by M. A. Foster
“Is that Chloe Fisher?” I ask.
“Yeah.” Cole chuckles as he turns from the fridge and sets two Gatorades on the island, sliding one my way as he straddles one of the barstools circling the kitchen island. “Did you see the boobs on that girl? She’s only fourteen, dude. They’re already bigger than Claire’s were when we were sixteen.”
Chloe is the younger sister of Cole’s ex-girlfriend, Claire Fisher. Chloe, Aiden, and Carter’s little brother, Smith, have been inseparable since they were in elementary school.
I chuckle, shaking my head as I walk over to the island and slide onto a barstool. “It looks like history is repeating itself.”
Cole snorts and shakes his head. “Aiden’s an idiot and wouldn’t know a good thing if it sat on his face. He’s got a hot girl right there within reach, waiting for him to notice her, but he’s too busy chasing after some other girl.”
I reach for the Gatorade and twist off the cap. “That’s not going to end well.”
He props an elbow on the countertop and plants his forehead in his palm. “No shit.”
“Something wrong?”
He runs a hand through his hair. “Not really. I just got a lot on my mind.”
“What’s up?”
He blows out a breath. “I’m going to ask Harper to marry me.”
I raise my brows. “Congrats, bro. When?”
“I’m thinking after your wedding, before she leaves to go visit her dad.”
“Anything I can do to help?”
He shakes his head. “I was going to ask Jay to help me pick out her ring, but….” He rolls his eyes and gestures toward the back door where Jay had gone.
“Don’t take it personally. She’s overwhelmed, and you know how she gets when she’s feeling pressured. Emerson came in this morning with a list of things that need to be done before the wedding. There’s a lot that goes into planning a wedding. Stuff neither Jay nor I had even considered. That’s why we’re here, actually. Jay is asking Harper to be a bridesmaid, and I’d like you to be my best man.”
He grins, holding out his fist, and I pound it with mine. “I’d be honored. But what about Logan?”
I shake my head. “He’ll be in the wedding party, but you’re the one who’s been by my side through everything with Jay and me. And you’re who I want by my side on my wedding day.”
He nods, giving me a tight smile. He gets it. “Who else are you asking?”
“Logan, of course. Brad, Evan, Carter, and Justin.”
Cole shakes his head. “Cross Carter off the list. He’s gone.”
My brows pinch together in confusion. Gone? It suddenly dawns on me that I didn’t see Carter at the graduation party last night. “For the summer?”
Cole huffs out a sardonic laugh. “No, man. He’s gone for good. They left for California this morning. I caught him before he took off, and we said our goodbyes.” His gaze flicks to the space over my shoulder as he rubs a hand over his chin. “He’s lived down the street from me since kindergarten. And now he’s just gone.”
“I thought he was moving to California for college anyway?”
His jaw clenches. “Only because that’s where his dad wants him to go. His dad’s been on some kind of power trip lately, threatening to send Smith away to boarding school if Carter doesn’t do everything he asks. It’s so fucked up. That man doesn’t give two shits about Smith. Carter is the one who raised that kid.”
“What about Olivia?”
“He broke up with her.”
My brows shoot to my hairline. “Seriously?”
“He didn’t really have a choice.” He shakes his head. “Dane Nixon is a selfish dickhead.”
“Does Harper know?”
“Yeah. We all went down there to say goodbye. Aiden and Chloe, too. They were pretty upset with Smith for not telling them he was leaving, but I’m sure that was all because of his dad.” He sniffs. “Before they left, dickhead Dane pulled me aside and told me that if I care about Carter and Smith, then I won’t try to contact them.”
“What the hell—why?”
His face twists into a scowl. “Because he’s a piece-of-shit drunk who gets off on mentally abusing his kids. I swear I got a contact buzz from his breath.”
“Can’t you report him?”
Cole shoots me a look. “And say what?”
I shrug. “I don’t know. That’s he’s abusing his kids? What does your dad say?”
