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A glass of champagne in her hand, she tipped her head back, laughing along with Emily, Billy, and Jake, while his brother was out on the dance floor with Grams. Imagining her nipples beading beneath the appliqués that barely concealed them, Kellan leaned over the back of her chair and said in her ear, “Drink up, baby. Not waitin’ no more.”
“Ahem.” With Benjamin in his arms, Matthew stood beside him. “If you don’t mind, your butterball here would like a dance with his sister before I tuck him in his crib for the night.”
And that was the end of that. Arien was out of that chair, lickety-split, cooing with a baby on the dance floor. Hell, it seemed like all three of them were being pulled in different directions all night long. It was a wonder they’d gotten to eat any of their dinner, for chrissakes.
“Hey, Kel.” Cassie approached him, rubbing the side of her neck. “Happy weddin’ day.”
“Thank you.”
“How’s it feel?”
“Couldn’t imagine bein’ any happier.” Glancing down at her, he grinned. “Yet I know I will be tomorrow.”
“Heh.” Lighting up a cigarette, she exhaled a plume of smoke.
“How’s married life treatin’ ya?”
“I remember feelin’ like you do right now.” She paused, taking a long drag. “Ain’t gonna last, though. Trust me.”
“You drunk, Cassie? What the fuck you talkin’ about?”
“You went to the courthouse this mornin’ and felt special, didn’t ya? Like you finally mattered. But it’s Tanner she really loves, just like Griffin and my bitch of a little sister.”
Cassie was drunk, but nonetheless his Spidey senses tingled, her words hitting him like a ton of bricks. She was wrong, though.
Lowering his voice, Kellan balled his fists. “Arien loves us both, Cassie. And surely, Griffin loves you.”
“No, he don’t. Not that I care all that much.” She gave him a dismissive wave of her hand. “He only tolerates me to be with her.”
“Don’t believe it.”
“Can’t tell me it hasn’t been obvious to you all along.” Stubbing out her cigarette, Cassie shrugged. “I dunno. Maybe it’ll be different for y’all. It’s easier for brothers to share, I think. I can’t stand to be in the same room with ’em. ’Specially now.”
“Why?”
“He only wants her. Barely touches me.” And she turned into him. Her arms around his middle, Cassie began blubbering on his new shirt. “Shiloh’s gonna have a baby, Kel.”
Sweet Jesus, someone come take her.
“Gantry says I’m too skinny. The asshole.” She sniffled. “If I don’t put on some weight I’ll never have one of my own. Haven’t had a period in more than a year.”
Quit the damn cigarettes then, girly. And while you’re at it, stop shoving your fingers down your throat. But he didn’t dare say it.
“You’ll never know what that feels like.”
“I’m sorry.” Rubbing her back, he could feel every bone in her spine.
Cassie looked over to the dance floor. Oblivious to everyone else around them, Tanner held Arien in his arms, and lost in a lovers’ embrace, they kissed. Like they were the only two people in the world.
“I heard she only stayed for the baby. And him.” Running her finger up and down his chest, she glanced up. “But then, maybe I heard wrong.”
“You did.” Putting some distance between them, Kellan took a step back.
“Well, if she ever leaves you out in the cold, you know where to come find me.”
Fucking cunt.
He watched them together on the dance floor. And all these images starting playing in his head. From crying on his brother in the U-Haul to the two of them trimming the tree.
