Swallow

Chapter 1.42:

Riley and Brynn were in the backseat of Aiden's car, whispering back and forth to each other as we drove back to the house.  I couldn't hear anything they were saying, but from the looks I kept getting from both girls, I had a suspicion that my name was mentioned a few times during their conversation.

Riley had decided to sit in the backseat behind Aiden, which gave me the opportunity to catch little glimpses of her during the secretive chit-chat. There was a concerned expression cemented on her face as her mouth moved next to Brynn's ear.

She was changing her mind about tonight.  I could see the wheels turning and the doubt creeping in. I would have to do everything I could to set her at ease once we got inside the house. I couldn't let her get in her own head about us and talk herself out of it.

Aiden pulled up to the driveway and killed the car engine.  We all unbuckled our seatbelts and ceremoniously climbed out of the car to head inside. 

"Hey, guys Brynn and I need to talk a minute. We'll catch up." Riley said as she slammed the door shut.

I stood next to the car, anxiously waiting on her to do whatever she needed to do with Brynn.  I wasn't going to leave her outside without me.  It was absolutely necessary for her to stay by my side the rest of the night. Any second she had on her own would give her another opportunity to find a way to back out on me.

Riley's gorgeous eyes were pleading with me for some reason. I didn't understand why.

"Come on. They want to talk. Don't be a creep and give them some space." Aiden whispered to me as he grabbed my arm when I didn't follow behind him. I dug my heels into the ground when he attempted to drag me into the house forcibly.  I ripped my arm away from his grasp and stomped inside to go grab a drink. 

I was going to go inside for her and only because she wanted me to. It wasn't because of him.

I was keyed up about tonight and getting a jump on the fun would help me get over my nerves. 

I was already three large gulps into a bottle when I heard the front door open again.  Another few seconds later, Brynn was walking into the room with Mark and Aiden tailing her.

"Where's the shots, boys?" Brynn said, practically frothing at the mouth to get the party started.

Aiden went to the freezer and opened it to study some of the liquor choices we had stashed in there. Most of the stuff we kept cold was for when we were entertaining. It wasn't the kind of stuff we drank regularly. Most of our standard everyday supply was still out on the kitchen counter.  It never really got put away because someone was always drinking at some point. 

Most nights, that person was me. The next closest person was Mark, but he was still a distant second.

Brynn wrapped herself around Aiden's back and leaned around him to look at the different chilled alcohol options. She whispered in his ear and pointed to a bottle of something clear with a picture of an orange on it. He grabbed it and another half-empty bottle that matched it. That one had something that looked like a cartoon raspberry.

I had no idea what it was, I didn't drink that flavored shit.

Anna and JD appeared in the kitchen a few seconds later. Riley was the last person to walk in. She was staring at me again the second she came into the kitchen.  I smiled at her and made my way around the table to the spot where I first stood next to the feisty girl the night of her graduation. Hopefully, it would give me a little luck.

Riley walked up behind me and brushed up against me as she passed.  I felt at ease the second she was by my side.

JD and Anna began pouring and lining the table with various shots for the group.  There were enough poured for everyone to have at least two, possibly three, without stopping. The girls all gravitated towards the clear stuff that Aiden took from the freezer while the guys grabbed the darker options.