✿ Reid's POV

I blink twice then chuckle, shaking my head.

“We donʼt need an engagement party, Gammy,” I say. “We already had one back at home.”

“The one that ended in a disaster?” my grandmother arches a brow. “Heard all about it and seriously it happened that way because I couldnʼt be there.”

I chuckle again.

“An engagement party, mother? You donʼt seriously believe—”

“No, no, Annabelle. Iʼm not listening to anything or anyone, and that includes your protests, Ben” she cuts my mother off and smiles at me.

“Well Iʼm sorry Gammy but I have to agree with Portia on this one,” Lee says, folding her arms with a look on her face. “We do not need an engagement party.”

My grandmother laughs and dismisses Leeʼs words with a wave of her hand.

“Oh stop. Iʼm sorry I caught you two off guard with my decision but I am throwing you an engagement party. By all means. And with Anikaʼs help, everything is going to be exquisite, isnʼt that right, Nikki?”

And I canʼt help but notice the hint of mockery in my grandmotherʼs voice.

“Uh-huh” is Anikaʼs reply, and Hernan and Asha donʼt hold back their giggles.

“Gammy please—”

“Oh hush now, dear. Everything is going to go great” She stops Lee again.

“But—”

“Ben, take her upstairs, feed her, run her a bath, and get her into bed. Itʼs been a long day. Weʼll pick this up in the morning, yeah?”

I simply nod, knowing itʼs useless to argue with my grandmother.

“Alright. Goodnight Gammy” I just respond and kiss her cheek.

“See you tomorrow, my dear” she hugs Aileen.

“Iʼll walk you to your room” my mother sighs in exasperation, letting go of her temples sheʼs rubbing to hug me goodnight.

I watch the two of them walk away and Asha side hugs Aileen with laughter.

“Donʼt overthink it, Lee. Trust me.”

She sighs and closes her eyes briefly. Hernan pats me hard on the back with a chuckle.

“Boy, I would not like to be in Anikaʼs position right now” he whispers to me and I canʼt help but laugh.

But it doesnʼt last when Lee shoots me a look, making me clear my throat.

“Well, Iʼm going to get some sleep. You should too Nikki. Youʼve got several long days of party planning ahead of you” Asha smiles, letting go of Aileen who moves to rub her temples.

God.

I step closer to her and wrap my arms around her shoulders, kissing the top of her head.

“Hey relax. Cʼmon, letʼs get you into bed then Iʼll ask Mrs. Docherty to bring you something to eat hm?” I whisper to her.

All Lee does is nod and I sigh.

“Mind walking me to my room, Hernan?” Asha asks after hugging Anika and Clayton goodnight.

“Not at all. Good bro. Lee” he smiles our way before linking his arm with Asha.

“Yeah, yeah. Weʼll get going too. Goodnight” I say to no one in particular, lock fingers with Lee, and lead her to our room.

“Another engagement party?” she speaks up when I close the door behind me.

I sigh and turn to find her already dropping on the bed.

“Another engagement party” she repeats.

“Lee—”

“Remember the first one?” she props herself up on her elbows, making me sigh. “Yeah, Iʼm not even completely over that one, and your grandmother wants us to have yet another one which will end up in an even bigger disaster because your ex-girlfriend is planning it!”

I donʼt know when it happens but Iʼm on the bed beside her, cradling her face and shutting her up with a kiss that I hope will calm her.

When I pull away, sheʼs breathing hard and fast.

“What was that for?”

“Getting you to stop. Now relax. Deep breaths” I encourage.

“I canʼt—”

I cradle her face and kiss her again.

“Deep breaths,” I say as I pull away.

“But Reid—”

I kiss her again.

“Deep breaths, angel. Deep breaths. Just relax” I kiss her forehead this time and she groans a little.

“Itʼs going to be a bit hard since you probably donʼt know but are turning me on right now.”

I chuckle and smile at her.

“Better than you having a panic attack about an engagement party thatʼs very likely not going to hold because we will all shoot it down. And you can count on my mother for this.”

Aileen sighs and holds onto my biceps.

“But what if—”

“No, no. Just relax okay?” I whisper, drawing her in for a hug. “Just relax.”

We stay like that for a while before we pull away.

“Feeling better now?”

Aileen nods.

“Good. But I bet youʼll be even better after food, a hot bath, and some great sex” I say with the straightest face I can muster and Aileen cracks up, warming my heart. “There we go” I chuckle, kissing her forehead before getting off the bed. “Iʼll be right back, okay?”

