer. I really wasn’t a beer kinda girl. I preferred liquor.
Jenna smirked, “She takes after her dad. That guy has more energy than Evie most days. I don’t know what I’m going to do when I have Evie, the twins, and Larkin.”
Both Sadie and I laughed.
I was about to tell Jenna I could quit college and be their live-in nanny when Gage’s voice was in my ear again, “I need to talk to you.”
Turning my head to look at him I slowly nodded. “Ok.”
Gage smiled at Sadie and said, “Sorry to interrupt girls. I’m stealing this pretty lady and teaching her how we dance in the south.”
Jenna raised a brow, “Gage…”
“Not now Jenna.” Gage cut her off, not even looking at her.
Before Jenna could argue Gage grabbed my hand and was leading me through the group of people on the dance floor and down a narrow hallway, almost running. We passed two doors and at the end I could see a door that read 'office'. Stopping in front of the door Gage took a deep breath.
“Where are we going? I thought we were going to dance?” I asked, confused.
Gage glanced down at me and said, “I want you. You want me. I’m not a fucking idiot. We are both about to get what we want.” Digging in his pocket with his free hand Gage pulled out a key to unlock the door. Once the door was open he looked behind us, scanning the hallway and the small area of the bar he could see. He pulled me into the dark room and used his foot to kick the door shut, then locked it.
The lights were off but I could see the room from the moonlight shining in. There was a couch straight across from us with a small coffee table in front of it. In the corner was a tall bookcase, filled with numerous trophies and a few books. He had a desk to the right of us with his laptop propped open, the screensaver bouncing around…a picture of Evie on the beach.
Turning back to me he ran his hands through his hair. I could see his biceps flexing as he paced. "Fuck! I can't do this. Not with you, not here."
Confused and a little pissed I asked, "What? What the hell is wrong with me? You're the one that drug me back here not even two minutes ago!"
Gritting his teeth Gage closed his eyes and bit out, "Cobie you should go because I can't fucking walk away from you. You smell like fucking heaven and look like a God damn Victoria's Secret angel."
Stepping up to him so I was flush against him, I put both my arms around his neck and whispered, "Gage, I want you and I'm not going anywhere."