Cole shakes his head. “I haven’t told him yet. Besides, it’s hearsay. Carter is eighteen and technically an adult, but he’ll never leave Smith behind. Dane Nixon is a football legend. No one is going to go up against him. He’s got the whole world fooled and Carter by the balls.”
Jayla
On my way to the pool house, I see Aiden in the pool while Chloe sits perched on the edge, her feet dangling in the water.
“Hey, Aiden.” I wave, stopping at the edge of the pool. “Hey, Chloe.”
Chloe tilts her head up and smiles. “Hi, Jayla.”
Chloe is Aiden’s best friend, and she is freaking cute. I wonder how long before Aiden realizes that his best friend isn’t one of the boys.
“Dude,” Aiden drawls. “You’re my fucking hero.”
I scowl at the little punk. “Watch your mouth, dude,” I chide. “You’re fourteen.”
He gives me a careless shrug. “I can’t believe you got fucking married.” He barks out a laugh.
He’s such a little shit.
“The wedding is in four weeks.” I look down at Chloe. “Bring Chloe as your date.” And with that, I turn and continue toward the pool house.
Tapping on the door, I turn the knob and push the door open. “Harper?” I call out.
She appears at the door and waves me in. “What’s wrong?”
“My mom’s driving me crazy!” I throw my hands up. “I’m letting her have this wedding because she’s my mom, and I feel guilty for taking something away from her that I shouldn’t have, especially with my dad gone, but….” I let my words hang in the air, embracing the twinge of pain in my heart from thinking of my dad.
Heaving a sigh, I drop to the couch and lean my head against the cushions. Harper takes a seat beside me. “I actually came here for another reason.” I roll my head to face her. “Will you be one of my bridesmaids?”
An emotion I can’t quite place flickers in her green eyes as she briefly ponders my question. Suddenly, her expression falls. She covers her face with her hands and bursts into tears.
What the hell?
“Hey,” I say softly, wrapping my hands around hers and gently pulling them from her face. “What’s wrong?”
Shaking her head, she pulls her hands from my grasp to wipe her tear-soaked face. “I’m just….” She blows out a ragged breath. “Overwhelmed. I never had a best friend, except for Jade. Our sisterly bond was diluted by our struggles to survive without our mom. We never talked about our hopes and dreams like best friends or sisters do. The first heart-to-heart we had was the night before she died. It wasn’t until I met you that I realized how much I needed friendship and family, and because of you, I have that. And now my best friend is asking me to be in her wedding.”
“Oh my God, Harper.” I surge forward, throwing my arms around her. Just thinking about the hell Harper has been through hurts my heart. I can’t understand how life could be so cruel to such a wonderful person. “I’m so sorry,” I whisper before pulling back, still gripping her arms. “I would’ve asked you to be my maid of honor, but I’m pretty sure Weenie would cut you.”
Harper snorts. “I’m just happy you’re including me in your wedding.” She rolls her eyes and swats at my arm. “Your other wedding. I can’t believe you guys eloped. Are you crazy? I bet your mom lost her shit.”
I shrug. “She did at first, but she gets it. She knows I didn’t do it to hurt her.”
“Why did you?” she asks.
I lean my head against the cushions. “It was an impulsive decision, but it just felt r
ight. I love him, Harper. Would you marry Cole if he asked?”
She purses her lips. “Cole is not impulsive, nor is he ready for marriage. And neither am I. But if he asked, I would definitely say yes. However”—she holds up a finger—“it would have to wait until after college. I’m not saying I disagree with your decision to get married. It’s just, for me… my life has been so screwed up for so long. I was barely getting by, doing things I shouldn’t be, getting involved with the wrong man. I’m finally in a good place. Cole and I finally have our shit together.” She gestures around the pool house, which looks amazing. “I’m getting to know my dad, and in a few weeks, I get to see my little brothers again. And Willow….” She blows out a breath. “Willow is my life.”
Our next stop is Alex’s apartment. He and Weenie went straight home from the graduation party last night, but not before Weenie flipped me off and called me an asshole for robbing her of the chance to be my maid of honor.
