We collect our winnings and make our way over to the poker tables, noticing a huge crowd surrounding a certain one.
“That has to be them,” Drake says, rising onto his toes to look over people’s heads. “Yeah.”
We push through the crowd to find Alison on one side of the table and Aaron on the other. He’s sweating profusely, his jaw ticking as he stares down at his cards. Alison looks relaxed, grinning widely across the table at Aaron, goading him.
Ah, I do love my best friend. She really knows how to work them till they’re practically pissing their pants.
I step forward, ready to ask how she’s doing, even though the chips piled next her are enough explanation, but Ada stops me.
“Don’t interrupt. Anyone converses with the opponents and they’re automatically disqualified.”
“Why?” I scoff, thinking how ridiculous that is. She’s my friend.
“Because Aaron said Pam and I were telling Alison what cards he had, accusing her of cheating.”
“Were you?” Drake asks, not ashamed to call her out.
“Lord, no. We were just seeing how much she was going to take him for. I was trying to get a cut.”
“How? You’re not playing,” I remind her, giggling.
“I offered to get back at him for the whole arse-pinching incident, but before she could give me an answer, he told everyone to back off.”
“What was Mum doing talking to her?” Drake asks.
Ada rolls her eyes. “Warning her not to negotiate with me.”
A bubble of laughter bursts free and everyone’s eyes land on me. Alison waves, winking at me, and I give her a thumbs up.
“Hey, you’re disqualified,” Aaron shouts. The caller rolls his eyes, leaning back in his tall chair. He seems annoyed as he narrows his eyes on Aaron. Not that I blame him. He’s had to deal with him for however long they’ve been here.
“How? I didn’t talk to her,” Alison growls, leaning forwards on the table.
“She gave you a thumbs up. Probably telling you to play your hand.”
“I can’t even see your cards, you arsehole. I’m over here,” I tell him.
“How about you come sit over here on my lap where I can see you?”
“How about you just finish the game so we can go home?” Drake growls, glaring at Aaron.
Aaron is the one to show his cards first. As soon as he does, Alison stands, screaming in glee. “Read ’em and weep.”
I laugh, seeing she has a full house. Aaron curses, swiping the cards across the table. Ignoring him, I rush over to Alison and hug her. “Congratulations.”
“Thank you. It was worth the miserable four hours I just spent with him.” She grins.
“How much did you win?” Drake asks.
“From a rough calculation, I’d say three grand. I barely touched the hundred I started with.”
I smile, proud of my friend. Drake whistles and nods, seemingly impressed. “Wow.”
“She only won because I took it easy on her. Ain’t that right, babe. I let her win so she could go buy some nice kinky underwear just for me.” Aaron grins.
We all glare at him as Ada mutters something under her breath, walking away.
“Get lost,” Alison tells him, too smug to let him ruin her good mood.
We move away, leaving Aaron to down whatever he’s drinking, and turn to Pam and Adam. “Hey, guys, the limo driver will be outside in five minutes. I’m going to round everyone up and get them to meet you outside. Is that okay?”
“That’s fine. We’ve had such a good time. Thank you for organising this,” Pam gushes, leaning further into Adam.
“Where have you two been all night?” Drake asks.
“We played a few tables, but then I took your mother in the room next door and showed her how to dance,” Adam tells him.
We all smile as a dreamy expression crosses her face before she kisses Adam on the cheek.
“Gross. I’ll help Pagan. Why don’t you get Alison’s winnings with her and make sure that douche doesn’t try to get them back.”
“He wouldn’t,” Alison gasps, clutching her chips closer.
Adam looks to his son, then back to Alison. “Oh he probably will. He’ll most likely challenge you to a drinking game or something. That boy hates losing.”
We watch them lead Alison over to the cashier counter before turning to find everyone else. Before we do, Drake pulls me against him.
“I know what I want to do first next Saturday.”
“And what’s that?” I ask breathlessly.
“Apart from worship your gorgeous body, I’d like to take you somewhere. A surprise.”
