A/N: Thank you so much for choosing to check out this story. I very much appreciate it! This story will contain mature themes such as mental health issues, alcohol and drug use, and explicit sexual scenes.

Let's get into it :)

I cannot believe my sister is engaged.

When will my time come? It's not looking too great for me right now.

As I pulled up to the engagement party of my sister, Isla, and my soon to be brother in law, Eli, I couldn't help the thoughts of my non-existent love life from swirling through my mind.

Let it go. You're here for your sister today.

The engagement party was being held at a local restaurant called The Greystone Inn, in a private room in the back of the building. I walked up to the entrance, my heels clacking on the ground, with a gift in hand. When I walked in, the host guided me to the private room, where the party was going on already and in full swing. My family, Eli's family, and all of the friends were going to be there, including the bridal party, which I was a part of.

"Izzy, dear. Why are you late?" my mom was the first to come up to me at the party, seconds after I walked in. She pulled me in for a hug, but asked me that question quietly at the same time.

"I'm sorry," I said, not wanting to offer an explanation, "I'm only 15 minutes late."

"You shouldn't be, this is your sister's wedding. It's very important."

"Once again, I'm sorry," I said, pulling away from my mom, "I'll make sure I'm on time for everything else revolving around this wedding."

My mom gave me a pointed look, "You better."

Next to greet me was Isla, who looked beautiful in a short white dress with a lace bodice.

"I'm sorry I'm late," I said to her, "Mom isn't happy about it. I wasn't meaning to be-"

"Iz, stop," Isla said to me, "No worries. You're here, that's all that matters. Besides, you're not even that late. Come with me, all of the bridesmaids are going to take pictures together."

Isla took my hand and brought me over to the back of the room. The private dining room was set up beautifully, with one long table that had multiple flower arrangements in the color scheme Isla had chosen for the wedding, which was lavender, deep purple and gold.

At the back of the room was a group of women, all of the bridesmaids for my sister's wedding. I knew two of the women in the party, our cousin, Naomi, and her best friend from childhood, the maid of honor, Jordan.

The other three women I knew of, but had never met. The first was her good friend from college, Nhi Pham, and the other two were women that Isla worked with that she became close with, Crystal Tally and Avery Reynolds.

As soon as I walked over to the group of women, one of them snagged my attention. She was talking to Jordan, nodding along at something she was saying. She wore an emerald green dress that hugged her body in a way that caught my attention much more than it should have. She then smiled at Jordan, a quick action that shouldn't have meant anything, however it struck inside me like an unexpected jolt of electricity.

Who is that?

Stop it, Isabelle. Why are you even noticing her so much?

"Iz, let me introduce you to everyone that you don't know," Isla said, cutting into my thoughts, "Of course you know Naomi and JJ."

Jordan, whose name is Jordan Jackson, goes by "JJ" with all of her close friends.

Naomi and JJ both greeted me with a hug, and I then faced the three I didn't know, including the woman that had caught my eye moments ago.

"Nhi, Avery, Crystal, this is my sister, Isabelle," Isla introduced me, "Iz, this is Nhi, Avery, and Crystal."

Isla nodded toward each woman as she said their names, and I learned that the one who I had been looking at before was Avery.

"So nice to meet you, Isabelle," Nhi smiled at me, "I've heard a lot about you. Good things!"

"Nice to meet you," Crystal gave me a casual smile.

Then Avery spoke, looking right at me, "Pleased to meet you, Isabelle."

"Nice to meet you all," I said, however I was looking right at Avery, who held my gaze.

My heart rate quickened, until Isla said, "Time for us to take pictures now that we're all here! Gather around!"

For the rest of the party, I didn't speak much more to Avery, and I didn't quite know why it bothered me that I didn't.

However, at the end of the engagement party, as I said "goodbye" to everyone, Avery said to me, "I guess I'll see you at the bachelorette party in a couple of months?"

"You will," I nodded, "See you then, Avery. Nice to meet you."

Little did I know what was going to happen at the bachelorette party with her, and beyond that.