"Right back at you," I replied, taking a huge swig from my glass. "I would have given you a heartwarming name too, but I'm feeling in the holiday mood tonight so I'll be nice," I teased Cora. She had on a bright red dress that hit just above her knee with her hair in some weird looking bun on the side of her head. "And my aunt would most likely kick my ass if I ever said anything like that to you."
"I know," she laughed, using the handle to spin the drink that I would bet my car was spiked too. We had both attended one too many of these parties to know we all needed alcohol to get us through them. Drunken parents would start arranging marriages and shit. "But that's not why I came over here."
"And why is that?" I had known Cora since grade school and she knew all about my mom and family issues. I didn't like it, but I trusted her. She wasn't the type of person to go around and feed off someone else's problems.
"I've noticed you've been getting close with Daisy," she answered, looking up from her glass.
"You could say that," I answered vaguely, not sure where she was wanting to go with the conversation but hoping she wasn't about to tell me to stay the fuck away from her. Cora knew my history with girls. She had warned me off all of her friends because she'd witnessed me fuck over too many of them.
Her mouth opened to talk but my aunt interjected. "Cora, honey, I want you to come here and meet a few of our family members who have just arrived. They can't wait to meet the future daughter-in-law I can't stop gloating about," she smiled, grabbing Cora's hand. My aunt looked gorgeous for her age. Her dark hair was in some up do and she was wearing a long, black gown that ran all the way down until it hit the floor. I admired the woman standing in front of me more than anyone.
Cora nodded, mouthing "we will talk about this later" to me before walking away. With her gone, Gabby scooted closer to my side.
"She's been through a lot, you know," she informed me softly, even though there was no one around us to hear. Thank you captain fucking obvious. We both knew Daisy had a long list of problems. "Be careful with her."
I twisted my body around so I was facing her. "Daisy and I are just friends," I stressed. "There is nothing going on between us. She would never give a guy like me a chance, she needs one of those guys who snuggle and shit."
"You're an idiot," she told me, slapping me upside my head. "People who are just friends don't look at each other like you guys do. It's obvious both of you have feelings for each other but are scared little pansies. Man up and do something about it."
"You're insane," I mumbled, under my breath, stretching my arms out.
"I’m right,” she corrected. “So you need to step up and do something. But if you hurt her, I will fuck you up,” she said.
"Damn Gabby, when did you get so hardcore?"
"I'm being serious, mean ass and you know Cora will be standing right beside me waiting for her turn," she replied, bumping me with her shoulder.
"The mighty wrath of Cora," I joked.
"I think you will be good for her. For some reason, she's the only person you're not an asshole to," she said, then stood up. "Just making sure you knew that, now maybe I'll find my own hot guy around this place," she laughed, walking away and leaving me alone with my thoughts of Daisy.
"Hey there, handsome," a voice I knew too well purred from beside me.
"What do you want, Piper?"
"You've been ignoring me.”
"I've been busy," I answered, taking a long drink. I was going to need more if I had to sit and deal with her shit.
"Oh please," she snarled, "busy my ass. I know you've tried to replace me, but you know nobody can do that."
"What I do is none of your business," I answered, sharply.
I tensed at the feel of her palm sliding across my knee. "Come on baby, can't we just go back to all the fun we used to have together?" The bony hand moved up my leg and her voice turned sultry. "We both know you loved everything I used to do. You remember how good I used to make you feel with my hands. With my mouth." Her hand moved from my knee over my crotch and started rubbing harder.
I grabbed her hand quickly and sprang up from the couch, glancing around to see if anyone else witnessed our interaction. "Stay the fuck away from me. What we had, it's over," I glared at her.
"Keegan," she breathed out, grabbing out for my arm but I batted her away.
"Save it," I seethed, trying to keep my voice as low as possible.. I sprinted up the stairs to the guest room, the same one I had taken Daisy to and flopped down onto the bed without even bothering to turn the light on. Smashing my head against the pillow, I asked myself what the fuck was wrong with me. Piper had just been all over my cock and I turned her down.