Just One Wish (The Kingston Family #4.5)(13)

Tara glanced over to see her sister still staring at the ceiling. “She’s drunk,” Tara told him.

“So is you,” Amy said.

“Yep.”

Kenneth shook his head and gestured for a server to come over. “Can I get two glasses of water for the women?” he asked.

“Coming right up,” the familiar redhead said.

“No water. My bladder’s full.” Amy clutched her stomach.

“Let’s go to the ladies’ room,” Tara said, grabbing Amy’s hand and pulling her up.

“Come right back here,” Kenneth ordered. “No more alcohol.”

Amy bobbed her head in response, then closed her eyes. “Bad idea.”

A few minutes later, Tara had gone with her sister to the bathroom. With her bladder empty, she would be able to drink the water Kenneth had ordered. She knew she’d appreciate that tomorrow. Right now? She was still feeling beyond buzzed. In fact, she was drunk enough to know she would be hurting tomorrow.

With Amy’s hand in hers, Tara attempted to walk a straight line back to Kenneth and not bump into anyone in the process. At least her future brother-in-law would take her home, because she knew enough to realize she didn’t want to take an Uber alone in her drunken state.

She plopped back into the chair, Amy settled on Kenneth’s lap, and he slid a glass of water toward her.

“Drink this,” he said to Tara before turning to his fiancée and handing her the water, helping her drink it without spilling.

Tara downed the water and wiped her wet mouth with the sleeve of her shirt. When she looked up, it was into familiar jade-green eyes staring at her, a combination of concern and amusement visible in the depths. Along with a sexy-as-hell smile on his oh-so-kissable lips.

“Axel!” She jumped up from her seat. Happy to see him, she threw her arms around his neck. “Why are you here?”

He pried her off him but kept her hands clasped in his. “I realize drunk texting an ex is a thing, but you scared me. I thought you were on a date and something was wrong.” He frowned at her, releasing his grip.

She shook her head. “No date! I’m at a bachelorette party and everyone was talking about babies. Babies made me drink. They also made me think of you.” Suddenly exhausted, she fell against him.

Strong arms wrapped around her, and she knew she no longer had to worry about anything. She closed her eyes and sighed because she felt safe.





Axel sat in the family room at Xander’s house, enjoying a Kingston get-together. He had no family other than his sister, and he was grateful Dash’s family made him part of theirs. Despite the good mood of the people around him, Axel couldn’t shake his bad mood since Tara had turned him down for a date, and here it was, Saturday night, and he was wondering if she was with someone she had feelings for.

Melly, Dash’s mother, sat down beside him. He didn’t remember much about his own mother, but Melly Kingston, in the short time he’d known her, tried to fill that hole.

“You look sad and alone,” she said.

He shook his head. “I’m not alone. I have Bella for company.” He ran his hand over the dog’s soft fur.

She eyed him the way only a mother could, indicating she wasn’t buying what he was selling. “I’m here to listen,” she offered.

He looked down and remained silent, thinking about whether he wanted to get into his problem.

“It’s about a woman, isn’t it?” Melly asked.

Axel lifted his head and met her gaze. “Yeah. My high school girlfriend. We broke up after graduation because we were going in different directions. Now she’s here. In East Hampton. She’s Bella’s vet.” He grinned at the dog who he’d used as a buffer.

“So you’ve reconnected?”

He nodded. “We went on one date. I asked her out again for tonight, but she said she was busy.”

“I see. So you’re worried she’s out having fun with someone else,” Melly said.

“Yeah.” Among other things. “I don’t want her to fall into a relationship with someone else before I get the chance to win her back.” He flexed his fingers, a habit he’d developed to keep his hands limber.

“Does she know you want to get back together?” Melly asked. “Or does she think you’re asking her on casual dates?”

“Umm…”

“Obviously you need to state your intentions. The woman’s not a mind reader,” Melly said, her wry smile making him laugh.

“I–” Before he could reply, his phone buzzed with a text message. He pulled it out of his pocket and glanced at the screen.

Tara: Where are you?

“Speak of the devil,” he said with a grin.

Melly tipped her head. “Yes? What does your lady want while she’s out on her date?”

Axel bit the inside of his cheek as he continued to text with Tara, lost at half of what was coming from her.

“She’s drunk texting me,” he said at last. The next few messages had him raising his eyebrows, confused, laughing, and then concerned.

“Go get her,” Melly said, watching him with amusement on her face.

“She didn’t ask me to do that.” But she was talking about his babies. Something he couldn’t explain to Dash’s mother.