Page 16 of Enticed
“The place looks great ladies. You two make the most impeccable team. By the time I get married, have a baby, or just want to have a party for no reason, you’ll be so experienced with throwing parties, I won’t have to lift a finger,” I joke, but honestly, they know my declaration to be true.
“Like you would anyway? Don’t worry, Clara.” Perry comes up behind me, stealing my champagne flute from my hands to take a sip before returning it. “I already have boards on Pinterest ready for you. I have one for your wedding, one for your baby shower…” she ticks items off on her fingers.
I chuckle, downing the rest of the bubbly liquid before making my way to place my glass in the sink. “First, I need a man before any of that can happen.”
“Are you seeing anybody right now?” Olivia asks. “I feel like I haven’t heard you talk about any of your sexual conquests in a while…” she reaches up, placing the back of her hand on my forehead, checking for a temperature. “Are you sure you’re feeling okay?”
I swat her hand away playfully. “Yes, I’m fine. Why would you think there’s something wrong with me?”
“Because you’re always so eager to share your latest sexcapades with us… or what guy screwed your brains out on your last business trip,” Perry answers.
“Well, I don’t travel as much anymore now with my promotion. There are people beneath me to do that. And second, I just haven’t really had the desire to get out there,” I say, avoiding their eyes.
I may also be harboring a crush on Olivia’s brother and can’t seem to move past the butterflies I get every time I’m near him.
“Well, you need to get out there, woman. You’re not getting any younger,” Olivia chides.
“Hey! Just because you got knocked up and engaged in a few months to the perfect man doesn’t mean that happens for the rest of us, okay?”
I can hear the resentment in my voice, but Olivia must just think I’m playing.
“He really is perfect, huh?” She swoons, talking about Kane.
I pull her in for a hug. “Yes, he is. You got lucky, babe. Now let’s get this show on the road and celebrate that he will only get hotter as he gets older,” I wink. “Fucking men. I swear, it’s not fair that they get better looking with age and we have to fight off wrinkles and extra weight.”
“Truth,” Perry nods as the three of us finish up last-minute details and the guests start to trickle in. Amy arrives a few minutes before the guest of honor is supposed to arrive without her husband and kids and instantly starts drinking.
“I have no responsibilities today, ladies. John is away on business, the kids are with my parents—so I get to relax. Liv, do you mind if I just take a nap in your room during the party?”
“If that’s what you want, Amy. Although, you’ll miss the gender reveal if you do.”
Amy frowns. “Well, I can’t do that. Oh well, I guess I’ll just keep downing the champagne then.” She smiles, reaching for two glasses and handing another one to me.
“No thanks, Amy. I’m good,” I shake off her offer, making each of my friends turn their heads to me in shock.
“You’re not going to drink anymore? But it’s a party?” Perry questions.
“I might have a drink later while we toast, but I’m good for now.”
“See!” Olivia points in my direction. “You’re acting weird.”
I roll my eyes and make my way over to the snacks. “Whatever you say.”
The truth is, I really don’t want to drink at all today, and I haven’t all week. Since Friday night when my emotions finally bubbled over, I realized I needed to lay off the booze for a while—cleanse my body and mind a bit, you know? So today I promised myself I would only have two drinks, one of which I already enjoyed. The other I’m saving for later.
About an hour later, a group of trucks all pull into the driveway of Olivia and Kane’s house—a modern-day log cabin in the woods that Kane renovated himself. Olivia moved in with him to this place about thirty minutes outside of the main part of town after they fell in love and found out they were pregnant a few months ago.
A group of men, laughing and clearly entranced in their brotherly bonding time today, stride up to the house, just as Kane opens the door and everyone yells out ‘Surprise!” once he filters inside.
“Oh, really?” He smiles, laughing as Olivia runs up to him and nearly jumps in his arms. Being almost six months pregnant prevents her from doing that successfully though.
“Happy birthday, baby,” she says against his lips before Kane devours her in a heated kiss, the rest of the guests hooting and hollering as they attack each other. I join in on the cheering just as my eyes search out Cooper and then I see he’s looking right back at me.
I shoot him a playful smile which he reciprocates, clapping as Kane and Olivia part and he starts making his rounds, greeting the guests. I pull my eyes from Cooper quickly though, avoiding drawing attention to our moment and busy myself by filling a plate with food.
The table and kitchen island are full of sandwiches, chips, snacks, and all sorts of goodies, making it easy to eat and still mingle around their property. Tables and chairs are outside covered in red and black tablecloths, as well as ice chests full of beer and sodas. And by the looks of it, people have already been drinking, including Kane.
“Happy birthday, buddy!” I pull Kane in for a hug as he stumbles over to me. “Have you been drinking already?”