in my ear. “Or you’re fine to hang out here with them?”
I wanted to tag along with him, but maybe I was too dependent and clingy these days. I could handle fifteen minutes without him, right?
“Will you be gone long?” I whispered back.
“Nah, they usually check out before the story is even finished.”
I chuckled and kissed his chin. “All right. I’ll stay out here, but don’t leave me with them for long.”
“Cool.”
He ruffled my hair and trailed his finger down the side of my face, then went after Phil. I glanced up to find one of the guys looking back at me with a smirk on his face. I couldn’t figure out his deal at all.
“Whew, this was some day, huh?” Noelle flopped into a chair and sighed.
“It was great.”
I focused my attention in her direction. She was like the little ray of sunshine you wanted to keep in your pocket. I legit liked her so much, and her kids were great too. I’d snuck in some game time earlier with her boys. I’d watched Callum play with them too, and it made me look at him in a different way.
Did he want kids someday? I did, but I didn’t see myself becoming a fit parent anytime soon. To take care of a human being, provide for them, raise them, was a huge responsibility. I didn’t want to fail any future kids like my parents had done with me.
Everyone would’ve thought the first kid was the experimental one. The second provided an opportunity to get things right that went all wrong with the first. This couldn’t have been further from the truth than in my case.
“I don’t know how you manage three kids all the time, Noelle,” one of the ladies, Susana—maybe—said. “Justine is enough to give me a headache most days.”
“No shit, and Phil wanted more kids.” She got to her feet. “Sue-Ann, help me bring out some drinks from the kitchen, will you? The kids had their fun, and now it’s our time.”
I scratched the back of my neck, my skin prickling at the word drinks. She didn’t mean anything alcoholic, right? With the kids around all day, we’d only had soft drinks, and I never thought this was a possibility.
I should find Callum and leave, but it was just a drink. I could handle being around people drinking.
Noelle and her friend came out laughing with bottles of wine in the buckets they each carried. Sweat rolled down my back, my shirt sticking to my clammy skin. My stomach tightened in excitement, and my mouth watered with a need that carved a hole out in my belly.
It’s been so long.
The chatter went over my head. My eyes followed the glasses. The popping sound when they uncorked the wine was music to my ears. Everyone was so relaxed. Just down for a good time after a long day. Nothing was wrong with the picture, except I wasn’t supposed to be around alcohol.
I wasn’t strong enough yet.
“Here you go, Ashton.”
Noelle thrust a glass into my hand. Didn’t she know alcohol was my kryptonite? Could Phil really not have told her? I was certain, given the newspaper with that article, that everyone in Battersea and their mother knew that Ashton Keyes, heir to the billion-dollar Keyes fortune, was a drunkard.
Among other things.
“Here’s to a day well spent!”
Everyone cheered at Noelle’s words and tipped back the glass. A drop of sweat trickled into my eye, stinging like a bitch.
“Something wrong?”
It was the smirker who addressed me. He took the seat Callum had vacated while the others chatted around us, oblivious. Before I could answer, his friend sat on the arm of the chair on my other side. I was caged in and nervous as hell.
“No, I’m fine.”
“You’re not drinking.”
“I shouldn’t be drinking.” I looked for a place to put my glass before temptation really got the better of me and I ruined everything I was working so hard to build.
“What? You not old enough? I didn’t think Phil’s friend would fuck someone underage?”
“I’m legal.” I frowned at him.
“I must say I’m surprised,” he continued. “I got the impression Ashton Keyes was a party boy, more often drunk than not, more often on his knees or back than not.” His voice had lowered considerably.
“What the fuck do you mean?” I was irritated at the knowing look on his face. I was pretty sure he and his friend were fucking with me to have their fun at my expense.
“It’s just a glass, Ashton Keyes.”