“Okay, but donʼt be long.”

“Wouldnʼt dream of it” I grin at her then walk out.

✯✯✯✯✯✯

✿ Anikaʼs POV

“Gaahh! I can not believe that old woman!” I exclaim, pacing around in my room. “An engagement party? Seriously?!”

“Antoinette Dalton for you” Clayton responds from the ottoman heʼs perched on. “Full of surprises.”

I stop pacing, frown, and turn on him.

“You know, this is all your fault, Clay! Your fault!”

He stops messing around with the rubrics cube heʼs never going to solve and sits up.

“Iʼm sorry... my fault?”

“Yes. Your fault! All yours!” I repeat. “You just had to go and open your big mouth and nominate m to to assist the old hag.”

“Hey, none of us knew what her announcement was going to be okay? And I thought the goal was to get you closer to her. And so youʼre welcome.”

“No” I frown. “The goal is to break up Reid and that filthy gold-digging bitch. Not get me on the planning committee for their stupid engagement party!”

“Well, you agreed to my suggestion.”

“Thatʼs right! Your suggestion. And I couldnʼt possibly refuse since you put me on the spot!”

“Fine, my bad.”

I close my eyes and press my fingers to my temple

“You are insufferable, Clayton.”

“Look Iʼm on your team okay? I have your best interests at heart.”

I fold my arms and make a face.

“Fine. Just sabotage everything then.”

“And get on the hagʼs bad side? Absolutely not. If I want her to like me, this stupid thing has to go well” I shake my head, “The old woman would undoubtedly warm up to me more. Asha too. And if I get Asha on my side, you know getting support from the rest would be a piece of cake.”

“Everybody loves Asha” Clayton grumbles.

I sigh and slip off my shoes, my jewelry following.

“Get your shoes off and get on the bed” I instruct.

Clayton blinks.

“Sorry?”

“Get your shoes off and get on the bed” I repeat, reaching behind me to unzip my dress.

He stands.

“Is this some kind of—”

“Would you just shut up and do as Iʼm telling you?” I cut him off. “I need to blow off some steam and clear my head to come up with a good plan to get that baker away from my man” I frown as I shimmy out of my dress.

Clayton lets out a low whistle and is on his feet, getting his shoes and clothes off. Invisible vomit rises in my throat and I frown deeper.

“Please donʼt make this weirder than it already is,” I say in disgust at his chest hair.

“Weird? Sex with Clayton Rodgers is the best youʼll ever get and weird does not stand a chance.”

I groan inwardly and shake my head.

“I sincerely doubt it. Iʼve had sex with your cousin and after him and no one has been able to come close with Reid.”

His jaw flexes and I smirk before pushing him down onto the bed and climbing on top of him.

“Rules... no touching me. We do not speak about this because it never happened. Oh, and this is a one-time thing, Rodgers. Forgot to pack my vibrators so youʼll take me out to town tomorrow to get some because this is never happening again” I instruct, unhooking my bra to see Claytonʼs eyes bulge out of his sockets.

Because Reid Daltonʼs the only man for me.

And Iʼll do everything I can to get him back.

✯✯✯✯✯✯

✿ Reid's POV

Leaning my hip against the kitchen counter, I take a sip of my coffee while I eye Aileen. Sheʼs curled up on a couch, on her phone, an almost-empty glass of juice perched on her knee. Wearing a pink shirt and a pair of light blue shorts that show a hell of a lot of skin.

The death of me.

I watch her, my eyes roving over her skin. Her beautiful hair. Thinking of all the ways Iʼd fuck her again tonight.
And as if she can feel my eyes on her, she glances up. The hint of shyness in her face drives me crazy. Aileen smiles, nibbling her bottom lip, and uncurls herself to stand.

“Hey,” she says as she steps into the kitchen. She finishes the last of her juice and sets the glass by the sink. “When did you get here?”

I look her up and down, not bothering to hide the heat in my gaze.

“Hi. When I reached for you and realized you werenʼt on the right side of the bed as my right-hand girl.”

Aileen narrows her eyes briefly.

“Wow. How long did it take you to make that up?”

I set my coffee down and close the distance between us.

“Donʼt ask” I smile, slipping a hand around her waist and leaning in to brush my lips against hers.

“Reid—oh, sorry. I didn’t mean to interrupt.”

Dammit!

I step back and turn to Anika.

“Do you need something?”

“Yes, as a matter of fact. I’m glad you’re both here. We need to talk details about your engagement party” she says.

“We don’t need an engagement party, Nikki.”

