Elaine Wilder is back in her old stomping grounds of Kingston, California following a year of post-graduation travel. It was supposed to be her opportunity to find her footing in life and learn the family business. Instead, she stumbles into long-hi...
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Trudging through the threshold of my home, I gently shut the front door behind me and within seconds Belly is weaving between my legs purring.
"Finally." Drew greets me. He's sprawled out with his long denim-clad legs and his feet on my couch, scrolling on his phone.
I internally scowl, turning around to hang my keys on the wall hook and slide off my loafers beside the entryway.
I've told him a million times that I don't want his shoes touching my couch, I don't want to be uptight, but the mere thought of the soles of his worn-out trainers touching the lovely couch that I spent weeks agonizing over is enough to make me mental. Joni and I have achieved the perfect, cozy space here within the past couple of days and right now he's encroaching on that oasis.
I walk past him into the kitchen and yank the fridge open and down a bottle of water in hopes that it will soothe the budding ache in my head. I hear him shuffle up behind me, grabbing my waist and pulling my back to be flush up against his front side.
"Hi, Drew." I smile softly, wiggling out of his grasp in an effort to avoid his affection. My hands roam over my face as I yawn and he drops his arms down to his side. I'm exhausted from getting everything settled and the only thing I'm craving right now is the fluffy comfort of my bed waiting for me in the other room.
Not to mention I am making a conscious effort to successfully break up with him tonight.
He lifts a hand to run his fingers through his dark hair and leans up against the fridge across from me. "Everyone was asking about you this weekend, you know." I quirked my eyebrow at him, finishing off my bottle of water.
He continued, "They said they're hoping you'll party with everyone at the ceremony next month, just like old times." He chuckled, looking at me.
Next month? Fuck.
Leave it to me to break up with him after I already accepted the wedding invite. That won't be awkward or anything.
Dean and Cassie, the happily engaged couple we befriended our junior year, are sickeningly sweet and perfect for each other. I met Cassie in a British Lit class I took for fun and we hit it off immediately. Joni went to college locally so I struggled quite a bit those first two years of school, but Cassie helped me through it. I had met Dean through Drew and I figured I would play matchmaker since Cassie had terrible taste in men. They were engaged by graduation.
I fiddled with the ends of my hair, trying to come up with something to say.
Oh yeah! I'll totally party at the wedding but I'm breaking up with you so don't get too excited.
Perfect timing on my end.
His rambling continued as I took my hair down from its braid and he stepped closer to me. "I went ahead and booked us a suite at The Ritz for the whole weekend," He placed his arms on either side of me, trapping me as he leaned down to my level. "That way we can finally have some alone time." He sighed, his hot breath hitting my face.
