Page 110 of Love Resurrected
Brad takes my hand firmly in his as we walk into the party.
“Yay, you’re finally here!” Sadie yells and runs toward me, pulling me into a long hug. “Ohmigod, I feel like I haven’t seen you in forever!”
I return her embrace and her feelings. “I think it’s been like, three weeks.”
“That’s the longest we’ve ever gone.”
“I know. I’m sorry.”
“It’s not your fault,” she says. “Blame Audrey. She takes all the time and attention now.” I laugh as I step back and look at Sadie. She looks amazing, like having a baby has fueled her body with energy and vitality. I thought it was supposed to leave you feeling drained and tired, but apparently, I was wrong.
“You look incredible!” I tell her.
“You do too,” she says. “Great sex agrees with you.”
“Regular great sex agrees with me.” I laugh.
We enter the main room of the party where everyone else is scattered about between here and the huge patio area out back. Ethan is talking to Brad, baby Audrey strapped to his chest in a carrier. He has one hand over her back in a protective hold, and the other hangs on to a bottle of beer. Brad already has a beer as well.
Remi rushes over to us. “Thank god, my favorite drinking buddy is finally here. The rest of these duds are breastfeeding and refuse to pump and dump. Shot?” She holds out a glass to me. I take it and we toss them back, then she pulls me into a hug.
“It’s good to see him so happy,” she whispers in my ear. “Thank you for that. It’s all she wanted.”
I step back and look at Remi, tears glistening in her eyes. And even though I sometimes feel as though Kat is watching over Brad and I, giving her blessing, it’s solid proof to hear it from Remi, who is alive and breathing.
I hold back tears and nod. “Another shot?” I croak.
She grabs me hand and pulls me toward the makeshift bar.
“I am not a girl who cries,” Remi says. “But I swear to god I have cried more since that beautiful bitch died than I ever have in my life.”
“I wish I’d known her better,” I confess.
“She would have loved you,” Remi says. “But, it probably would have been weird for you and Brad if you’d known her better. So, just know the two of you would have been great friends.” She pours us each another shot. “I mean, not better friends than she and I, obviously.” She gives me a sidelong glance as she hands me the glass, and I laugh.
“Of course, not.” I raise my shot glass toward her, then down it as she does the same.
Out of habit, I then look around the room for Brad, and catch his eye. He blows me a kiss, so I throw him a wink.
“She couldn’t wink,” Remi says.
“Kat couldn’t?”
“Not to save her fucking life. She looked like her face was going into contortions.” Remi laughs. “It was almost as bad as when Brad tries to flip someone off.”
“Brad can’t give someone the finger?”
“Oh, sweetheart.” Remi places an arm around me and stops me in place. “Mathews!” she calls out across the room.
Brad stops his conversation with Ethan and looks at her, one brow raised.
Remi raises her right hand and flips him off, somehow looking elegant and sexy as she does. Brad rolls his eyes in return and attempts to return the gesture. The odd configuration of fingers makes me giggle.
“That’s not just because of his hand being broken?” I ask Remi.
“Oh no,” she says.
“Mama.” Remi’s daughter, Brianna, pulls at her skirt, Remi looks down at her. “Yes, my beautiful girl?”
