Page 21 of Pinky Promises

Callum:Just look for the large group of sex men in suits. Straight-up lady porn.

Me:OMG! Please never say lady porn ever again.

I pocket my phone. Who doesn’t love dresses with pockets—they’re God’s gift to creation—and follow the path to the main building.

Boisterous laughter turns my gaze to the group of men standing by the bar, toasting loudly. I make my way toward them, holding up the bottom of my dress to make sure I don’t trip.

“Hello, boys.” I smile as I approach the group. I can feel my cheeks blush as various catcalls are directed at me. The top of Ben’s head is visible in the group’s center, including his brother, some coworkers from Maritime, and some college buddies I met at the engagement party. Somewhere in there, I believe, is Callum.

I push my way through the crowd. “Looking good, Brynn,” Asher says.

“Thank you. If you think I look good, you should see your baby mama. She is looking H-O-T.” I laugh and wink.

“I’m sure my girls both look beautiful.” And he would be correct. Baby Olivia is wearing the cutest little dress.

My focus moves from Asher to the figure behind him, staring at me with his mouth open. Callum is leaning on one elbow at the end of the bar, but he rises to his full height as I come into view. He runs his palm over his chin as he looks me up and down and whistles. “Wow.”

I run my hand over the material of his royal blue tie and vest that matches mine. “I knew you were going to look good in blue, but damn, Callum.”

“Right back at ya.”

“Oh, this old thing?” I tease and give a little spin to show off the back and how the material dips.

“Seriously, you look—” He stops his sentence, but his eyes continue his story.

Everyone else in the crowded bar disappears, and it’s as if it was just the two of us. I’m keenly aware of how close we actually are.

“Is this your girlfriend?” an unfamiliar male voice asks from behind Cal and pulls us out of this moment.

“I’m sorry, what?”

“I said, is this your girlfriend?” I glance over his shoulder and see a gentleman I don’t recognize. For someone thinking I might be Callum’s girlfriend, his eyes linger on my breasts a little too long, and a shiver shoots up my spine. And I’m not talking weak in the knees kind of shiver, but a hide behind my best friend till he goes away shiver.

“Oh, this is my best friend, Brynn. Brynn, this is a friend of Ben’s from college, George.”

I extend my hand out in front of me to take him. “Nice to meet you, George.”

“The pleasure is all mine.” I try to pull my hand back, but his grip tightens, and he brings our joined hand to his lips and kisses the top of his hand. When I finally get my hand back, I nonchalantly wipe my hand on my dress. George doesn’t seem to catch on, but the smirk on Callum’s face tells me he knows what I did.

“Maybe you can save me a dance later, Brynn.” A hint of innuendo in his voice makes me feel highly uncomfortable that the dance he’s referring to is a dance in the sheets, not on the dance floor. I’m pretty sure if you look up the word “desperate,” you might see this man’s photo.

“Sorry, bud, while I said she was my best friend, I also meant that she’s my date.” His voice is stern, as if he’s laying down his claim.

“Oh, sorry, man, I didn’t realize.” George then turns to me. “Well, it was lovely to meet you, Brynn. I’ll see you around.”

“Guess I’m going to be picking men off you one by one today.”

I roll my eyes and laugh.Yeah, I’m sure there will be so many men hitting on me today.“Anyways, I came here for a reason, not to have you be my knight in shining armor once again.”

“Oh, shit, right.” Cal reaches into his pants pockets, and his smile disappears. He then opens his suit coat and looks at the inside pocket. “Damnit,” he mutters, “I must have left it in my bag.”

My eyes widen.Oh my God, what if he forgot it.“Please tell me you’re joking again, Callum,” I scold.

He grips my shoulders. “Don’t worry, I promise you I brought it. It’s just in my room. I’ll run back and grab it, and I can meet you outside the bridal suite.”

“Do you mind if I just walk with you and grab it? I don’t want to return to the suite without it. I don’t want to stress Lex out.” He nods. I don’t think this wouldnecessarilystress her out, but I’m unwilling to take that chance. Her calmness could just be a bomb waiting to be detonated, and I refuse to light the fuse.

Callum throws back the rest of his drink and sets the glass back on the bar top. He slaps Ben on the back. “I’ll be right back, man. Gotta run back to my room.”

---