Chapter 286
Chapter 286:
“Got here earlier today.” Nora’s smile was striking under the warm lights, her makeup polished enough to belong on a red carpet. “They wouldn’t stop talking about you. I figured I had to come myself. Someone needed to keep them from crowding you the second you showed up p>
“Nora, you know I don’t like it when you talk like that.” Lambert stepped in close and casually rested an arm across her shoulders, then turned toward Kailey with a grin he was clearly proud of. “Hey, I’m Lambert Hoffman p>
Kailey dipped her head slightly. “Nice to meet you p>
Lambert decided right away that Kailey was sweet, and that was that.
Nora rolled her eyes and brushed his arm away, then pulled Kailey closer to her side. “Getting friendly before you even ask who she’s with? You should watch yourself. Kyson might actually lose his temper this time p>
There were five of them in total, and they had grown up together. Rayden walked over and smiled at Kailey. “Don’t take him seriously. He’s always been like that p>
R𝘰𝗺𝗮ո𝘤𝗲 𝗮𝗇𝗱 pа𝘴ѕ𝗶о𝘯 𝘰𝗇
Kailey waved it off. “It’s fine. I think he’s kind of fun p>
Lambert straightened immediately, smoothed his jacket, and lifted his chin. “Did you hear that? Kailey thinks I’m fun. You all clearly don’t know quality when you see it. Right, Kailey?” The smug look on his face made him unbearable. If his looks weren’t doing him favors, someone would have shut him up a long time ago.
After the usual teasing ran its course, everyone settled down for dinner.
Kyson adjusted her place setting before she could sit. “Rayden’s family flew this chef in themselves. Try a few dishes. If you like it, we’ll come back p>
Rayden leaned in with a smile. “Anytime. If you want, we can even have it sent straight to your place p>
“How come I never get treated like that?” Lambert murmured.
Nora crushed a napkin and flicked it straight at his forehead. “Become a woman and maybe you will. Or at least try behaving like one first p>
Their back and forth drew easy laughter from everyone around the table. Kailey felt herself finally loosen up, and even the soreness left over from the hike earlier stopped bothering her.
Dinner slowly shifted into drinks and games.
Kailey had a couple of glasses — just enough for warmth to creep into her cheeks and leave them faintly pink.
The guys drifted off to one side of the room to mess around with board games. Nora slid onto the couch beside Kailey and lazily swirled her drink. She leaned closer and lowered her voice. “So — you got your marriage certificate yesterday. How did last night go? Was it exciting p>
Kailey stopped with the glass halfway to her lips.
Some things never changed. No matter how much time passed, conversations always found their way back to love, and everything tangled in between.
She finished the rest of her drink in one gulp and spoke so quietly it almost didn’t sound like her own voice. “Not really. We almost — you know. Then something came up. After that, I fell asleep p>