Sweet Alibi (13 page)

“Fine.” I stared out the window watching the waves roll onto the shore. Rage was starting to bubble inside my stomach.

“Next time. I promise, Georgia.”

“Okay,” I said through gritted teeth. I knew I wasn’t being fair; he couldn’t help it when his boss flung more work at him. But I was still angry and disappointed and hurt.

“I’ll try and call tonight.”

“Okay.” I rolled my eyes because
he
never called
me
. Once in a while I got a random text from him but otherwise I was the one making all the effort. It bothered me that he couldn’t call even a few minutes before he went to bed at night, but I’d vowed to do everything I could to keep us close, so I called him always. Even just to talk for a few minutes.

“Love you, Georgia.”

“Love you too,” I mumbled and hung up before the lump in my throat released an audible sob. I slid my phone back into my pocket and crossed my arms, watching the waves out the window.

“Everything alright, G?” Drew called from the kitchen.

“Kyle can't make it.” I walked to her.

“What a dick,” Silas sneered.

“He couldn't help it,” I defended as I slumped onto the barstool next to Drew.

“So he says,” Silas mumbled. I only frowned. I knew I should try to be the supportive girlfriend, but I’d been that for years now, and I was disappointed and hurt that, yet again, Kyle couldn’t be there.

“Well, let's bust out the White Russians. Five o’clock somewhere, right?” Drew hopped off the stool and went for the bottles.

“I thought you were working.” 

“My girl comes first.” She winked as she started making drinks.

An hour later, we were two drinks in, and I was feeling buzzed as the three of us sat on the floor in the living room with the paint chips spread out in front of us.

“I like Stonehenge gray.” I held two paint chips up in my hand, debating the merits of both.

“Too dark. Pewter is pretty,” Drew contended.

“Maybe I want dark. Maybe I’m a dark girl.” I wrinkled my nose at her before we busted a gut. “It's settled, Stonehenge gray, my room, now.” I jumped up and grabbed the bucket of paint, a roller, and paint tray.

“G, you’re not painting right now,” Drew emptied her glass. 

“Angry white woman.” Silas laughed, mixing another drink for himself. I grinned and headed for my room.

“G, seriously?” Drew trailed behind me, half serious and all drunk. 

“Help me move the bed.”

We pushed the bed and nightstand to the middle of the room.

“Throw the drop cloth over it while I open the paint.” I wedged the paint stick into the lip and leveraged it open and gave it a stir.

“I love it already,” I said, finishing off the last of my drink.

“You are two crazy bitches.” Silas sat on top of the drop cloth with a fresh drink in his hand.

“Can it.” 

“He's right, G, you’re nuts.” Drew laughed as she poured paint into the tray. “But no going back now.”

“Start rolling.” I passed her a roller. We both took turns sliding our rollers through the paint then swiped large swaths on the wall.

We painted until the largest wall was completely covered. Drew instructed Silas to make us each another drink and he did so obediently.

“Gavin is going to die when he sees this.” Drew dragged her roller through more paint. Tristan and Gavin were running errands in town and had been gone for a few hours, missing the phone call and the ensuing drama.

Silas came back with drinks and Drew and I took long swigs. We were halfway through the second wall when we heard Tristan and Gavin barge into the house.

“Babe,” Gavin called through the house.

“In Georgia's room,” Drew called back.

“What the fuck are you doing?” Gavin entered with Tristan trailing behind him.

“Georgia is a woman scorned so we’re taking revenge on the walls.” She tossed him a wide smile before taking another drink.

Tristan's eyes shot to me, a question written on his face. “Kyle?” he asked.

“Not coming. Work, blah, blah, blah.” Drew waved her hand. “But we’ve got White Russians to make up for it. He's boring anyway,” she whispered to Gavin, but obviously not quietly, because we all heard her. I saw a smile on Silas’ lips. I kicked at his foot but missed.

“How many drinks are you in?” Tristan's eyes trained on me.

