Lines Drawn (Drawn to You #2) - Ker Dukey Page 0,58

lights the screen, and now Diane is asking what’s going on. She hurries over to a guy controlling the thing, and all of a sudden it goes off.

“I’m sorry, everyone. We’re not sure what happened. Although we’re fond of Antonia, she wasn’t supposed to be starring in this,” Diane announces.

She comes over to where I’m sitting, confused.

“They weren’t in there when I had this set up. Some of Gaby’s old photos must have been mixed in.” She’s flustered and this ruined something nice she prepared for Gaby.

I point to Gaby, who’s being kissed by Mike in a way too inappropriate for where we are. “It’s the thought that counts. I don’t think Gaby has even noticed.”

She follows my eye line and rolls her eyes. “She’s more like me than I care to admit.”

My thoughts are back with those pictures. I don’t remember sending them to Gaby, but we’ve shared so many pictures and emails I would never know what she had.

Gabe leans over my shoulder as Diane saunters away and places a glass of wine down. “You were empty.”

Alcohol and anxiety meds shouldn’t be mixed, but that went out the window when I found out the seating arrangement.

Libby bounds towards us in a cute one-shoulder punk-style sixties dress and grabs Gabe’s arm. “Dance with me.”

It’s not a question, more a demand, and the look of horror on his face makes me chuckle.

Finlay getting up to take a call catches my eye, and although I hate that he can command my attention, it happens all the same.

Watching him talk animatedly to the caller and a huge smile lift his lips guts me inside. Irrational, stupid, and selfish for not wanting him to find something to be happy about, my thoughts and feelings battle each other for right of way and it leaves me exhausted and reaching for the wine glass.

The alcohol zips through my bloodstream, warming my body temperature and mood. There’s a slight buzz in my veins and I want more of it.

When Diane asks if people would like to share some kind words about the engaged couple, I find my hand raises and my feet lift me from the chair.

“Me!” I shout louder than necessary. Ending the call, Finlay looks over at me with a raised brow.

Gaby smiles nervously at me as I approach her mother, who’s holding out the mic to me. My legs wobble a little. Maybe I had more than I should have with the wine tonight.

As I take the mic, Diane pats my back like she would a pet.

“Thanks,” I throw at her over my shoulder as I face the waiting diners.

The music has gone silent and the dancing partygoers are now sitting back in their seats, waiting for my kind words.

“I’ve known Gaby my whole life. She was always like a sister to me.” I nod at her and she nods back.

“Little did we know that we actually are sisters.”

A few confused faces stare back at me.

“I know, right?”

Leaning over some relative, I help myself to a drink and take a hearty gulp.

“When I first found out about Mike and Gaby, they were naked in the shower.”

A few sniggers pass from person to person.

“He looks hot naked,” I add.

“Good for you, Mike!”

“Er, thanks?” He nudges Gaby and she mumbles something I can’t hear.

“Anyway…” I speak louder. “They had their trials. Turns out, cheating runs in the Hayes’ veins.”

I raise my shoulders and hands and then drop them.

“Antonia,” Finlay warns me in the tone he used to use on Gaby.

“Don’t use that tone on me, you cheating asshole.”

Some gasps fill the air and Finlay nudges Gavin to come quiet me, but he’s not moving. He’s grinning full beam at me and I take that as permission to keep going.

“I digress. Let me get back to what I was saying.”

“You’ve said enough,” Diane growls under her breath.

“After acting like a brat, she finally got her shit together and decided to stop shagging Mike’s friend and be with him for good, and here we are. You’re engaged, yay!”

“You’re being a bitch!” Gaby spits.

“You were supposed to say something nice,” Diane barks.

Holding my hands up in surrender, I focus on Finlay, who’s glaring at me.

“When I came here, a shell of my former self, it was to find hope, and you all gave me that. Fin, I was the guitar and you the musician. When you looked through the strings, it was an empty space. It was only when you strummed them that you heard the melody of