Chapter 48

CHAPTER 48

SIMON

R ylee had sent me a text and let me know she was at home and would text me soon. But I sat at home and felt myself spiraling. I knew the press conference earlier had thrown a serious wrench into my company business.

But I didn't regret it. Not yet, anyway. Rylee was my girl. She was my girlfriend. I didn't know much about relationships, but from what I knew, that gave me the right to show up at her place unannounced. I decided to do it. I grabbed my keys and phone and headed out the door.

It was one of those spur-of-the-moment decisions. I knew she wasn't working tonight, so I couldn't sit at her bar and be with her without actually being with her. I picked up some flowers on the way to her house, wanting to show her I could be romantic. I knocked on the front door and silently prayed this was not a huge mistake. Rylee was not like most women. She might not appreciate me just showing up.

Karen answered the door and smiled. "Hi."

She greeted me much more warmly than the last time we saw each other.

"Is Rylee here?" I asked.

"She is." She nodded. "Come in."

I stepped in behind her. "Rylee, your beau is here!"

Beau?

Rylee came out of the living room, grinning ear to ear. She was wearing a pair of yoga pants and a hoodie with bare feet. Her black hair was piled up on her head in a messy bun. She planted a kiss on me and draped her arms over my shoulders. "I've been thinking about you nonstop," she said, her eyes sparkling. "For some reason, that press release was kind of a turn-on."

I laughed. "Are you drunk?"

"Buzzed," she admitted.

Karen leaned in with a smirk. "She's lying. She's hammered."

Rylee swatted at Karen and nearly stumbled. I steadied her, more than a little amused. "Come join us," Rylee said. "We're playing cards."

"I don't want to crash your party," I said and held up the flowers. "I just wanted to stop by and say hi and give you these."

She grabbed the flowers and sniffed loudly. "Karen! Look at these! Aren't they pretty?"

"I'll put them in some water," Karen said.

"I'm going to go," I told Rylee, trying to disentangle myself from her arms.

"No, stay."

"It's fine," Karen said. "Stay. It's nothing formal."

"Come on," Rylee said. "Don't freak out when you see all the bridal magazines and stuff. We've been planning Lauren's wedding."

She led me into the living room that did look like there had been a bit of an explosion. Throw pillows were on the floor, magazines scattered about and several martini glasses.

When we walked in, the girls were sipping some sort of cocktail that Rylee must have invented. It was golden and somehow sparkly, the sort of drink that would be served at a high-end restaurant.

"Here," she said. "I've been working on a new cocktail. Try it."

Rylee handed me her glass for a sip. Judging by the drunkenness of the ladies, I was a little worried. I knew how it was when you got to drinking. The stiff drinks started to taste like water. I didn't want to offend her if it tasted like shit.

I sipped the drink. It blew me away with how good it was. "Wow." I nodded. "That's really good."

"You sound surprised." Rylee giggled and took the drink back. She took a long drink. "It's good."

"She's going to give the recipe to the bartenders at my wedding." Lauren beamed, also a little tipsy.

"I'm calling it the Laureson." Rylee hiccupped.

I arched a brow. "The what?"

Mary Ellen, who seemed to be the only sober person in the room, giggled. "It's a combo of Lauren and Jameson's name."

Ah. That made sense. "I see."

"Come to the kitchen," Rylee said. "I'll make you a Laureson."

"I think I'm okay," I said.

"But it's good," she pouted. "You don't like it?"

"I do like it." I nodded.

"Come on. And I want to kiss you, but not in front of everyone."

I smiled and shook my head. She was definitely more than a little buzzed. "I'm sure they won't know what's going on if we're in the kitchen."

"She gets a little sassy when she's drunk," Jenny said from her spot on the floor. "We always have to keep an eye on her."

"Good to know," I said.

I followed Rylee into the kitchen, keeping a steadying hand on her waist. She swayed slightly but managed to navigate to the counter where an array of bottles stood lined up. She started mixing the cocktail, pouring a good measure of Jameson, some citrus juice, and splashes of what looked to be champagne into a shaker.

"You know," she said, her hands surprisingly steady as she shook the cocktail. "This is why I love my job. I get to create things and make people smile."

Her comment gave me pause. It was rare to hear someone speak so passionately about their work. The corporate world I was used to was filled with people who lived for the dollar, not for the joy of creation.

She noticed my quietness. "What? Did I say something wrong?"

"No," I reassured her quickly. "I just like hearing you talk about your work."

A slow smile spread across her face. "I'm a mixologist."

"Yes, you are." I grinned.

She poured some of her concoction into a glass. "I need a kiss," she said.

I was more than happy to oblige. "You're adorable when you're drunk," I teased, wrapping an arm around her waist and pulling her close. Our lips met in a sweet kiss, and I could taste the fruity citrus of the drink on her lips.

