Page 5 of Meet Me in the Valley (Oakwood Valley #2)

Just as I go to grab my shot from the bar top, my dad snatches the glass meant for Mom from my hand, tossing it back like a champ. Not a single shudder in his body as the tequila makes its way down his throat. My mom and I share the same gaping look, and he lifts his lips in a smirk.

“Take your shot, Tia,” my dad grumbles, whisking my mom away toward the rest of the now growing party. I see my mom teasingly hit my dad on his chest as they find their friends to mingle with.

“Hey, come on! Are we doing this or what?” Isabel sing-songs, dragging my attention away from my parents. Shaking my head, I make a mental note to unpack whatever that was with them later.

Isabel hands me my shot as we naturally form a little circle with the boys.

Raising our glasses in the middle, I make a brief toast. “To making sure we get Audrey and Donovan absolutely trashed tonight!” I’m only half-kidding, but that doesn’t stop the hollers of agreement from the rest of the group.

If it’s one thing about us, we don’t back down from a party.

Throwing back my shot like I’m back at Logan’s fraternity house parties, the sting only gets worse the older I get. I grimace the second the alcohol slithers down my throat, desperately searching the bar for a lime to suck on.

I see the little plastic container filled with freshly cut limes, but Jackson beats me to it first, lifting the container over his head and holding it hostage.

“You ass! Give me one!”

“Don’t be a pussy! You already took the shot, just ride it out,” Jackson chuckles, with Kerry joining in.

I have to remind myself that Jackson and Kerry are only twenty-two. Oh, what a six-year difference can make. Those two challenge us over everything and are usually at the center of debauchery.

As if Isabel could read my mind, she chimes, “Ah, they keep us young, don’t they?”

“That’s for damn sure,” I grumble, letting the burn from the shot subside.

Cheering and scattered applause rings through the bar when the bride and groom finally make their appearance.

Audrey and Donovan stroll in leisurely, hand in hand, with giant smiles plastered across their faces.

Donovan sweeps Audrey off her feet in a cradle, showing her off to all our friends and family as the cheers grow louder.

Kerry sticks his fingers in his mouth, blowing the loudest wolf whistle I’ve ever heard—it actually pierces my eardrum.

Isabel cups her hands around her mouth, screaming like a banshee.

The smile on my face is proof that I’m actually really fucking happy, seeing all of my friends in one place, celebrating love.

Although, the tiniest tinge in my chest aches when my gaze falls on the way Donovan lovingly looks at Audrey.

I’ve been single for so long, I don’t know how I would act if someone were to actually look at me that way.

Pushing down the annoying ache, my eyes move to Logan making a quiet appearance as he trails slowly behind, doing his best to stay out of the spotlight and let our best friends have their moment.

Our eyes meet. He gives me an apologetic look as he mouths, “I’m sorry.

” The puppy dog look in his eyes is too much for me to handle.

I could never be mad at Logan, no matter how hard I try.

This man has been getting away with shit since day one, but his loyalty and commitment to our friendship makes up for it.

Logan snakes his way over to us, tucking his chin into his neck with a sarcastic pout on his face as his eyes bore into mine. I snort out an embarrassing laugh, shooting him the biggest eye roll I can muster before turning my back on him.

He wraps his arms around my middle from behind, pressing a chaste kiss to my temple. “I’m sorry we’re late, T. It wasn’t my fault, I swear. You look pretty, by the way.”

I try to shrug him off me, biting my lip to hide my smile.

He only holds me tighter against him, resting his chin on my shoulder.

“Don’t be mad at me. I got them here in one piece.

That counts for something, right?” His breath tickles the shell of my ear, spiking tiny shivers down my neck and down the entire right side of my body.

It’s a strange sensation—one that stirs a flutter in my stomach.

It sends a warning signal to my brain. I work myself out of his arms harder until he finally releases me from his hold.

Turning to face him, he scrunches his nose at me when Wyatt claps him hard on his shoulder. The boys are taking turns greeting him when Donovan and Audrey find their way to us.

Audrey’s in my arms within a second of seeing me, squealing as I lift her slightly off her feet. All is right in the world again.

“T! God, I missed you. Look at this place! It looks amazing in here. Thank you for doing this,” Audrey beams, planting a fat kiss on my cheek.

