Chapter 7

The party was already winding down, and honestly I had had enough of it. My feet were hurting, my cheeks ached from smiling too much, and I was only a glass away from getting drunk.

I was also yet to consummate my marriage, and right now I was cranky, and maybe it also had to do with my husband being holed up with his mother for hours now.

His mother had encased him in a hug, whispering to him, and I had half a mind to march up there and get my husband.

“Easy there, tiger.” Kim cautioned, slipping into the seat next to me, and the frown instantly dissolved from my face.

“Kim!” I exclaimed, grabbing her for a hug, and I got a whiff of the musk she had always dabbled herself in, one I could never place. We parted reluctantly from the hug, and I stared at her in admiration.

Kim was truly carved by the goddess herself, and with her gorgeous baby pink dress that flowed over her, she looked ethereal. “Awww, you really look beautiful.”

“I try my best.” She shrugged, her lips softly widening in a smile. “It was your big day, and I have no doubt you would chase me out if I showed up in anything less.”

We both laughed, but of course we knew the truth. No friend of mine was allowed to be anything less than fabulous on my big day.

“Congratulations, love,” she said, reaching for my hand and squeezing it gently. “You looked so beautiful; I don’t think any bride could compare.”

“Please,” I scoffed. “They never stood a chance, but thank you.” I blew her an air kiss.

“Now, what the hell is your mother-in-law doing?” She stared pointedly at the said person, and I frowned at the curse word. For a globally acclaimed model, her mouth was filthier than a sailor's, and it was even worse when she was tipsy. “That woman needs to get a fucking grip.” Kim hissed, draining the entirety of her glass, and I looked at the direction she was staring at.

The urge to roll my eyes was so strong when I saw Margaret still cuddled up with her son, my husband. The woman had no boundaries, and if it were still possible for her to still breastfeed him, she would be willing.

“She is only saying goodbye to her son?” I said in her defense, but Kim's brows shot up, not at all believing me, and we both burst out laughing.

“Hale has left home since college; she needs to let him go at this point.” She slurred, rolling her eyes, and she held out a hand, hailing a server to come, but I held her arms firmly.

“That is enough drink for you unless you want the paparazzi to write a nasty headline about you leaving drunk.”

“Oh fuck them!” She raised her middle finger in the air, attracting looks, and again we burst into laughter.

Kim and the paparazzi had a love-hate relationship. She was popular; hence, they always flocked around her trying to get a scope, but she gave no fuck.

Maybe it was in her bid to not be seen as the perfect supermodel following in the footsteps of her predecessor, but she was doing a good job at it.

“Ladies,” Aaron, my brother, slid into the empty seat close to us. “Have some decorum.”

“Aari.” Kim practically jumped from her seat, hugging my brother, well, practically smothering him with her breast, and my brow rose up slightly. “I have missed you so much.” She drawled, the drink finally taking effect, and my brother flushed.

“Kim, I told you to stop with those horrendous nicknames.” He scolded her or attempted to because there was nothing mean in that tone, and I looked at them with squinted eyes.

They had never had to cross paths except occasionally when we were together; they don’t even follow each other on I*******m, yet something about the way they stood too close made my instincts prickle.

“Is anything going on between you both?”

“What the hell?” Aaron yelled, righting Kim in her seat. “She is your best friend. I wouldn’t touch her with a long pole.”

“Hmmm.” I still stared at them, unconvinced, but I had no strength to drag this on anymore. “Why are you even here? I thought you would be scouting for the next poor lassie to flaunt your wealth and Aaron Junior.”

“First off, ewww. You are my sister; you shouldn’t be saying such things. Secondly, congratulations.” He pulled me into a hug, giving me enough scent of his oud until it was becoming suffocating, and I slapped his hand to free myself.

“T-thank you, brother, but we should limit this to no choking.” I retorted, and he smiled widely, showing his dimples.

“So, I was going to give you a car, but our dear parents beat me to it, and I can’t think of any material things that I can give to you that you don’t already have.” He joked, and I nodded.

It was no rumor that I was a shopaholic, believing in buying what I liked, so there was some truth in what he said.

“So what will you be getting me then?” I asked eagerly because Aaron gave the best gifts. I watched, my eyes widening as he pulled out a black card, sliding it to me. “No.” I shook my head, pushing it back because there was no way in hell I was accepting that. I even had mine.

“For emergencies.” He argued, sliding it back to me.

“I can’t accept this; I still have Dad’s and Davy’s.”

“Jolly, then you add mine to the list.” He shrugged, staring at me real hard. He had that lazy smile plastered on his face, but it was one that shouldn’t fool you, as it signaled finality.

I was going to say something to argue that there was no need to add to my lavish lifestyle. Suddenly, I sat straighter, my body perking up as if it already knew who was coming, and my lips curved into a smile the moment I saw him.

“Excuse me, I would like my wife.” Davy spoke in a low baritone that did nothing good to my insides.

“Wife?” I murmured, biting my lips. Turning to face him, it was easy to ignore everything around me. Not that they could stand a chance; everything simply ceased to exist immediately he stepped into the picture.

“I am not sorry to cut it short, but we have a flight to catch and a honeymoon to begin.” He whispered, kissing my forehead.

“Oh really?” I perked up like I was fucking high, already standing up and bidding them goodbye as I let Davy take my hand.

“You whore!” Kim slurred. “She is going to get fucked and leave us all dry and alone.” I shrieked just as Aaron covered her mouth just in time.

Heat rushed to my face as several heads turned, Davy shaking in laughter, but she wasn’t wrong.

I was going to get fucked, and honestly, I couldn’t wait.