Page 17 of Flying

Looking up through her lashes, I watch her blink back tears. Staring at the ceiling. Within a few shots with the group she is as drunk as last night.

Shit.Peering down, I notice that like last night she went fromfeisty to swaying in a blink. I want to keep this as quiet as possible for her so I text the group:

Group Chat: PS HS+ Lee [River Hendrix, Nessa Rabin, Delia Shane, Seth Whitter, Lee Carter, Stef Santos Manolo]

River:

SOS. Maid of Dishonor passed out. Gotta carry her up

Help distract ppl

Stef?

Lee:

On it, dude.

I hear Lee’s deep timbre, “Mom, Mrs. Santos-Manolo, have you had a chance to talk to Nessa tonight? We were thinking that instead of the church wedding, we might do everything with her officiating. She had some really interesting ideas to share.”

Nessa jumps in. “Well, of course, we’d include facts about God being a woman and a pagan moon ceremony.” Their voices retreat.

With Lily’s arm draped over my shoulder, we hustle up the stairs. “Come on, sweetheart. Let’s go get you water and some rest.”

A tap on her ass meant to be sportsman-like makes my cock twitch, leading to thoughts of spanking her while naked.Nope. You’re not going there. Do not do this to yourself. She’s leaving. This is a one-time visit. Right?

That traitorous bastard tries to convince me otherwise, stealing blood from my brain.Lily is maid of honor and you are co-best man with Stef’s brother Mateo. She’s going to have a bunch of wedding-related reasons to be here over the next year.Placing her on the mattress and smoothing her skirt down, I remove her sandals before tucking her in.

Remembering this party impacts the overall impression of my business for the town, I refocus. I return to the party and check in with each station and employee along the way.

As guests dwindle, I send team members home, leaving just the couple, Seth, Nessa, and Delia behind. The room has settled into quiet, and I’m surprised to hear creaking on the steps above.

Lily appears bleary-eyed and a bit disheveled. She’s pulled her hairinto a ponytail that swishes across her neck, and her dress has been replaced with my oversized T-shirt from last night and bike shorts. She’s managed to put on two different socks. She looks at home and it causes my heart to squeeze. That prickle becomes a full ache when she rubs her eye before searching the room.

“Belinda left after she saw me, didn’t she?”

Twelve eyes land on her. Nervous energy is palpable, nobody knows what to say. Her eyes cannot hide her mix of relief and disappointment. She’s like a cornered animal, she could bite or run away at the wrong sound.

“Did I ruin your party?” she laments before the women pull her into a big group hug.

I wish I was soothing her, and Seth can tell. He elbows Lee, “Congrats, you got River the best gift for your wedding. Sad, drunk, dream girl.”

“Oh fuck off,” I scoff as Lee smirks. He is too happy to watch the chaos unfold.

“Delia, you’re my shift lead for breakdown tomorrow. I’m not taking this abuse after I threw an extremely discounted”—pointed look at Lee—“party. Do not clean out the bar without a plan for restocking.”

I glare at her and Seth, who make wide eyed innocent faces my way.

“10-4 boss, clean up crew and restock the bar after Seth and I clean it out! No problem,” Delia shouts as I stomp up the steps.

I scrub a hand down my face. “Not what I meant, Deals! I hate you all…” I grumble and a chorus of “We love you too, River!” sing-songs up the steps and echoes. I proceed to collapse with my face in the pillow and stifle a scream.

I’m exhausted and overwhelmed, but there is a soft knock on the apartment door. Opening it gingerly, I see Lily pouting.

“I can still stay here right?” As if I could say no to her.

Before I can answer verbally, she steps up and wraps her arms around me.

“Please, don’t make me walk over to Delia and Nessa’s and cause there to be more chatter about me. Just let me sleep?”

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