My body heats and I continue to gaze at him, hoping I’m doing the right thing by pursuing this.
It can’t last.
It won’t last.
I just have to remind myself of that.
“Okay.” I nod, taking his hand.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
The next morning, we’re all sitting down in the garden room with the windows open, waiting for breakfast to arrive, when a male roar rattles the house.
No joke. I literally felt the floor shaking beneath me.
“What on earth?” Pam gasps, holding her hand to her chest.
“Jesse!” Aaron roars from somewhere inside the house. “Jesse!”
“Oh God,” Amelia murmurs, looking at Jesse with wide eyes. “What have you done?”
“Nothing,” he says, then turns to Drake and me with curious eyes. I shrug, looking away. I may have done some crazy shit while I’ve been here, but I have no idea what has his panties in a twist this morning.
“He can’t be that sore over losing last night.” Alison giggles as we hear him shout again, closer this time.
The door slams open and, clad in nothing but a pair of boxers, a stormy-faced Aaron forces his way into the room.
I gasp, trying to smother my laughter when I see Ada behind him wearing only a dressing gown, a huge grin on her face. Her gaze meets mine and she winks.
“Mother, what’s going on? Why are you wearing a guest dressing gown? Where’s your Game of Thrones one?”
“Ask Aaron,” Ada says, her eyes raking over him seductively.
Aaron shudders, moving away from her. “You need to sort your grams out. She… she—”
“We had a fantastic night together.” Ada beams, moving closer to a pale Aaron.
Shocked doesn’t begin to cover what I feel right now. Drake chokes on the fruit he was munching on. Adam stands up, face full of fury, and Pam has tears in her eyes, though I’m unsure whether they’re happy or sad; it’s touch-and-go with this family.
Jesse and Amelia stare open-mouthed, and Gabriella, who only arrived a short moment ago, bursts out laughing, high-fiving her nan as she passes.
“You slept with my mother?” Adam roars, slamming his fist down on the table
“We didn’t,” Aaron rushes out, wisely taking a step back.
“You don’t even remember our night of lovemaking.” Ada sniffles.
“This is a joke, right?” I whisper to Drake.
He curses, shaking his head as he places it between his hands. “I don’t know. I really don’t know. This is Grams. Anything could happen.”
I laugh, but the look he gives me stops me short. “Sorry.”
“This is better than Big Brother,” Alison chimes in, sipping her morning coffee.
“We didn’t do anything,” Aaron yells, his voice high-pitched.
“Oh, I could tell you where his birthmark is,” Ada whisper-yells to the room, sitting down.
Aaron’s face is a picture and I start to laugh, bringing his stormy glare my way. “You! This is all your fault.”
“Mine?” I ask innocently. “How? I didn’t do anything. You’re the one who slept with her.”
“For the last time, I didn’t sleep with her,” he roars before looking down at me. “Nothing like this ever happened to me before you turned up.”
“It’s call
ed karma,” Alison sings.
“Are you saying you regret our passionate lovemaking?” Ada asks. For a quick moment, I actually believe her, but then I look closer and notice her lips twitch.
Aaron looks like he’s about to be sick.
“We didn’t have sex,” he thunders, throwing his hands up before he storms out of the room, everyone watching. As soon as the door slams shut, you could hear a pin drop as everyone turns to stare at Ada.
She seems none the wiser as she pours herself a cup of coffee. When she finally notices, she grins. “What?”
“Mother, is what he’s saying true?”
Ada rolls her eyes, looking at everyone around the table. “He’s not my type, Pammy. You know that. I just made him believe we slept together.”
“And why would you do that?” Adam asks, putting his cup down, looking resigned as he sits back.
I grin behind mine and Drake pinches my side. “It’s not funny. Don’t encourage her. I nearly had a heart attack.”
“It’s fine. You’re a doctor,” I whisper back. He stares at my lips for a few seconds before shaking his head, grinning.
“You’re lucky you’re cute.”
“Mother, answer him,” Pam implores.
