Page 63 of Keeper
She squints speculatively and asks, “So, did you talk everything out then?”
Booker frowns at her and then turns to me, offering that tipped smile of his that I love. “We’re starting to.”
“Broseph!” Tanner’s voice interrupts as he strides over with a blushing Belle tucked under his arm. “You missed an outrageous limo ride. Camden took his shirt off and stuck his head out of the sunroof, so Gareth closed the glass on him and it pinched his skin and drew blood!” He roars with laughter as Gareth walks over to join us with a smile, clearly amused by the scene he’s replaying in his mind. “Best fucking wedding ever.”
“If that was the best part of the night for you, we’re going to have big problems!” Belle exclaims, pinching Tanner’s side.
“Easy, wife! We have to get this fancy suit back to Gareth’s lady in one piece.”
Gareth’s jaw clenches. “She’s not my lady.”
“Well, I venture to guessSloanis a lot more than just your stylist.” Tanner shoots a playful smirk at Gareth, who does not seem amused.
Everyone’s eyes swerve to Gareth, Vi looking the most shocked. I can tell she wants to say something, but the scolding look he is shooting Tanner silences all of us. Without a word, Gareth turns and walks away, leaving us with a million unanswered questions.
Tanner—not the least bit put off by his brooding older brother—grins down at his new wife and says, “Also, I would have said the best part of my night was shagging you in the changing room before the wedding.” Her jaw drops at his cheekiness, but he hurries his next sentence out, saving himself from a proper walloping. “But that was before you walked down the aisle and agreed to spend the rest of your life with me. Nothing tops that fucking moment.”
He smiles a happy, dopey grin at her, and she reaches up and pulls his mouth to hers. They kiss and I feel Booker’s hand tighten around mine. When Belle releases Tanner’s bearded jaw, she waggles her brows excitedly at me, silently giving me a pat on the back for my position next to Booker.
But when Tanner jerks Booker out of my hand saying they need a manly drink, she goes shouting after them that they need to pace themselves. Now I’m left alone with Vi’s piercing blue eyes watching my every move.
“What happened to your dates?” Vi asks, her tone crisper than I’ve ever heard it.
I smile ruefully. “Andrew and Sidney left together. I texted Andrew but haven’t heard back from him.”
Vi crosses her arms over her chest. “So, you arrived with one man and left with another?”
I frown, gripping my champagne flute tightly, trying to determine if I can take a drink without my shaking hands spilling it all over myself. “Not exactly…It’s really not like that, Vi.”
“Then enlighten me.”
“Andrew is only a friend.”
Her brows arch. “A kissing friend?”
“A gay friend.” I look down, ashamed of the games I’ve been playing with Booker up until this point.
“So you were trying to force my brother into making a move by making him jealous?”
I mirror her crossed arms, attempting to put a protective barrier between the two of us. “No,” I lie.
“That’s what it looks like to me.”
“Well I wasn’t, all right? Mostly. Andrew took it too far. He acted on his own accord because he knows that…He knows how… He understands—”
“Understands what?” Vi prods.
“He knows that I am in love with Booker. He was trying to help I guess.” I exhale heavily at the admission. Something I wish I had the guts to say to Booker instead of his big sister.
I look up to see Vi’s face soften. “You’re in love with Booker?” She looks shocked.
My eyes well for some reason unbeknownst to me. “Yes.”
She doesn’t look happy. She doesn’t look mad. She looks…nervous. “For how long?”
I look down at my shoes. “Probably since the day I met him.”
Her breath inhales sharply. “Poppy.”
