"She's really a sweet girl. I love her like a daughter. Billy's lucky to have that sort of friend," Melanie says, bringing me back to the conversation.
My grip on Raya tightens as I swallow that. Is it possible that Raya is the first friend I've ever had outside my family? That's... sobering. But she is.
"I can't blame him for needing a good friend," I say, looking at Raya as the words leave my mouth. Now to tell her I want more. That's the hard part.
Raya leans away from me, scanning the room. I start to ask her what's she's doing when she answers the unasked question.
"I need something warm to drink." She stands and starts to go, but I'm not letting her get her own drink.
Shit. I meant to have it ready for her when she got here. I got distracted, and then she walked in looking too damn good.
"I'll order it, Raya," I say quickly, standing up with her. "I was just waiting on them to come to us."
"It's fine. I'd like to go check out the bar anyhow while I'm up there."
Bar? She's getting that sort of drink? She rarely ever drinks.
"I thought you wanted cocoa," I say, worrying something is going on that she's not telling me.
"I think I need something stronger," she says under her breath, frustrating me further as she walks away.
What'd I miss?
I watch as she reaches the bar, and I curse Tag silently when I see him sidle up next to her. He'd better not be hitting on her. I'm already close to tackling him as it is.
"Ah, hell," Melanie says, seeming truly disgruntled.
"What?" Erica asks.
My eyes stay focused on my girl as she talks to Tag, her eyes seeming to hold mysterious anger. I apparently said or did something wrong, but I have no clue as to what it was.
"Courtney Hughes is here," Melanie says.
That has my attention. Son of a bitch. This is the last thing I need.
I turn my eyes toward the door, and I groan as she drops off her stuff. It'd be a miracle if she manages to not see me, and I never have miracles happen.
"You're about to have drama," Wren says in a singsong voice, acting as though he's an excited kid.
Damn my luck.
"The last thing I need is for Raya to see Courtney," I groan. "She's already pissed."
"Why?" Wren asks, seeming as confused as I am. Good. I'm not the only one that missed it.
Erica grins as though she knows a secret, and then she rolls her eyes. "You two are idiots."
Yeah. We're the idiots. She screws Wren's brother, but we're the idiots. Irony at its best.
Melanie seems to be smiling like she knows how I messed up, too, but I'm clueless.
"Kade Colton. I knew you'd be here," Courtney's annoying voice says from behind, making me curse under my breath before turning around to face her.
She has me wrapped up in a far too intimate hug before I can stop her. She'd throw a tantrum if I peeled her off me, so I hug her quickly, hoping to end the embrace as soon as possible without provoking the drama queen within.
Thankfully, she withdraws, and then the chatter sets in.
"My parents are here. They said they thought the Colton fam made it. Have you been here long?"