“You need us to, what? So far?” My voice breaks on the final phrase, going a bit shrill.

“Preserve your voice down, please,” Alan mutters. “I simply thought… Look, it’s been such a very long time. We’ve each grown since school. I’ve modified. You actually have.”

Greater than you recognize, buddy.

“Alan, that is actually not a great time to be speaking about this,” I say, stalling for time. It’s a celebration for fuck’s sake; anyone needs to be wandering across the nook by now. There are folks all around the porch and eating corridor. Simply not right here, interrupting this painfully awkward dialog.

“Should you want time to consider it, positive,” he says, clearly disenchanted. “However I actually hope you’ll think about it.” He seems to be earnest, and… one thing else. I can’t put my finger on it, however that trace of one thing is sufficient to lower brief my rising panic.

“Why ask me now?” I say, extra suspicion in my voice than something.

“Huh?”

“Why now? Why ask me right here?” I say, gesturing round. “Your mother and father are having this attractive get together to have a good time them. I do know they don’t get to see all of your family as typically as they’d like.” A lightweight dawns. “Is that what that is about? You need to have the ability to inform them we’re getting again collectively.”

Alan shifts on his toes, twin pink spots showing on his cheeks. “It’s not that—”

“Then what’s it?” I interrupt. “Is it Drew? He introduced Cooper… it’s as a result of he has a date this time.” The spots in Alan’s cheeks go vibrant crimson. “And I’m guessing you don’t.”

“Come on, B,” he says, utilizing his outdated nickname for me. “ what my grandfather is like. He’s been on me for ages now about settling down. And now he’s bought Mother and Dad beginning in on it.”

“Proper,” I say, considerably lower than charmed.

“B, come on,” says Alan. He takes each my fingers in his, pushing up the cuffs of his jacket to get to them. At this level I’d reasonably freeze than put on his coat, however we’re standing proper in entrance of beveled glass double doorways in full view of the remainder of the friends and the very last thing I wish to do is trigger a scene. It’ll solely deliver extra hassle for Drew, to not point out mess up his mother and father’ celebration. I chew my tongue and let Alan speak.

“We had been good collectively as soon as,” he says.

“We had been,” I say. “Ten years in the past. Then you definately dumped me for a sorority sister.” She’d been on her approach to med college, however I didn’t precisely give a fuck about being truthful proper now. “What the hell makes you assume it might work this time?”

“So I assume possibly there’s nonetheless some arduous emotions,” Alan says, attempting to joke. “That’s okay. That’s good, truly. It means there should nonetheless be one thing between us.”

The one factor between us proper now are my fingers, fisted tight to maintain from punching my fool ex. Alan takes my silence for assent, apparently, as a result of he brings his fingers as much as cup my face.

“What the fuck is happening right here?” It’s Drew, and he positive doesn’t appear to care if he attracts consideration. Which is fortunate as a result of everyone within the ballroom on the opposite facet of the glass doorways turns to see who’s shouting on the porch.

“Thoughts your personal enterprise, Drew,” says Alan.

“Get your fingers off her,” growls Drew. I step again, pleased to assist Alan comply.

“What the hell is—” Cooper halts subsequent to Drew, a hand on his elbow as he takes within the scene. “Bailey?”

“I’m okay,” I say, stripping off Alan’s coat and tossing it again to him.

“We should always head inside,” says Alan, as soon as he registers all of the eyes on us via the glass.

“Why had been you touching her?” Drew is often not remotely aggressive. He could be assertive when the scenario requires it, however I’ve by no means recognized him to fly off the deal with about something, not the entire time I’ve recognized him. But his fingers are fisted, his shoulders tight with restraint, and if he had been anyone else on the planet I’d swear he was about to punch his brother.

“That’s between Bailey and me,” says Alan, attempting to wrap an arm round me. I take one other step to the facet, dodging him and placing myself subsequent to Cooper, who wraps me in his arms.

“There isn’t a ‘Bailey and also you,’” says Cooper.

“Such as you’d know,” sneers Alan. “You barely know her.”

That makes Cooper smile. “Higher than you may assume.”

“Again off, Alan,” I say. “And in case you had been questioning, my reply is not any.”

“Bailey,” he says, beginning towards me. Drew stops him with a hand on his shoulder.

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