Zach parks the Range Rover at the curb outside Alex’s two-story apartment building that resembles a brownstone. It belonged to Mimi’s father when she was a little girl, and now it belongs to Mimi. My cousin Dylan also lives in the building, and it’s his button I press to let us in. I’m not stupid. If Weenie knows I’m outside, she’ll leave me out here all day.
“What?” Dylan barks into the intercom.
Zach snickers behind me.
“Dylan, it’s Jay. Will you buzz me in?”
Dylan’s chuckle is cut off by the sound of the buzzer followed by the click of the lock on the door. Zach grabs the door and gestures for me to go first. Dylan is leaning in the doorway of his apartment, shirtless, with his tattoos on display, wearing a pair of gray joggers and a smirk.
Out of my three cousins, Cole and I are the closest because we’re the same age and have always gotten along. For the most part. However, it doesn’t mean I love my other cousins any less. Dylan is nearly six years older, but our shared love for music is our common ground and where we’ve always connected.
Dylan shakes his head. “You really know how to keep this family on our toes.” His gaze moves to Zach. “You have some giant balls, bro.” He chuckles. “I’m not one to get involved in the family drama, but she is my family, so I’m going to say this only once. I’m no expert on relationships, but I think you guys are way too young for marriage. But what I think doesn’t matter, because you’ve already done the deed. You better fucking treat her right. Now that I’ve said my piece, congratulations. I wish you both a lifetime of happiness.” He nods toward Alex’s apartment door. “And good luck with that one. I could hear her bitching all night.”
The door to Alex’s apartment swings open to reveal a makeup-free, fresh-faced Weenie wearing nothing but a T-shirt. Her long, tan legs are on display, and her blonde hair is piled on top of her head. I swear this woman never has an ugly side. Well, until she opens her mouth.
“Ugh.” She rolls her eyes. “Alex, it’s your traitorous sister and her partner in crime,” she calls out as she turns away from the door and starts to walk away.
I’ve been irritated all morning but her attitude pushes me over the edge and I snap. “You know what,” I start. “I’ve had it with your bitchy attitude.” I lunge forward, jumping on her back like a spider monkey, wrapping my legs around her waist and my arms around her neck.
“What are you doing?” she screeches, stumbling to the side, caught off guard by my sneak attack. “Get off me, you little psycho.” She tries to reach behind her, but my hold on her is too tight.
“Your snotty attitude doesn’t intimidate me.” I grab hold of her messy bun and yank her head back. “Say you’re sorry.”
“No, you little bitch.” She laughs. “You deserve all my attitude after what you did.”
“Not everything is about you, Weenie.”
I stick out my tongue and touch the tip to her cheek.
“Oh my God, Jay. Stop. That’s so gross. What are you, five?”
“I’m a married woman now. Think about all the places my tongue has been,” I purr. I’m too pissed to be embarrassed about what I just said in front of my husband and my brother.
“You’re disgusting. Who are you?”
“I’m your best friend. Say you’re sorry.”
“Fuck you.” She laughs again as she stumbles over to the sofa and falls backward, crushing me under her. “Zach, get your wife before I beat her ass.”
I tighten my hold and laugh. “You wish.”
“I think I’m gonna stay out of this one,” Zach says.
“Alex,” she cries out through a laugh. “Help me.”
“Babe, I’m sorry, but I’m with Zach. You bitched my ear off half the night, so you two work it out.”
I tug her hair harder. “Say you’re sorry.”
“You say it first.”
Fair enough. “I’m sorry I denied you the chance to be my maid of honor. But I came here to make it up to you.”
“How? And it better be good, because I am really pissed at you.”
“Boo-fucking-hoo. If you would’ve answered your phone last night, then you’d know that I’m having a wedding. We’re getting married in four weeks, and I’d like you to be my maid of honor.”
“Really?”
“Yes. Now where’s my apology?”
“What am I apologizing for?” She snorts.
I lick her cheek.