“Oh are you still fighting this, Ben?” my grandmother walks in with Asha at her side. “Of course, you do need an engagement party,” she goes on as if the very notion shocks her.

“Gammy—”

“Oh don’t you worry, my dear” she shushes Lee, “We’ll keep it very private. No public announcements. Certainly no press. In fact, keeping it secretive will increase the appeal.”

I sigh.

“And maybe we can work that into the theme.”

“Theme?” Lee asks, her voice amused.

“Yes. Just indulge this old woman, okay?”

I chuckle.

“What kind of theme, Gammy?”

“I’m thinking Roaring Twenties. Something very Great Gatsby, with glitz and glamour. Live jazz. What do you think?”

“Gammy, The Great Gatsby is a tragedy” Asha laughs.

“True, but weʼre going for style over substance” Anika chips in.

“Yes and I know all things Gatsby were very trendy a while back, but really, the style is timeless,” Gammy says.

“Well that sounds amazing,” Asha grins.

My eyes dart to her.

She can’t be taking her side.

Asha looks right at me, a playful smile on her lips.

“Oh come on, Reid. It’s just a little party. And you have nothing to worry about, Lee.”

“Exactly,” Gammy says. “This is a big deal. My grandsonʼs engagement. We need to celebrate. Just an intimate gathering, nothing too extravagant, I promise. I already talked to your father and heʼs looking forward to it.”

“He is?” I make a face.

“Yes, of course. And we’ll have to fly in your family, Lee.”

She tenses at my side and she starts fidgeting a little with her hair.

“Oh no, no. They’re busy, and I canʼt ask them to uproot their lives for a party we donʼt need but looks like weʼre having anyway” She chuckles a little. “I’m not sure if they’ll be able to make it.”

“Are you certain? Because I can’t wait to meet them,” Gammy says. “Just think, both families, together in one place.”

Another disaster.

“I’ll, um...” She fumbles over her words. “I’ll have to check with them but I doubt it.”

“Iʼll take it,” Gammy grins and although I hate it, it warms my heart to see her this happy. “I’m taking Anika to a benefit luncheon this afternoon. We’ll start working on the details...” And taking Aileenʼs hands she goes, “You won’t have to lift a finger.”

Aileen forces a smile and I rub her back as my grandmother excuses herself with Anika trailing behind her.

“Well...” Asha slips in between us from behind and throws her arms around our necks, “... sucks to be Anika.”

I sigh again as Asha slips away from the two of us. Aileen rubs her forehead.

“Hey...”

“I know, I know, Armani,” she sighs. “But I donʼt want this. I donʼt want an engagement party.”

“Me neither. But—”

“I know” she cuts me off with a groan, putting her hands on her hips. “Your grandmother... sheʼs so excited, Armani. I truly hate this but I don’t know how you say no to her when she has that adorable little gleam in her eyes.”

I gave her an amused look.

“Gleam in her eyes?”

“Yes, and Iʼd be a horrible person to ignore that.”

“What gleam in her eyes?” I canʼt help but laugh.

Aileen sighs yet again and leans into my hold.

“Armani, I can’t invite my family. What exactly am I supposed to say? Oh hey, guys. Can you fly out to Florida for my second engagement party?”

I playfully shrug.

“It could be fun. And you know weʼd easily send a private plane to pick them up and bring them here. No need for the airport stress.”

She gives me a look.

“What? You said it yourself. Cami for one would love it here. Sheʼd never wanna leave” I smile. “Your words, not mine” I quickly add when she opens her mouth to say something.

Aileen groans into my chest and I chuckle and rub her back.

“The whole family under one roof” I murmur.

Aileen groans again and I chuckle.

“God no, it would be a disaster. And your mother would have a field day with it.”

Very true.

I smile and kiss the top of her head.

“You do not need to put up with my grandmother if you really do not want to do this, Lee. Seriously. Iʼll talk to her.”

Aileen shakes her head.

“No, no itʼs okay. Iʼm not particularly happy about this but it doesnʼt look like anyoneʼs going to be able to talk her out of this so, itʼs okay.”

I arch a brow.

“Youʼre sure” I state instead of asking.

“Yeah yeah,” Aileen nods. “And besides she said itʼd be an intimate gathering so.”

I laugh.

“Gammy tends to go overboard, Lee. And with Anika as her... advisor...?” I chuckle.

Aileen joins in and shakes her head.

“Itʼs going to be on hell of an engagement party.”

✯✯✯✯✯✯

✿ Aileen's POV

I look up and narrow my eyes a little.

