Forever (This #5) by J. B. McGee Page A

way. “We’re not.” He swallows. “I’m not sure she has those kinds of hookups. And I’m not sure Bradley is as loaded as you think.”
    Ironically, the warmth of the wine washing over me actually cools me down. My shoulders loosen. “We’re not what?” I ask, my chin pointed up to him.
    His eyes bore into mine. “Let it go, Sam.” I wrap my lips around the rim of the glass, tip it back, and drag in as much as I can hold, never removing my eyes from his. “You should really slow down.”
    “What do you care?”
    He arches a brow as he replaces his hand on his knee. His eyes leave mine. “Bradley. You said you had something you wanted to discuss?” Joe takes a beer from the ice chest, pops the cap off, and guzzles it.” And he’s telling me to slow down? “You have us trapped now in the middle of nowhere. We’ve gotten the small talk out of the way. What’s the real reason we’re all here?”
    “Pass me one of those.” Bradley grins. “You know me too well, man.”
    Joe shrugs, then holds a bottle of beer by the neck and offers it to him.
    Gabby, Rebecca, and Ryan are enthralled in conversation, but all I hear is a hum of voices and occasional laughter.
    Bradley clears his throat. “Guys. Sorry to interrupt.”
    Everyone hushes, and we’re all eyes on Bradley Banks. Married looks even better on him. His red sweater is over a white button-up shirt, except the first several are undone, revealing his defined collar bone and strong neck. His dark jeans are tight in the waist, but not so much so in the legs, and his black hair is a bit long and messy. But the sweater makes his eyes smolder, especially against the silver and black interior of this limo.
    He takes Gabby’s hand in his. “You know this is our first Christmas as husband and wife.”
    I nod, smiling, but my stomach knots, my mouth dries, and I take another sip of my wine.
    “You’re all family. And so we’d like to formally invite you to our first annual Christmas day celebration. We’ll be preparing our favorite family dishes for lunch.” He nods at Ryan and then at Joe. “Your family is also welcome to come. This weekend is about starting and continuing traditions for our newly joined families. It’s important to me we include all the people we love and care about.” He kisses Gabby’s forehead. “We don’t want our family time split up on holidays.” Then his eyes set on mine, and the knot tightens as I shake my head. Don’t do it, Bradley. Don’t do it. “Sam and Gabby’s family has already committed to coming, and my family is also planning to be with us.”
    With that, I tip my glass back and consume the last drops.
    Joe’s elbow goes into my side, and I hear a low growl. He leans down, his lips so close to my ear I can feel their heat, his scent causing my body to hum. “I. Said. To. Slow. The. Fuck. Down.”
    I pour another glass of wine, then grab another cookie. Nothing like drinking and eating away my emotions. Just like my father. Except I’m not an abusive drunk who abandons my family and then shows back up when it’s convenient. I stare at Gabby. She has her arm tucked into Bradley’s and is snuggled into his side. She mouths sorry.
    I sigh. Is this what it’s going to be like for the rest of our lives? Is having a relationship with Gabby contingent on one with Gabe?
    “We’d love to come,” Ryan says. He better sure as hell be speaking for him and his brother and not me. He places a hand on my leg. “Babe. You should probably eat more than cookies and drink more than wine.”
    “You got that wrong.” I glare at Bradley. “More wine. Not more than wine.”
    “If you’re going to drink more wine, then at least eat something with some substance—some protein.” He’s made a plate of chicken nuggets and a sub sandwich. “Here. Eat this.” He takes the half of the cookie I haven’t yet finished away from me.
    “Oh no you don’t.” I snatch it back, placing it on the side of my plate.