Page 111 of The Only Thing That's Real

“Holy shit, Dais. I am so fucking sorry. I totally forgot. It’s your damn birthday and it’s been all about the band.”

“Nah, at this age, who really cares? I got to have a birthday lunch in the big city while you were working. It’s all good. It’s only been my day for the last 43 minutes.”

Hugging her, I apologize again.

“Don’t worry, your mom prepaid for her lap dance. She still has a birthday gift to open.”

Releasing my sister, I turn on my brother’s best friend. “Owen Swift, if you give my sister a lap dance... So help me God!”

Daisy saunters over to the counter Owen is leaning against. “I mean, if Mom paid for it, we don’t want her money to go to waste.” She rubs her hand down his chest, and I think I might be sick.

This is the way the two of them have always been. They are either glaring at each other or scheming to embarrass one of us. They make a frightening combination.

“I’m too old for this shit. Beer me,” I say to Owen.

He hands me a cold beer from the ice bucket next to him. “Seriously, though. I’m glad I could be here, Knox. I know Cal wishes he were here, too.”

“I know he does. And I’m glad you’re here too, Swift. Once I’m back in Goose Hollow, we’ll have to get a beer at Gus’s place.”

“I’d like that.”

Leaving the kitchen, Ryan and I venture into the sea of people filling the penthouse. When we aren’t shaking hands or hugging our mutual acquaintances, we hold hands. I’d have to be blind to miss the way men’s eyes roam over her.This may be the band’s night, but she’s the damn star of the show. She’s in a tight dark denim skirt, a crisp white tank, and red heels. Her hair hangs loose in long waves and her smile... Her smile is fucking radiant. She’s the hottest woman in a room full of the world’s most beautiful people. Those that know her love her, and those that don’t wish they did. People whisper when they see us kiss, but it’s not Ryan they’re jealous of. It’s me.

I get it, everyone. What is a vision like Ryan doing with me?I ask myself that every single day. I’m waiting for her to ask herself that same question. Until she comes to her senses, I’m holding on for dear life.

For the next two hours we drink and dance, have deep conversations about life and hug it out with friends old and new. At some point, Daisy and Owen left and Angus and Mia only stayed an hour. To be fair, we didn’t get here until nearly 1am. Most of the people remaining are strangers.

“What do you say we get out of here?” I whisper in Ryan’s ear.

“You sure? This is your night with the guys. I’m fine to stay as long as you want.”

“All I want is to be alone with you. And I don’t mean sex. I just want to be with you.”

Without another word, she takes my hand and doesn’t let go until she’s removing her clothes and climbing into bed. I meet her between the sheets, my mind racing with the same thing over and over, but I’m afraid she may not want the same thing.

“What would you say if I told you I didn’t want to wait to go home?”

“What do you mean?”

“I think I want to fly back with everyone else. I don’t want to wait to start my new life. Will you come with me?”

“Like for the week, before you guys head to the rental house for siblings’ week?”

“Yes, please. However, I may pack you in my bag and bring you with me.”

“I think you’ll be fine for a week without me.”

“I really won’t. Last week is proof of that.”

“Are you sure you don’t want the week to yourself? Or to spend time with Sawyer?”

“I’m sure.”

“I have to finish my Hollow Knocks piece.”

She’s freaking out. I can see it in her eyes.

She’s trying to find reasons to stick to the schedule we agreed to earlier this week. I’m moving things up a month on her. But if I’m finally gonna face the town I ran away from twenty-one years ago, I’m gonna need her there like a kid needs their favorite stuffed animal to fall asleep at night.

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