get Sophie and RJ too,” Daphne said. “It’s getting late.” She grabbed her coat off the back of her chair.
“Is it okay if we have that chat another time?” James asked.
No. Not really. But I just nodded. They were going home to Scarlett right now. Nothing bad could happen to her tonight.
Rob, Daphne, James, and Penny said their goodbyes.
“Have fun on your date tomorrow,” Penny whispered and gave me a quick hug. I watched her duck under James’ arm and giggle at something he whispered in her ear.
“You okay?” Tanner asked.
Now he was concerned about me? Moments after trying to get James to drug me?
Luckily I didn’t have to answer him, because Bee was laughing harder than ever, drawing everyone’s attention to her.
“So just me?” Bee said, but I could barely make out the words through her laughter.
I hadn’t caught the start of her conversation with Mason, but it looked like the two of them were having the time of their lives.
“Yeah, our mom definitely didn’t walk us to the bus stop in high school,” Mason said. “We usually rode with James. Or I drove myself.”
Bee finally stopped laughing long enough to breathe. “Not all of high school. Just until junior year when I finally snapped.”
Mason was staring at her with stars in his eyes. “Your mom is amazing.”
“More like mortifying,” Bee said and covered her face.
Mason lowered her hand and kissed her temple.
I turned away and took another sip of my scotch. Out of all my friends, Bee looked the most like Brooklyn. Sometimes it was hard to look at her for too long. I wondered if Mason saw it. But I didn’t think so. Unlike James, he hadn’t had a crush on Brooklyn. And I wasn’t even sure if James really had either. I was pretty sure he had only pretended to like her to mess with me. But I’d never know. Because I’d never bring her up.
I swirled the ice around in my glass. At least I wasn’t the third wheel tonight. Because Tanner was here too. I actually preferred hanging out with Bee and Mason the most because they didn’t have any kids. It was just adults talking. I loved my friends’ kids, but I didn’t need to talk about them nonstop like parents always seemed to.
“What was Mason like in high school?” Bee asked me.
I shrugged. “The same.”
Bee laughed. “I’m pretty sure I had an awkward stage between first and twelfth grade. Unlike you guys with your amazing Caldwell genes. I hope our kids get them.”
I was pretty sure my fingers tightened on my glass. Not you guys too. It was hard enough being the only single one. I didn’t want to be the only one without kids too.
Mason laughed. “You should see your face right now. I promise Bee’s not pregnant.”
I breathed a loud sigh of relief, which made Bee laugh harder.
She lifted up her glass. “I’ve had like three glasses of wine. Definitely not pregnant, Matt. But really, would it be so bad to be an uncle?”
“I am an uncle.”
“I mean like a real one. A blood one.”
It didn’t matter that I wasn’t a blood relation to James and Robs’ kids. I still loved those little brats. “Are you guys really thinking about it?”
“Maybe next year,” Bee said and looked over at Mason.
A few years ago he would have looked as shocked as me. Instead, he just shrugged.
I silently cursed. They were definitely about to pop out a dozen babies and leave me behind.
“To be young and in love again,” Tanner sighed.
He was still young. And had plenty of time to find love. He was being such a diva tonight.
“Ah, to being young and in love.” Bee lifted up her wine glass and a little sloshed out the side. She was so drunk. Adorably so. Which was my fault since I kept buying everyone more rounds.
“Matt.” She reached out and grabbed my hand. “What’s going on with you? You keep doing that thing with your face.” She pulled her lips into an exaggerated frown.
“I’m fine.” I patted her hand.
“Only people who aren’t fine say that they’re fine. You can tell us anything, you know.”
I glanced at Mason. I was pretty sure he’d been hoping I’d talk about Brooklyn for years. But I wasn’t going to start tonight. “There’s nothing to tell.”
“You’re a terrible liar. Tell me right now or you…you’ll have to pay for all the drinks.”