“I was bored. And he’s a cheating jackass. And I didn’t like the way he spoke to my Alison last night at the casino. I nursed that girl back to health, sat with her through sickness and diarrhoea, and he had the nerve to be rude to her.”
“She didn’t,” Alison announces to the table, bright red.
I laugh, earning an elbow from her. “Sorry,” I wheeze.
“So you slept in the same bed as him?” Jesse asks, seeming more amused now than annoyed.
“Do I look like I want to be near him for that long? Of course I didn’t. I set my alarm for seven this morning and snuck into his room wearing a bikini,” she says, then turns to Amelia. “I’ll return it after it’s been washed, dear.”
Amelia coughs, waving her hand. “Keep it.”
“Thanks.” Ada smiles. “So anyway, I was in his bed for, like, two seconds before he woke up. He had his arms around me, hand on my boob and everything,” she cackles.
“You put his hand on your boob?” Pam screeches, standing up. She looks mortified as she stares at her mother like a stranger.
“No, of course I didn’t. He did. Got a good feel too. Another second and I was ready to knee his balls.”
“Mother,” Pam scolds.
“Well, this has been fun, but I need to get out of this bikini. It’s riding right up my—”
“Mother!” Pam yells, covering her ears.
Ada cackles again, getting up from her chair and leaving the room. Poor Pam drops to her seat, her head in her hands as Adam tries to console her.
“It’s fine, love.”
“She needs to be in a home. Around people her own age,” she cries.
“We tried that, dear. They kicked her out.”
Pam nods, holding on to her husband before turning to Alison and me. “I’m so sorry you’ve been subjected to this craziness. She’s normally….” She tries to find the right words but sighs, staring straight at us. “She’s always like this. We just thought with the wedding around the corner, she would calm down.”
“It’s fine. I’m actually enjoying myself,” I tell her. Everyone looks at me like I’m crazy and I shrug, grinning. “Hey, he did leave me when I was younger for a girl he cheated on me with and got pregnant.”
Speaking of, I haven’t heard Aaron or anyone else mention his kid. I wonder what happened there. Not that I’m going to ask and make it seem like I care, of course.
“Fair point,” Pam says, taking a sip of coffee with shaky hands.
Emily takes that moment to walk in with a huge grin on her face. “Good morning, everyone. Breakfast is served.”
*** *** ***
“I need you to put those candles on tables one and four, and make sure you set up an extra table for the press. Marcus, can you meet Norman outside? He needs help bringing in the champagne fountain and setting it up in the centre of the room. Jane, change those napkins. There are some teal-coloured ones in a box in the kitchen. It’s marked.”
Everyone scrambles away and I move over to the main table, rearranging the flowers for what feels like the millionth time. They originally chose a big bouquet, but with the size, it’s just going to block their view, so I’ve been trimming them down all day, never satisfied with the length.
“There’s going to be nothing left if you keep hacking at them,” Alison giggles.
My phone rings and Alison grins. It hasn’t stopped all day. “Hold that thought,” I tell her. “Hello?”
“It’s Shane. We have a Grace Morgan here.”
“Ah, send her up. She’s bringing our desserts. Thanks, Shane.”
Ending the call, I wipe my forehead, turning to Alison. “Did you get everyone their outfits?”
“Yes. I’ve had to make a few alterations to Angela’s. She wanted it tighter.”
I roll my eyes. “Why does that not surprise me?”
“No, no, no, no. That colour is all wrong. And what happened to those flowers?” I hear screeched from behind me. I turn, finding Amelia scurrying after an older woman, her face flushed and pinched tightly. She mouths “Sorry” as they walk up to me.
“This all looks cheap, Amelia. It just won’t do.”
I look to the older lady, trying not to be offended. “Hi, I’m Pagan.” I turn to Amelia. “Is there something you wanted me to change?”
“No. Everything is beautiful. This is my mum, Sharon.”
“Nice to meet you, Sharon.” I hold my hand out, but she gasps, glaring behind me. We all look to find them putting up some twinkle lights.
