She patted his back before she pulled away. “You look different.” She narrowed her eyes as she gazed up at him. “What’s changed?”
“Freddie’s in lurve now,” Isobel mocked, dragging the word out.
I tensed when she said that word. I half-expected him to tense or freak out over that word, but instead, he placed his arm around Everleigh’s shoulders and turned her to face us.
“Everleigh, I’d like you to meet someone very special.” He began leading her over to me. “Luke, this is Everleigh.” He smiled at me before he tightened his arm around her shoulders. “Everleigh, this is my boyfriend, Luke.”
Her head shot up to his at the word before she looked back at me.
“You actually kept him in line.” She stepped forward with her arm extended for a hug. “Hello, Luke.” A short hug and a kiss to the cheek, and she was pulling back.
“It’s nice to meet you, Everleigh,” I complimented. “I’ve heard a lot about you.”
“All bad, I bet?” Dawson asked as he stopped at her side, causing everyone to laugh. “Dawson,” he said, holding his hand out for me to shake.
“Luke.” I smiled and shook his hand before introducing my colleague. “This is Robert. We work the bar together usually.” I watched as Everleigh and Dawson shook his hand before I spoke again. “This is going to sound really random and strange…” I paused and narrowed my eyes at Dawson. “Have we met before? I feel like I should know you.”
He stared at me for a moment with a thoughtful expression on his face before he spoke. “No. I don’t think so.” He frowned at me before he changed the subject. “How long have you been in America, Luke? I can detect a strong English accent.”
“Not long.” I smiled when Freddie came and stood next to me, taking my hand as he did. “It started out as a US tour and a bit of time off, but now…” I paused and looked at Freddie. “Now I’m just along for the ride.” I didn’t miss the way that Freddie and Everleigh looked at each other. They were speaking without words—much like Thomas and I normally did—and I knew she was probably wondering what our plans were. “Anyway,” I said, deciding to change the subject. “What can I get for you to drink, Everleigh?”
“I’ll get these,” Freddie said. “Why don’t you grab us a seat?” he asked, directing his question to Everleigh.
“You go on,” Dawson said. “I’d like to speak to Freddie.”
She stared at him for a moment before she replied. “Okay.” She sounded curious, and I had half expected her to ask him why, but instead, she turned around and began walking over to a table.
I followed after her, giving some privacy to Freddie and Dawson and we left the girls and Robert to peruse over the cocktail menu.
“I feel like I’ve missed so much.” She shook her head at herself and she looked a little bit bewildered. “I’m waiting for Isobel or Chrissie to announce they are secretly married or something.” She laughed before her eyes zeroed in on me. “He looks happy.”
“He wasn’t happy before?” I asked.
“No.” She frowned at my words, thinking before she continued. “He was just…” She blew out a breath. “He wasn’t a relationship guy, I guess is the way to put it.” She looked back to the bar. “Happiness looks good on him.”
I took my phone out of my pocket and shuffled closer to her.
“Here you are.” I handed my phone over to her. “There are some pictures on there. I snapped some when I took Isobel shopping as well.”
She widened her eyes at me in surprise before she accepted my phone. “You’re a brave man, Luke.” She giggled as she pressed a few icons to get to the Gallery. “Many men have done that and failed.”
I laughed at her teasing. “My best friend Nina is the same. Not my first time being a bag-carrier.” I watched her flick through the pictures, her face lighting up as she went.
Suddenly, it all changed. She tensed and stopped flicking. Her eyes glossed over with tears and I wondered what the fuck had changed.
“What’s wrong?” I asked. “What is it?”
She looked at me briefly before she placed my phone down on the table. She shakily stood up and walked away, leaving me and the rest of the party dumbfounded as to what the hell was wrong.
“Everleigh?” Dawson shouted. “What happened?” He glared down at me and he reminded me of Alex at that moment. He thought I had said something to upset her.
“I don’t know.” I shook my head, a little at a loss of what to say. “I gave her my phone for her to see some photos and she just…” I reached for my phone but stopped when Dawson picked it up. His hands shook, confusing the hell out of me more.
“Who’s that?” Isobel asked from next to Dawson as she peeked at the photo.
“My cousin,” I began. Dawson and Freddie both stared at me in shock. “Tye.”
CHAPTEREIGHTEEN