Page 39 of The Last Lavender Sister

“You are holding this side of the room down like a champ,” she told Tyler as she slid onto the stool across from her.

“I feel compelled to do my part. You look hot. Why are you all hot? I should have come hotter.”

“What are you talking about?” she asked Tyler. “You’re the hottest chick in this bar, and I’d do you.”

“Bless your heart, but you lie. After the four dachshund siblings slobbered all over me, I decided to embrace today’s mediocrity and merely changed my shoes for our outing. Good thing the pups were adorable and now vaccinated.”

“You’re a champ. I’ve met the dachshund four, and they don’t do anything halfway.” Brynn sat back. “How many drinks so far?”

“Just the one.”

“Is that enough for you to spill your guts about what was going on between you and a particular Lavender at the festival two days ago?”

Tyler deflated, and Brynn felt bad for killing the fun vibe. “I’ve been talking to that guy I told you about from school. Casual. Seeing where it might go. Sage asked about it, and when I told him, everything changed. He doubled down on his big feelings for me. He not only wants us to give it a go, he wants a relationship. Full-on. I’m floored and terrified.”

“Is that awful?”

“It’s not fair. He’s Sage. He’s my person. Always has been, but he uses it when he needs to, you know? In this case, he turned on the attention because I’m interested in someone else. And so of course, I’m pulled right back in, wanting him, wanting us.”

“Give it a go, Tyler. I think it’s what you want. Don’t let your fear get in your way.”

“I’m working on it.” She sighed. “It would be really nice to not feel this weight on my chest.”

“I think it’s time to put it down. Let yourself go after what you want.”

Tyler stared at the table. “It’s also a subject we should move on from because his little sister just took a seat three tables to our right.”

Brynn turned automatically and saw Aster in a leather bomber jacket seated across from Tori. They were smiling as if in celebration of something, and Brynn couldn’t tear her stare away. In that moment, Aster turned and their gazes hit. Man, she had a way of changing the room for Brynn. It seemed quieter in there now, slower. Aster’s smile dimmed, but not in a less-than-happy way. Softer now, personal. Brynn rolled her lips in and nodded. They each returned to their conversations, though now Brynn was only half able to concentrate on Tyler’s story about Eve and the argument she’d had with the delivery driver over a torn package. It sounded colorful, but all Brynn was aware of was that Violet and Marigold had joined Aster and Tori, and shortly after that, Tad Jourdan arrived at their table and made his presence known. Oh, this wasn’t good at all. He looked mad, and from what Brynn understood from her last lunch date with Violet, his bite could be as bad as his bark. She went on high alert. Even Tyler paused her story when she heard his voice rise above the others in the bar.

“Did you hear me? Did I stutter? Get your stuff. We’re going.” He wasn’t asking. He was telling.

“I’m staying with my parents, and so is Ethan. I told you,” Violet said, her eyes downcast.

“And I’m telling you that your mom needs to stay the hell out of it.” His eyes were dark and narrow. It was a sight. Brynn had never seen Tad look anything other than overly confident and smiley in his five-hundred-dollar suits. This public anger was new, but exactly what Violet had described to her in supreme confidence. She’d begged Brynn not to say a word to anyone until Violet could figure out a strategy for handling the situation. Things seemed beyond that now, and Brynn was close to getting out of her chair. She saw two men exchange a look across the room that told her they were about to intervene. Thank God.

“Please leave us alone,” Aster said in a low tone. Tori looked wildly uncomfortable, and Violet had yet to lift her gaze. “My mother cares about Violet. She’s trying to help. Let her.”

“Your mother can go fuck herself,” Tad said. Aster lunged for Tad and used the sheer force of that action to slam his back against the nearby bar, catching him off guard. Brynn, too. She didn’t realize Aster had that in her. Tad’s eyes went wide and his face red as he took her by the shoulders, clearly intent on retaliation as he moved forward, taking Aster with him, shaking with anger.

“Let her go!” Violet screamed.

The two men Brynn had seen earlier were instantly on the scene, grabbing Tad and holding him back until he released Aster. Violet choked back a sob, and Brynn was on her feet. She caught Aster from behind and whispered quietly in her ear. “Let them take it from here. You’re good. Okay?” Aster nodded, saying nothing, but she allowed Brynn to pull her away.

“I’ve never wanted to punch someone in the face in my entire life, but I do right now,” Aster bit out, as she watched Marigold comfort Violet. Her eyes flew back to Tad, and Brynn knew it was probably best to get Aster out of that situation.

“I think we’re going to go,” Marigold told them, her arm around Violet, who reached out and squeezed Aster’s hand. “Come with us, Aster. Come on. You don’t need to be here.”

Aster squeezed back, but her gaze didn’t waver from Tad.

Time to act before the tension boiled over and someone got hurt or thrown in jail. “We’ll go for a walk,” Brynn told them. They nodded,grateful. “Take a walk with me?” Brynn asked Aster. She gestured to Tyler, who nodded and indicated she was joining a nearby table of friends. Tyler would be okay. It was Aster who needed her now.

“Yeah, okay. We can walk,” Aster said and grabbed her jacket. It was cold out even for November, and Brynn distantly wished she’d worn one that night. She shrugged into her turquoise sweater, allowing the sleeves to pull over her hands as they headed down the sidewalk, Aster walking slightly ahead, still hopped up on adrenaline.

“You gonna wait for me or work this out on your own up there?”

Aster paused. “Sorry. I just…” She waited for Brynn to catch up. “Thank you. For back there.”

“Anytime.” She touched Aster’s shoulder, turning her so they faced each other. They stood beneath a blinking streetlamp. Someone had forgotten to change the bulb. “You okay?”

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