Page 27 of It Happened Back Then
CHAPTER 11 - BLOSSOM
It’s late afternoon, and Swoops Nest is quiet before the dinner rush.
Meadow and I are sitting at the end of the bar, enjoying one too many. It’s been over a week since we had any real time together. She needed a few days alone so I manned the boutique, which was extra busy. We don’t talk about anything heavy; we’re just two sisters out having a good time. Cole was a bit standoffish when we entered, and I’m not sure if he was just giving us girl time or if he had questions about where she’d been. Makes me realize she may have gone completely radio silent with everyone. Including him.
Eventually, he stopped sulking and joined us, which means I get to listen to the two of them pretend they’re not flirting.
“I’m just saying, if Iwereto be January’s maid of honor, the most boring part of the night wouldn’t be so boring at all.”
“Are you saying my best man speech is going to beboring?” Cole retorts. He’s Drake’s best friend and I can’t wait to hear what he has to say.
“Since I haven’t heard it yet, I can’t say yes or no, but Ido knowanything scheduled and planned usually is.” She eyes him, daring him to argue.
“I love the speeches. They should come from the heart and mean something. They should be fun too, but they need to be sincere at the same time, ya know?” I bump her shoulder. “Mead, you’d probably have a slideshow ready to embarrass her.”
She smirks and throws back her glass, finishing it in one gulp before placing it on the bar and pushing it forward looking for a refill. Cole stares at her for a moment, hand on his hip, while she gives him the same look back, like they are reading each other's minds. He licks his lips before grabbing the wine bottle and refilling her glass. Even I can feel the heat kick up in here.
“I’d share all the juicy details. It wouldn’t be a boring speech of ‘I love my big sister and I’m so happy to see her find the love of her life’. It’d be ‘Ya’ll should know my sister is a freak, and from what I’ve heard coming from behind those bedroom walls, so is Drake’.” Cole and I snicker at her words. “But a slideshow is a good idea too.”
“You’ve heard them?” I ask in horror.
“One morning when I stopped by to get Lily.” She waves her hand like it’s no big deal. “She was still sleeping, but they weren’t. They’re not quiet. It’s like they want to get caught.”
“Must run in the family,” Cole mutters.
“A little excitement never hurt anyone, Mr. DuPont,” she replies haughtily. “Don’t act like you don’t love excitement.”
I shake my head and whisper into my glass. “God, just kiss already.”
“Excuse me?”
I finish my drink and push it forward for more as I say, “Oh, nothing. Just waiting to see which one of you caves first, like with a kiss and not that nonsense that goes on in the stockroom.”
Meadow gives me a sideways look then resorts to her usual absorption in her nail polish. Her nonchalant brush off is a lie because I see the way her jaw ticks. Cole begins to wipe down the bar, but his face gives something else away. Something weird passes through the air.
“I don't kiss,” she says matter-of-factly.
Cole jumps in. “No, you just tease everyone you come in contact with. You flirt like you’re training for the Olympics.”
“Teasing and blow jobs are much more fun than a little kiss.” Meadow slowly spins her glass on the bartop. “Besides, maybe I’m just waiting for someone worth the gold medal.”
I choke slightly on my wine. “Okay, I’m officially uncomfortable. I’ve got my own crap right now, and I’m not prepared to walk you through yours.”
Cole says in a teasing tone, “You were the one who brought up kissing.”
“Well, yeah, but not right now. Or here. In front of me. No thanks.”
“Oh please. I had to watch that awkward interaction between you and Bennett in the store that day.” In a high pitched voice, she says,“Oh Bennett. Where have you been all my life?”When I push her she just laughs and says, “Would you rather watch me flirt with the bartender or walk in on our older sister and the delivery guy in the bathroom?”
I shrug. “I don’t know. Sounds like the bathroom sex led to less of a complication.”
Cole locks his eyes on Meadow and steps forward, leaning on the bar. “Complication is good. Means it's something real, something worth fighting for.”
Whoa. I look at my sister, noting the indecision on her face. Like she wants to give in, but she’s too used to doingthings on her own, being the one in charge, steering every conversation and action to be under her control.
Maybe she’s finally met her match.
She sits taller on her stool, meeting his stare, and I see Maneater Meadow ready to strike back. “Complication can’t be scheduled. And real is messy.” Meadow hops off her stool, brushing her fingers over the top of the bar as she turns toward the restrooms. She keeps eye contact with Cole as she drawls, “Isn’t that right, bartender?”
