I run a hand over my dress, one that isn’t cheap or casual. It’s stunning.
“Mum, don’t insult me or my guest.”
“I’m just saying, dear. Eloise is single. You belong together.”
“Why do they belong together?” I blurt out, insulted by her words. It isn’t very often I let things get to me, but her bluntness is on another level.
Wesley’s lips twitch as he eyes a speechless Grace. “I believe she asked you a question, my love.”
“We’re going to the bar,” Drew announces.
“Just spend time with Eloise, son. She will be a good wife and you can clearly do a lot worse.”
“And we’re going,” Drew snaps, pulling me away.
I give Wesley a wave. He gives me a two-finger wave back, then winks at me. I chuckle to myself as we head to the bar.
“I really am so fucking sorry about them. If I knew they were going to be as rude as they have been, I would never have let you come and be victim to it.”
I lean against the bar. “You’d be surprised by what I can handle. I don’t suck in the negative energy. It’s irrelevant to me. I choose to take in and absorb the positive.”
“That’s one way of living,” he murmurs, mesmerised for a moment.
“It is. Negative energy gets you nowhere and gives you nothing. It doesn’t make your life better,” I explain. “It’s why I choose to only share the positivity in the world.”
He opens his mouth, ready to say something, but for some reason, chooses not to and instead turns to the barman, giving him our order.
“What was you going to say?”
“It doesn’t matter.”
“It does.”
He brushes away the loose strands of hair that have fallen out of his bun. “Is that why you’re handling what happened to you better than most?”
It’s a fair question, one I don’t want to answer, but feel like I should. “Honestly, a part of me wants to forget it ever happened, but the other part has learned from it. I choose to keep moving forward because there isn’t any other choice for me. Yes, I’m hurt by what he did; yes, I’m heartbroken over the lies and betrayal, but I’m also well-versed enough to know I’m in denial. People can judge what they must about that night. Pick it apart and question every detail. But it doesn’t change anything for me. I experienced it differently, saw it differently, and what was meant to be beautiful, only turned out to be ugly. I let go of most of that negative energy the night you put me in front of the punching bag.”
“Just like that?” he asks, looking doubtful.
“No. I still have a long way to go. I just refuse to dwell on something I can’t change. I’ll heal in time.”
“Charlotte, I—”
The barman chooses that moment to place the drinks between us on the bar. “There you go, mate.”
Drew picks up his pint, taking a swig. I take mine, the fruity cocktail already making my taste buds tingle. “Let’s get drunk.”
He grins, knocking his glass against mine. “To getting drunk.”
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
DREW
The party is coming to an end, which means guests are more intoxicated and are getting louder by the minute.
“Do I have a big arse?” Charlotte yells, holding her phone to her head. On the screen is the name of a celebrity she has to guess.
We’re in the middle of playing charades since the live band my mother hired are a snooze.
Speaking of, my mother storms over, her expression pinched and red. “Really, Andrew.”
I grimace at the scathing look she gives me. “We’re playing charades.”
“You’re acting like a child.”
I roll my eyes and turn to Charlotte. “A huge one.”
“That’s what she said,” she teases, ignoring my mum. She has put up with her hostile behaviour all night and in the end opted to pretend she wasn’t there whenever she came along.
I wish I had the same strength.
“Guests are watching you, Andrew,” Mother scolds and hands over a card. “Take your guest back to this room and stop embarrassing your sister.”
I take the card and in the midst of grabbing it, I knock her hand, causing her bag to slide down her arm and drop to the floor. Charlotte quickly rushes to her knees, helping me place everything back.
Mum, however, doesn’t even try to pick up her belongings. Charlotte holds up another room card, one similar to mine and grins as she tucks it down her dress. I shake my head, my lips twitching. I hand Mum her bag and take Charlotte’s hand. “You’re right, Mum. We wouldn’t want to embarrass you.”
“It’s been such a lovely pleasure meeting you, Mrs Wyatt.”
Mum looks shaken by her comment. “I wish I could say the same.”
Charlotte suddenly spins to face me. “I’m Kim Kardashian, right?”
I chuckle at her change in subject. “Yeah, babe, you were.”
“Really,” Mum huffs out.
“Goodnight, Mum.” Charlotte laughs as we walk away. “You do realise she will just get a replacement card?”
Charlotte grins and takes my hand. “Yes, but we aren’t doing it so she doesn’t get a room. I’m going to take a leaf out of my uncles’ book— if you don’t mind me playing a trick on your mum.”
“A trick?” I ask, willing to do anything she asks of me right now.
We’re both a little pissed, and for the first time I’m really enjoying myself at a family event. It feels good to be free from responsibility and upholding a certain image.
I’m twenty-six years old, and although I’ve had nights out with mates, it has never been like this. We could have spent the night in a bus stop and I would have enjoyed myself in her company.
Charlotte suddenly stops, her red hair flying as she spins to face me. Her cheeks are a rosy red as she exhales heavily. “Okay, I’m kind of lying. This is something I’ve wanted to do for a while. I was hoping to do it on our next family holiday.”
“Love, you’re going to have to fill me in on the details ‘cause I have no idea what you are going on about.”
“It’s all about the details.”
I chuckle. “What?”
She rests her hands over my chest, laughing. “We are going to make her room look like a murder just happened.”
“Again, what?”
She waves me off. “They’ll have extra pillows. Fancy places like this always do.”
When she heads toward the lifts, I trail after her. We step inside the lift, and are greeted by an older couple dressed up like they spent the night at the casino.
“Hey,” I greet.
Charlotte gives them her megawatt smile. “You guys look so beautiful.”
The older lady smiles affectionately. “So do you, my dear. That dress is simply stunning.”
“You don’t think I look fat?” she blurts out. “I got told I look fat in it.”
The couple reprimand me with one scathing look. My balls shrivel up and I take a step back. “Wait,” I begin, but Charlotte continues.
“But you two, you look so cute, so beautiful. I hope I find that one day.”