“Okay!” she shouts. “I’m sorry for being a bitch.”
Releasing my hold on her, I dig my fingers into her sides, and her entire body convulses until she falls to the floor in hysterical laughter. “I hate you so much.”
“You love me.” I leap from the sofa and move to stand beside Zach before she has a chance to retaliate.
Alex stands over her with his hand outstretched and helps her to her feet. She reaches for her hair tie and resets the perfect messy bun on top of her head. “Jesus, you are freakishly strong for a scrawny bitch.”
I shoot her a wink. “Be nice to me, or I’ll replace you with one of the other five bridesmaids I’ve got lined up.”
She lets out a sarcastic laugh. “Your friends are cute, but I’m the OG, and I will cut a bitch.”
She’s not kidding.
“All right, you two,” Alex cuts in. “Stop it before you start throwing punches.”
“She started it,” Weenie argues.
“What are you, five?” I throw her words back at her and she rolls her eyes. “If you’re done with your pity party, I need to talk to my brother,” I snark.
“Fine.” She purses her lips. “I’m going to change. Love you. Mean it,” she adds before turning and leaving the room.
“Love you. Mean it,” I call to her retreating back before moving to sit on the sofa. Zach plops down beside me, and Alex takes a seat in the adjacent chair.
“Go ahead and give us your two cents so we can move on,” I tell him.
Alex chuckles. “Am I seriously the only one who isn’t surprised?”
“Pretty much,” Zach replies.
Alex lifts a shoulder. “I don’t have an opinion. If you two are happy, then I support your decision. Is this going to affect the tour?”
I frown. “No.”
He nods. “Well then, congratulations. When’s the wedding?”
“The twenty-fourth,” I tell him. “I really want you to be a part of the wedding in some way. How do you feel about collaborating with Lucas on the music? I’d like Project Mayhem to play.”
Alex raises his brows. “That’s a fantastic idea.”
“I thought so, too.” I grin.
Alex leans forward, resting his forearms on his thighs. “I’m proud of you, Jay. But I’m even prouder that I get to call you my sister.”
Cue the damn waterworks. Two stops and I’m officially done with this day.
Zach
“Don’t be mad, but I got a little hard watching you two go at it in there,” I tell her as I start up the car.
She snorts softly, rolling her eyes. �
��You’re such a guy.”
“Where to next?” I ask as I pull away from the curb.
She exhales a deep sigh and presses her head back against the seat. “Take us home, Z. I need to regroup. I feel drained, I have a headache, and I’m hangry.”
“Do you want me to take you to get something to eat?”
“That sounds good, but do you think it’s a good idea to go anywhere without security?”
“I can run by The Bistro and grab some sandwiches to go.”
“Okay. That sounds good.”
I pull the Rover into an open parking spot right in front of The Bistro and shift it into Park. “I’ll be right back.”
I run inside quickly to grab our sandwiches to go and as I step out onto the sidewalk, someone calls my name. I turn my head to see a young guy who doesn’t look much older than me walking in my direction. “Are you Zach?”
“Who’s asking?”
“My name is Brian Fuller. I’m with a celebrity blog called The Gossip Police.”
“No comment.” I take a step toward the car. “And you’re on private property. You need to leave.”
This isn’t the first time I’ve been confronted by a reporter. Albeit, this guy isn’t aggressive like the others.
“I’m on your side, Zach. Just hear me out.”
“Like I said, no comment. Call her PR rep.” I grin as I round the car. “I’m sure she’d love to hear from you.” I can just picture Emerson ripping this guy a new one.
“Just give this to Jayla. That’s her in the passenger seat, right?” He pulls out a card from his pocket.
“Dude, go before I call the police.” Hopping into the driver seat, I pass Jay the bag containing our sandwiches before throwing the Rover in Drive, and pulling away from the curb.
“Was that a reporter?” Jay asks.
“Yeah. He kinda caught me off guard.”
“They do that a lot. It’s easier to blend in when they’re not wearing a giant camera around their neck.”