“Anything for you and D. We have a fun night ahead. Your only job is to accept every drink given to you and have fun. I’ll take care of the rest.” I boop her on the nose with my pointer finger, clutching her to me one more time as Donovan comes up from behind her.

“There she is. Welcome back, Tia.” Donovan kisses me on both cheeks, then wraps his arms tight around Audrey’s waist from behind.

That feeling of envy creeps up from my gut as I watch the way Donovan whispers sweet nothings into Audrey’s ear. But gratitude quickly replaces it, and my heart softens by the second as I think back to the journey these two had to get to where they are.

At the sentiment, my eyes search for my parents.

I spot them in the crowd, laughing with their friends.

My dad has his arm draped over my mom’s shoulder, kissing her hair as she tells a story drastically with her hands.

I muse to myself if I’ll ever find a big love like the one my parents share—or like Audrey and Donovan.

Being surrounded by it makes a girl think, and it’s hard to ignore the desire brewing deep within me to be wanted, to be loved in that way.

“Logan is looking too good. It’s actually kind of stupid how much better looking he gets with age,” Isabel interrupts my thoughts again. She takes a leisurely sip of her drink through the cocktail straw.

My eyes follow her line of sight, landing on Logan shooting the shit with the boys.

I tilt my head to the side, raking in the way his navy dress shirt tailors perfectly to his body, stretching against his broad chest and shoulders, the top button undone.

His golden forearms flex as he speaks with his hands.

My eyes follow the veins that disappear into the cuffs of his sleeves.

His hair is on the longer side, but still tapered neatly on the sides. I imagine how his sandy blonde strands would feel if I threaded my fingers through them.

Damn. He does look good. Wait. Snap out of it!

“You’ve got a bit of …” Isabel teasingly wipes the corner of my mouth. I slap her hand out of the way. We both giggle, but my cheeks flare with heat over the fact that she caught me checking out my best friend.

“Shut up. He’s always looked like that.”

Lies. He looks better.

“Is there something going on between you two? I mean, Logan’s been my friend since middle school, and he is totally different around you than he is with other girls.”

I rear back at her comment. “What? No. Never. Logan is just … Logan. I don’t know. He’s my best friend. But there’s definitely nothing going on between us.” Needing to do something with my hands, I grab Isabel’s drink from hers, taking generous gulps through her straw.

“So, you won’t be mad if I make a move on him?”

I nearly choke on the drink, sputtering like an idiot.

“What?”

Isabel takes her drink back and sets it on the bar behind me, her eyes dancing with mischief. I swallow the golf ball–sized lump in my throat, bracing myself for whatever she’s about to say.

“Listen, I’m on a dry spell, sister. Logan’s the perfect hook-up, right? He doesn’t live here, which is a plus. I’m just looking for a wham-bam-thank-you-Sam situation. He’d be down, right?”

I’m pretty sure my mouth is bobbing like a fish out of water. Isabel can be brazen, but it still throws me for a loop half of the time. She’s right, though. Logan would absolutely be down. Isabel is hot, and definitely his type. His type being a woman. Any woman. I inwardly laugh at my own quip.

But a sinking feeling drops in my stomach. I can’t let Isabel see me falter, so I curl my lips into a smile and roll my shoulders back.

“Sure, Iz. Totally go for it. I’m not one to stop you.”

Well, that tasted like battery acid leaving my mouth.

“And besides, why would it matter what I think, anyway? He’s not my boyfriend.”

No, he is not.

Isabel narrows her eyes at me, gauging my reaction and contemplating my response with careful observation. I don’t let her see my nerves, only beaming back a smile in return.

Once satisfied, she shrugs her shoulder as if it’s no big deal.

Because it’s not a big deal. She can do whatever she wants with whoever she wants. That includes Logan.

“Okay, then. It’s settled. I’m going to shoot my shot.” Isabel reaches around me, grabbing her drink and winking before sauntering over to Logan.

I force myself to watch when she approaches him, wrapping her perfectly manicured fingers around his elbow to steal his attention.

Logan looks down at her, charm oozing out of him with ease, smile stretching a mile wide.

He slings his arm around her shoulder as he whispers something in her ear, causing her to laugh and place her hand on his chest. I can’t stomach it.

Frustration simmers, and the next thing I know, I’m flagging Jackson down the bar to pour me another shot. Or two.

This is going to be a long night.