Brayden looked down at his sister. “Hey, I can keep a secret when I need to.” He raised his eyebrow at me and I couldn’t help but smile a huge goofy grin. Thankfully, Myla was too far gone to pick up on our subtle cues.
“Babe!” she yelled, and Gavin spun on his heels to face us.
“My lady?” He reached his hand out to her, pulling her into his side.
“Have you met Brayden’s girlfriend? Isn’t she pretty?” It was the first time I had heard someone call me his girlfriend before; it was so surreal. I was Brayden Cox’s girlfriend and I was pregnant with his baby. It still hadn’t all sunk in yet.
“I have.” Gavin kissed the top of Myla’s hand. “And yes, she is very pretty.”
Right then, out of the corner of my eye, I recognized someone. I couldn’t believe my eyes. I shot up from the barstool and rushed over to a kind-looking man, hoping I was not just seeing a doppelgänger.
“Excuse me?” I interrupted his conversation with a voluptuous redhead who had the most killer smile I had ever seen.
“Karla? Oh, my God!” He wrapped me in a hug.
“Sean Whistler, as I live and breathe. How the heck do you know these guys?”
Brayden came up behind me, putting his hand on my hip with one hand and slapping Sean’s shoulder with the other. “Trying to get fresh with my girl?” Brayden joked.
“Remember the cop I told you helped me with all the crap with my ex?” Brayden nodded and I gestured to Sean. “Well, meet my knight in shining blue.”
Brayden grabbed Sean’s hand. “Thank you,” he said sincerely.
Sean’s face turned red. “I was just doing my job. I’m just glad I was able to help.” He turned, pulling the woman into the conversation. “I have a new partner now. This is Jessica McBee.”
Brayden took a few steps back. “Wait.” He tapped his finger to his lips. “This is crazy.”
“What?” I poked his ribs. “You can’t say stuff like that and not explain.”
“Sean was one of the first responders in Myla’s accident and you were her nurse in the hospital, right around the same time he was helping you with your abusive ex.”
Myla cleared her throat behind us, gripping Gavin’s hand as she leaned on him a bit. Her eyes were watery as her mouth fell open. “I just can’t believe all this.”
Gavin pulled her closer to him and had the biggest grin on his face. “Wow. The world really is small after all.”
“Serendipity at its finest,” I remarked.
“For fucking sure.” Brayden gave me a quick little peck on the lips.
The rest of the evening was fairly uneventful other than Jordan almost dropping one of the flaming liquor bottles while she did one last trick for the night.
Brayden was wiping down the bar while Jordan was packing up a bunch of liquor bottles and mixers.
“Want some more ginger ale?” she asked, holding an open can.
I pushed my glass closer to her. “Only a little bit. I have to drive.”
She started to laugh-snort. “You’re funny. Brayden…” She waited until he was looking at her to continue. “I like her, she’s funny. Keep her around.”
He cocked his head to the side, a smirk pulling at the corner of his lower lip. “That’s the plan, Jordan. As long as she will have me.”
After Gavin convinced Myla to go to bed, he came back over to us.
Brayden looked over at him. “Did the birthday girl go down without a fight?”
“Brayden, can I have a minute?” Gavin asked as he waved his hand toward the balcony.
“Yeah, sure. I’ll be right back.” He glanced over at me and I just nodded my head.