Page 43 of Keeping Mr. Sweet

“Mmm.” I nod. “Please.”

“Here.” Sam hands me a flute of golden bubbles. “Already grabbed you one.”

“Thank you,” I whisper, unable to stop staring at him. Will Summer be able to tell how I feel about her brother just from the way we act around each other? Should I tell her?

“Happy birthday, Ash.” Mandy throws herself at us, her arms going around me and Summer at the same time. She’s a flurry of pink, like strawberries and sparkles. “I’m so glad you’re here. It’s been forever. I thought maybe I did something to upset you last time you were here. Oh, you have to meet my boyfriend. He’s the sweetest, grumpiest man you’ll ever meet.” She fans herself like that combination is the hottest thing she can imagine.

She bounces away long enough to grab the dark-haired man standing alone. He looks uncertain and a little put out at being here. Is he aware of how close Mandy and Sam got before she chose him?

If he is, he does a good job of hiding it as he offers me his bronzed hand. “Nice to meet another friend of Mandy’s.”

He has friendly eyes, he’s won Mandy over, and he doesn’t look at me like he’s acquainted with my snatch, so I allow him to take my hand. “Likewise.”

“Thanks for coming,” Sam tells him.

I hold my breath waiting for him to reply, or to ignore Sam, or to look daggers at him. The way I thought I’d be looking at Mandy before I walked into this surprise party. Instead he shrugs, a friendly smile gracing his eyes. “Water and milk and bridges, right?”

“Absolutely.” Sam nods.

“Besides, a friend of Mandy’s is a friend of mine,” he says to me. “Happy birthday, Ash.”

“Come on, let’s sit and catch up.” Mandy takes my arm. “It’s been so long, and I’ve missed you.”

Does she not know? Has she not seen the video? It’s a weird sensation to not have to worry about what she thinks of it. She pushes me into a seat between her and Summer, who looks at me with a curiosity I can’t be imagining.

When Sam slips into a seat on the opposite side of the table her gaze goes to him before coming back to me. I wait for her to ask what’s going on between me and her brother. I wait while she takes a sip of her champagne, but she doesn’t ask. Maybe I’m conjuring up that calculated look in her eye, but after so many years I doubt it.

***

“Hey.” Sam touches the middle of my back as he pushes another glass of champagne into my hand. “Are you enjoying yourself?”

“Yes.” I nod and take a sip. “But it’s weird to have this done for me.”

“You’re supposed to be surrounded by friends and family on your birthday, Ash.” He bows his head closer.

“I’m just not used to it, I guess.”

“We’re going to change that,” he says.

“Do you think your sister knows?” I nod in her direction, trying not to make it obvious. “Do you think she realizes I’m sleeping with you?”

“Is that what we’re doing? Just sleeping together?” He wiggles his eyebrows.

“You know that’s not what I mean.”

“Would you care if she did?”

“Would you?” I glance at him.

“Not one little bit,” he says. “In fact, maybe I’ll march over there now and tell her.”

“Everything?” How much should we tell her? How hard will she take it if both of us admit there’s huge secrets in our past we haven’t told her about? Especially considering the secrets I’ve already bombarded her with in the last week or so. Maybe it’s too much to soon.

“We have to be sure,” I whisper. He has to be sure that I’m not going to leave. I have to be certain that I’m not going to disappoint him.

“I am,” he says. “What do you think is going to change for me? I couldn’t give up on you at your worst, Ash. You can’t expect that I will now, surely?”

“I-I just need a little more time.” I need to talk to my dad. I need to deal with Luca before I can be certain. What if this tape blows up in my face again? What if it hurts Sam because he’s linked to me? When does love outweigh the damage it causes?

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