Page 95 of Whiskey and Regret

“Okay so…I know I leave for DC this weekend and this question is short notice but…can you guys come with me?” Xari blinked those gorgeous lashes while her stare ping-ponged between me and Frankie. Of course, Frankie lit up with a smile. She knew to be cautious until I made my final decision though.

“Xari, this wedding is in a matter of days and you expect me to drop everything and go with you?”

“Not just you,” she pouted. “Frankie too.” Staring at her lips almost threw me off my train of thought. I kept picturing the sexy way she sucked my dick last night before she crept back to her room.

“Right, and I’m supposed to do what? Call Navy and have her move my entire weekend schedule?” Both Frankie and Xari were pouting now. With a sigh, I pulled my phone from my pocket and hit Navy’s name.

“Hello, Senator Freeman,” she said after the first ring. I put her on speakerphone and rubbed the bridge of my nose.

“Hey, Navy. I have a huge favor to ask.” Frankie walked over to Xari, clutching her tight in her arms. They looked like two teenagers waiting for their parents to approve a sleepover.

“Sure, what’s up?”

“Can you dismantle my entire weekend schedule?”

“Um…you already had me do that last week, Senator Freeman. You cleared your schedule so you and Frankie can go to DC with Xari. Should I order you more brain-boosting vitamins?”

The squeal Xari and Frankie let out was ear-splitting. I stood up and walked away a few feet to tone down the deafening noise.

“No thank you, Navy. I just dropped the surprise on your sister so she’s doing what she does best.” I stared at the way she hopped up and down in an excited circle with Frankie and my entire world seemed to deconstruct so that they were the only things I saw. They were happy and that meant I was happy.

My girls…

“Being extra?” Navy guessed with a laugh.

“Lighting up the room.” I cleared my throat immediately because I didn’t mean for the truth to come barreling out. “Thanks, Navy. I’ll get back to you later.”

“Wait, Senator Freeman did you just say she was lighting up the room?”

“Ignore that, Navy.”

“Oh my god, you are so in…”

I said one last goodbye before hanging up. I didn’t need to hear what that last word was. It haunted me for the past few nights. The nights I didn’t want Xari to go back to her room. The nights I wanted to keep her beside me because I slept better when she was near.

“Oh my god, Evander!” Xari wanted to jump into my arms. I felt it. I saw it when she bounced on her toes. “You already planned to go with me.” She rubbed her cheeks and shoved me. “Now my cheeks hurt from smiling so hard.”

“I can’t wait to go!” Frankie chirped, hugging me from the side. Xari held on to my other side and I wrapped my arms around both of them.

My girls…

“Ooh! I’m gonna pick out outfits. Come on, Xari.”

“Go ahead, Frank. I’ll be there in a second,” she replied with a laugh. Frankie rushed out of the room and I waited to hear her footsteps above my head before grabbing Xari and kissing her. Her lips tasted like fruit.

“You could have let me in on the surprise,” she said when we broke apart.

“Wouldn’t have been a surprise then, would it?” My hand slid up to cup her breasts and pinch her nipples. They were already hard for me. Perfect golden pebbles.

“I’m starting to think you more than like me, Evander. I might even say you…care.” She was grinning like there was a joke somewhere between her words. There was no joke. Only truth.

I cared about Xari.

I more than cared about her.

“If I did care…would that be so bad?” I tugged on a chestnut brown spiral curl and Xari’s espresso eyes sobered.

“It wouldn’t be bad at all. It would stop me from feeling lonely…like I’m the only one who cares between us.” The fine arch of her brows fell a little as she frowned.