“No! Just no! Do you want the newspapers to think you’re cheap? What will people say about me after they see this?”
“Mum,” Amelia moans softly, shame crossing her face.
Just then another woman walks in, similar to Sharon, only she doesn’t seem to have the plastic look.
“Sharon, stop going on about everything and let Amelia go get ready for her guests. This isn’t your wedding.”
“God, no. It wouldn’t be this tasteless.”
I’m trying my hardest not to be offended, I really am, but the place looks freaking amazing. My team have worked their arses off all day to get ready for tonight’s press release and engagement party.
“Hi, I’m Maggie, Amelia’s aunt. You can call me aunt Mags. You’ve done a wonderful job.”
I like her.
I smile warmly, remembering Drake’s comment about the two sisters. She really is as nice as Amelia. I wonder if Amelia and Angela were swapped at birth. It’s not like it’s never happened before.
“I’m Pagan, and this is my best friend and colleague, Alison.”
“Nice to meet you both.”
“You too,” Alison says.
“Why don’t you go get ready while I show Sharon and Maggie to the garden room? Pam is serving tea for our early arrivals,” I offer, and Amelia smiles gratefully.
“I think I should go with my daughter.”
Amelia looks horrified at the thought so I step in, gesturing for her to follow me. “And pass up on the rich tea Emily’s serving? I hear it’s the best you could buy.”
“Well now I have to try this tea,” she mutters, sounding put out.
Amelia mouths “Thank you” before rushing out of the room. I’ll have to remind myself to take up an alcoholic drink when I go to get ready.
Stepping inside the garden room, Drake, Adam and Pam are sitting with Jesse and another man I’ve not met yet.
“I told her not to invite him,” Sharon hisses to Maggie.
“He’s her father, Sharon. And like I said, this is not your wedding. And where is your new husband?”
“He’s attending an important business meeting,” she replies snottily, glaring holes into Amelia’s dad, Eric.
Everyone exchanges pleasantries�
�well, as pleasant as they can be with Sharon constantly putting something or someone down. Her snide remarks are tiresome.
I leave them to it for a bit to make sure everything is going to plan, but when Emily found me an hour ago, I came back. Apparently they need a peacekeeper, and I fit that role perfectly.
I’ve also noticed how close Eric and Maggie are. They’ve exchanged light touches, laughing at each other’s jokes, and I’ve even heard him flirt a time or two in the hour I’ve been in here with her.
“You’ve noticed the chemistry too?” Alison whispers, finishing her tea.
I smile behind my cup. “Yeah.”
Drake smiles as he walks up to me after finally getting away from his brother and dad. “Hey, shouldn’t you be getting ready?”
I glance at my watch and panic. “Oh no! Guests will be arriving soon. I need to hurry up.”
“Your dress is hanging up behind your door. I’ve put your make-up out, along with curlers, and your shoes are at the end of your bed. You’ve got time to shower, so don’t panic.”
Drake laughs, looking between us. “Are you married?”
Alison laughs. “May as well be. She wouldn’t eat or sleep if I didn’t remind her. She’s good at organising everyone else’s lives, but when it comes to her own… no clue.”
“I do too,” I argue, turning to glare at my best friend.
“You don’t.”
“I’ve listened to enough arguing for one day. Let’s get you upstairs. I need to get my suit on too.” Drake grins, winking at me.
I blush, badly wanting to kiss him right now, but we agreed last night at the casino that we would keep this on the down-low.
“Don’t let me stop you. Just don’t take too long in the shower, she still has work to do,” Alison says, walking away giggling.
“Remind me why I’m her friend,” I order Drake, my face heating.
“She does have a point.”
Rolling my eyes, I shove his shoulder and step away. “You, Mr Donovan, are a very rude man. I’m going to get ready, and you…,” I start seductively, running my finger down his chest. He gives me a heated stare, smirking like he’s won a bet. “Can get dressed yourself.”
I laugh when his jaw drops and step around him.
Wishing For A Happily Ever After (I Wish Book 2) Page 12