Suddenly, there was an eruption of laughter from the living room. We broke apart and she grinned at me. "They're watching," she said, pointing toward the doorway. Sure enough, Karen and Jenny were peeking around the corner, smiling like a pair of mischievous schoolgirls.

I rolled my eyes but couldn't suppress my own grin. "I'm not sure I'm ready to deal with a room full of drunk women."

"You can handle it," she teased. "I won't let anyone bite you."

"I should hope not," I replied dryly. "Are they known to be biters?"

"Only sometimes." Rylee's hand slipped into mine. "Come on," she said, tugging me toward the living room. "Let's join them."

I picked up my drink and followed her.

In the living room, they had cleared some space on the floor for me to sit down. Rylee half sat, half fell to the floor beside me.

I settled in and played cards with the girls, getting to know their personalities. Lauren was the steady and reliable best friend with a heart of gold and an incredible work ethic. Jenny was tea-obsessed and driven, also with a heart of gold. Mary Ellen was sweet, innocent, giggly, and sometimes quiet. She was very bookish. And Karen was the hardass with a lot of opinions and a strong moral compass. Somehow, they were all a perfect fit for each other. I knew Rylee was the wild one. If I didn't know Rylee and judged her based on her looks, I would never guess she would be friends with these women. They were all very different, but I supposed that worked for them.

I enjoyed getting to know more about Rylee's friends. There was a bond between them that spoke of years of shared experiences, a bond that wasn't easy to find or replicate. They belonged to different worlds but they were part of each other's world. I understood why they had been so skeptical of me coming into her world. She had good people to protect her.

Rylee was explaining the rules of a card game that, as she admitted, she'd made up on the spot. They all played along, laughing as she attempted to explain the complicated rules. She made them laugh, which made me like her even more.

As Rylee dealt the cards, Jenny demanded a refill of her cocktail. Karen swatted her arm lightly. "You've had enough already," she scolded.

"Are you my mother now?" Jenny shot back, but her attack was softened by the grin on her face.

Rylee intervened and grabbed the empty glass. "I'll make you one more, but only if you promise to drink water after," she said, pointing a finger at Jenny.

"Deal." Jenny giggled, clapping her hands in excitement. She sat back down and watched Rylee walk back into the kitchen.

Mary Ellen leaned in closer to me, her eyes twinkling with mischief. "So, what do you think of our little group?"

I glanced at each of their faces—Karen's strict yet caring expression, Jenny's playful eyes, and Lauren's constant smile. Turning back to Mary Ellen, I said, "I think I like you guys."

"We like you too," she replied, her voice sincere. "Sorry about thinking you were an asshole before."

I laughed. "No worries. You're not the first to feel that way."

"Stop picking on my boyfriend!" Rylee called out from the kitchen.

"If you didn't know, Rylee tends to be protective," Lauren said. "And she's scrappy. She's the one that makes sure no one messes with us."

"I believe that." I nodded.

Rylee returned with a fresh drink. The card game she made up didn't go well. I just went along with things.

"I'm going to bed," Karen said.

"Can I get you guys home?" I asked the other women.

"We're crashing here." Lauren hiccupped.

"Come on," I said to Rylee. "I'll help you to bed."

"I'm just buzzed," she insisted.

"Yes, I heard that." I nodded, knowing better than to argue with a drunk person.

I helped Rylee up to bed. "Do you want to stay the night?" she asked as I helped her into bed.

"No, thank you," I said. "I have a call early in the morning. You need to get some sleep."

I tucked her in, and she fell asleep almost immediately. I headed back downstairs, where the girls cornered me in the kitchen.

"You can't leave yet," Karen said. "One more card game, and then you can go."

"I thought you were going to bed," I said.

"Lauren and Jenny want to play another round of actual cards." She smiled.

I was torn. I wanted to go home, but I knew how important these women were to Rylee. I wanted them to approve of me.

We played another round. I found myself genuinely enjoying their company. They made me laugh, and I loved seeing how close knit and supportive they were.

"You've got a fantastic group here," I told them as we wrapped up the game. "I can see why Rylee is so happy."

Karen gave me a thoughtful look. "I have to apologize, Simon. I judged you harshly at first. But I'm glad I had the chance to get to know you better."

"Likewise," I said, meaning it.

The girls shared stories and bantered, and it felt like I was part of their circle, if only for a night. It was refreshing and heartwarming. When it was finally time to leave, I felt a bit reluctant.

"Take care of her," Jenny said as I stood up to go. "She's special."

"I will," I promised.

I made my way back upstairs to check on Rylee one last time. She was sound asleep, looking peaceful and content. I brushed a strand of hair from her face and kissed her forehead.

As I left the house, I couldn't help but feel a deep sense of contentment. Rylee had brought something into my life that I hadn't realized I was missing. It wasn't just the fun and passion. It was the warmth, the connection, the feeling of being part of something meaningful. I was falling for her, and I had a feeling that this was just the beginning.