Page 117 of Drive

“Oh,” she said, trailing her eyes down Reid’s attempt at business casual. “From where does she know you?” My mother gave him the third degree as he set the boxes down on a bell cart one of the bridesmaids wheeled out.

“We used to work together,” he answered, indulging her with the same amusement he did me when we met.

“Reid,” she said, trying to place the name. And then her eyes narrowed.

Oh, shit.

I saw her palm go up and cringed as Reid took two forehead slaps to the head. She dug right in. “You think I’m so old I forget that you tookmydaughter? That you have my daughters fighting for months?”

Reid stood stunned as he looked to me for help. “Family affair,” I piped as I left him there to fend for himself. “Welcome to the party,rock star.”

I walked inside the bustling club and was greeted by at least a dozen aunts, uncles, and cousins. I searched the large lobby for Neil and found him standing in the corner, watching, paralyzed with fear as his new extended family marched in like ants. I fled to him and dropped the bags at his feet before I threw my arms around him. “Hey, brother.”

He smiled when I pulled away. Neil and I had gotten close over the last few years. I could talk to him about anything. It was a strange dynamic, but it worked with us. I’d definitely gained a brother. We talked a lot, especially in the last few months when he needed advice on how to handle the family.

“You can still back out of this,” I said, nudging his shoulder.

“This is just the rehearsal,” he said as he watched the crowd thicken behind me. “My dad’s side isn’t even here,” I said with a laugh as Neil paled. “It will be fine,” I assured him with a little shake in my voice as Reid appeared with my mother’s arm wrapped around him.

Traitor.

He must have talked some major shit to get in her good graces, and by the way she stared up at him, I could tell that’s exactly what he did. His eyes found mine as I watched his lips twist up in a smirk. And the rattle was back.

Neil lit up beside me when he caught sight of him. “Damn, man, are you a sight for sore eyes!” They did the man hug, back clap thing, and I saw that as my chance to find my sister. Reid’s hand shot out as I attempted to make my escape.

He leaned in to whisper, “Now or later, it’s up to you.”

“I’m going to find Paige.”

“Later, then.”

I was dizzy and the rehearsal hadn’t even started yet.

“Stella!” My favorite cousin Tangie greeted me in the doorway of the small room where the rehearsal was being held. “God, did you see Reid Crowne? I thought I was going to die when he got out of that limo. We thought it was Uncle Georgie being allflashy, but no, a fucking rock star pops out!”

I laughed, and she gripped my hip, pulling me close while we walked. “You look hot! It’s been too long cousin. I need to get my ass here more often to see you.”

“Anytime, Tangie, I meant that. You know I don’t like these other fools.”

“I heard that,” My cousin Ramon—the oldest of all the cousins—chimed in as he joined us. “God, Stella you grew up fast.”

“Don’t let the suit fool you,” I said with a wink.

Pretty soon I had a posse in pursuit of my sister and was about to send out a search party when I spotted her in a private bar in the back of the club, pointing to her empty shot glass. “Just one more,” she said with a slur.

Oh shit.

“No more,” I snapped as she held up the tequila shot and smiled at me. I took the glass from her and warmed my insides with its contents.

“Paige, we have to get going,” I said as I gripped her to me, trying to decipher her clarity through inspection, and then glared at the bartender. He looked me over with appreciative eyes. “Really?” I deadpanned. “Get real,” I snapped as Reid walked through the door.

“Oh, my God,” Paige said, looking between us. “You made it!” She sprang from me into Reid’s waiting arms, and they hugged each other in greeting. Paige was leaking in a sappy puddle, a mix of tequila and jitters, but I saw it. The genuine love between the two of them, the friendship they missed on both parts. Guilt weighed me down as Reid looked over at me as Paige gushed. “It feels like it’s been longer,” she said, dabbing at her tears as if she were a silly woman. And she was, but it amazed me the gravity of the situation. It all came back to our decisions: mine to kiss him, our decision to be together, and how it had affected all of us in some way.

He stared at me with drawn brows, trying to read my thoughts as I looked on at Paige, who was truly happy to see the friend she had before her sister drove a wedge between them and rock ’n’ roll ate up the rest of his time, and his attention.

Reid being Reid bent down to whisper to her, making her smile.

“So, are you staying for dinner?”