“A few,” I said. He shook his head still smiling.

“I’m sick of painting,” Drew pouted.

“We can't stop halfway through,” I pleaded with Drew but I knew I’d already lost her.

“We'll finish tomorrow, I promise,” she said.

“I’m not sure painting while drinking is really recommended anyway,” Tristan said, taking both rollers. I frowned at him, reaching for my drink.

“Gavin and I will help tomorrow,” Tristan said.

“Promise, Georgia.” Gavin curled his arms around Drew and gave me a sweet smile. My heart fractured a bit watching them. I’d been so anxious to feel Kyle's arms around me this weekend.

“Fine. I need another drink anyway.” I looked sadly into my empty glass.

“Make me one and I’ll clean up in here,” Tristan offered as his sympathetic gaze caught mine.

“Deal.” Our eyes held for a moment and my heart started to thud in my chest. Those eyes could really get a girl lost. And the way those lips curved up mischievously
―
they left me dreaming about the naughty things he could do with them. 

Wait, no. 

That's not what I was supposed to be thinking at all. I licked my lips nervously and left the room, bee-lining for the kitchen and more alcohol.

“Let's play poker!” Drew clapped her hands. After our paint operation was shut down, we'd refreshed our drinks and made our way out to the porch. The sun was setting and the breeze was cool as we listened to the sounds of the beach.

“Strip poker.” Gavin goosed her as she jumped up and ran into the house. Tristan looked over at me and rolled his eyes. My head swam happily. If Kyle couldn't be here this weekend, I was at least thankful I’d bought the ingredients for White Russians to help me forget him.

“I am not playing strip poker.” I warned as Drew tossed cards on the table and seated herself in Gavin's lap.

“Come on, G. Remember our conversation? You need to loosen up.” 

“I’m terrible at poker.” I shook my head.

“All the more reason to play strip poker.” Gavin winked as Drew smacked him on the chest. Tristan smirked, his eyes glinting in the moonlight heated my cheeks.

“You play strip poker, count me out.” Silas pointed to us. “I may have a date anyway.” He looked at his phone.

“Going out with Justin?” I asked.

“No.” He winked.

“Someone else? You’re a whore, Silas.” I knocked his shoulder with mine. His grin widened as another text came in.

“We’re not exclusive. Just keepin’ my options open,” he said distractedly as he read the text. “Strip away, loves. I’m out.” He danced into the house.

“He is something,” Drew scoffed with a roll of her eyes. I only shrugged. I knew Silas’ game. We'd talked about it before, and he'd acknowledged that he was probably looking for love in all the wrong places, but he didn't seem to want to change and I didn't judge him. He'd been there for me way too much without judgment over the years. It was only right I return the favor.

“So, strip poker?” Gavin shuffled the deck with a grin.

“Definitely not,” I took another drink.

“Regular poker?” Gavin answered.

“Sure, but I’m still terrible.”

“I’ll teach you.” Tristan bumped my shoulder.

“I don't think she needs your kind of teaching,” Gavin ribbed Tristan. We all laughed as Tristan grinned. 

“Texas Hold ’Em.” Gavin dealt the cards. “Ten dollar buy-in.”

“We’re playing for cash?”

“Always.” Gavin answered as Drew slid off his lap to the seat next to him.

“No cash. At least give Georgia a few practice rounds. Can't rob the host blind.” Tristan winked at me.

“Hey, I can hold my own.”

“I thought you were no good?” A smile lit Tristan’s face.

“I said that to get out of strip poker.” I winked at him.

“God, the sexual tension between you two is making me horny.” Drew took a sip of her drink.

“Drew!” I glared at her as my heart stopped. Was it really that obvious?

“I call it like I see it. Anyone need another drink?” She lifted her glass.

“I’m off!” Silas sang as he poked a head out the door.

“Be careful, Silas.” I meant more with his heart than anything else.

“Always, love.” He pressed a light kiss to my cheek. “You too,” he whispered. This situation was getting worse by the minute. Drew and Silas were constantly giving me unnecessary warnings. Tristan and I were over any previous encounters we'd had. Sure, I was attracted to him, but I was attracted to attractive people. That didn't make me someone who cheated. Even if my significant other was a million miles away.

“Drinks anyone?” Drew asked again.

“Yeah, I’ll come with you.” I hopped out of my chair. “Way to make things awkward, Drew,” I complained once we were alone.

“What?” She arched an eyebrow at me.

“Sexual tension between Tristan and me? We’re just friends.” I poured coffee liqueur into each of our glasses.

“Friends don't act like that,” she mumbled. “How many drinks have you had anyway?”

“Not enough to forgive you for being a meddling bitch,” I threw a crumpled napkin at her.

“Is there something to meddle in?” she asked.

“No,” I raised my voice as I poured cream into our glasses. “Enough of your opinion. Keep it zipped,” I said pointedly as we walked out. 

We started the first round, and laughed, drank, and refilled our glasses through many rounds thereafter. My head began to feel foggy and I rolled with laughter at the banter between Gavin and Tristan. After the sun disappeared, I shivered and wrapped my sweater around my shoulders a little tighter. Another few rounds and Drew landed back in Gavin's lap, spending more time kissing than playing.

“Game over.” Tristan tossed his cards down on the table.

“Night's over by the looks of it.” I wrinkled my nose at the amorous couple.

“Or just beginning.” He grinned that mischievous grin.

“Or just beginning,” I agreed.

“Want to take a walk?” he asked, holding a hand out to me.

“Sure.” I took his hand. The sudden change from sitting to standing had my head swimming as I looped my arm in his elbow and we made our way to the beach.

“No laying your moves on me.” I gave him a stern glare before I burst into a fit of drunken giggles.

“I think you’re immune to them anyway,” he chuckled.

“I’m not. Believe me, which is why you need to keep them locked up tonight.”

“Noted.”

“Good, ’cause I can hardly walk,” I said as our shoulders brushed together. “We should go swimming.” I veered toward the water.

“Definitely not,” he replied, guiding me away from the shore.

“Why not? I’ve never been skinny dipping,” I pouted.

“Georgia,” he muttered, his arm tightening around mine. “No skinny dipping.”

I stopped to face him. “You’re no fun,” I said as I pushed my bottom lip out.

“No fun, huh?” The moonlight reflected in his eyes took my breath away.

“No.” I stared into his mesmerizing eyes.

“Georgia.” He ran a warm palm up my arm, over my shoulder before his fingertips dusted beneath my ear.

“Yeah?” I watched him watching me. His eyes landed at my lips and my breathing hitched at the intensity that clouded his eyes.

He stared at me then closed his eyes tightly and opened them again. “We should turn back; you’re drunk. If you pass out on me, I’m not carrying you back,” he teased.

“I’m not that drunk.” I gave him a playful shove. “I want to explore that house we saw from the boat.” My eyes flicked over his shoulder to the cottage tucked in the trees.

“Private property.”

“Never pegged you for a straight and narrow kind of guy,” I said.

His eyes glinted for a moment. “That a challenge?” He sucked his bottom lip between his teeth and pulled the flesh taut. My heart skipped a few beats as I watched the slow movement.

“Maybe,” I whispered, my eyes never leaving his lips.

“Then let’s go,” he said without moving.

“Okay,” I murmured. We stood still for a moment before I slammed my body against his and reached my hand to the back of his neck to tangle in his silky, golden hair. He pressed his lips to mine, and we kissed fiercely. 

One hand pressed into my lower back, holding my body to his while the other smoothed up my back and wound my hair around his fist. He pulled gently, arching my neck, exposing my flesh to his lips. He nipped down my throat and placed soft kisses under my ear. His fingers brushed along the nape of my neck, holding me to him. I whimpered and pressed my hips into his, feeling his arousal.