“Scrabble?”

“Yep,” Hernan replies, popping the 'p'. “Tracy told me youʼre somewhat of a champ so here we go” he smiles and settles down beside me on the carpet.

I chuckle.

Blabbermouth.

“My uncle used to play. Says it helped him with his English when he moved to America. He taught me because I said it looked like fun” I shake my head with a smile, “So Iʼm not a pro.”

“Well from what Tracy said... and me knowing the kind of person you are... youʼre just being modest.”

I smile.

“Uh-huh. Because youʼre not a pro?”

“Are you kidding me? God no,” he says with a laugh. “I can barely beat the computer on medium difficulty.”

“And you wanna play against me?” I puff up my chest a little. “You’re not scared?” I joke.

“Oh, I’m scared,” he replies while setting up the travel-sized Scrabble board. “But Iʼm bored and you look like you could use a friend... and some protection in case Voldemort, The Joker, and The Riddler decides to show. Plus I can easily beat you in Monopoly next time.”

And I canʼt help but smile.

“Thanks, Hernan.”

He smiles back at me.

“Whereʼs Reid by the way?”

“In bed. Had one too many of his auntʼs Deli chicken wraps for lunch so he went up to take a nap.”

“Is he aware heʼs slept through dinner?”

I nod and chuckle.

“Yep. But heʼs out like a light. Iʼll fix him something later when heʼs up” I tell Hernan as I adjust myself and get ready to play.

“Go easy on me huh?”

I smile.

“No promises.”

Hernan was pretty good. Well not as good as me, but that was to be expected given our respective careers.

I avoid using some of the big seven-letter words in my repertoire, which makes the matches pretty even. We play again and again, keeping the random conversations going.

“So, what else has Tracy been blabbing to you about?” I ask during our seventh round.

Iʼm comfortably lying on my belly, and Hernan has shifted to sitting cross-legged.

“Technically, it’s not blabbing,” he says while pondering the board. “I ask for dirt and she delivers.”

I laugh.

“You know what I mean.”

He smiles and plays a word: SQUID.

“Darn,” I say. “And I was afraid you’d play a big letter on that bonus square.”

“And he takes the lead” Hernan fishes out four more tiles and says, “I donʼt really ask for dirt, Lee. Donʼt worry. Iʼve been speaking to her since Reidʼs birthday party and she doesnʼt seem like the type to just give out secrets.”

“You don’t know the half of it. And for future purposes, please donʼt ever play poker with her.”

Hernan smiles and asks, “Sheʼs pretty great isnʼt she?”

I look up from my letters and smile at the goofy look on his face.

“You like her, donʼt you?”

He meets my eyes and chuckles.

“That obvious?”

“Not really” I simply smile.

“Well... would you be okay if I maybe... asked her out?”

The wince I make isnʼt intentional and Hernan straightens his back.

“Wow, that much of a bad idea huh?”

“What? No, no. Itʼs nothing like that, Hernan. I promise” I quickly say.

“So... youʼd be... okay?”

“For you and Tray to get together? Are you kidding me? Of course” I chuckle.

“But...?” he presses, shifts, and brings one knee up to his chin.

I sigh.

“I have no problem with you asking Tracy out on a date. Her parents wouldnʼt mind either. Matthew would be cool with it... but Landon... I just—”

“So itʼs the brother huh?”

I shake my head.

“Ignore Lan. He might not be okay with who his sister dates but he damn well knows not to get in her way” I chuckle.

“So whatʼs it then?”

I eye Hernan. A lock of his auburn hair had fallen across his freckled face. He removes his glasses and rubs one of his eyes, then brushes the hair back.

“Well, Tracy is in her...” I sigh, “... and I quote, 'I have sworn off dick' phase, sorry” I shake my head at the vagueness. “Sheʼs not looking to commit right now and Hernan, you are a great guy. And if she turns you down, Iʼm going to be so mad at her.”

Hernan blinks once, twice, then laughs. I flick my eyes back and forth.

“Wait, wait, so youʼre worried about... me?”

“Well duh,” I nod, “You just offered to protect me from Voldemort, The Joker, and The Riddler. The least I can do is look out for you too.”

Hernan laughs.

“What?” I ask. “I donʼt wanna see you get Tracyed,”  I tell him and play a word—QUAFF, off the end of his previous word’s Q—and fish out four more tiles.

Hernan grins and shakes his head.

“Thanks, Lee.”

I look up from the board and observe Hernanʼs expression.

“What?” he asks, flicking his eyes back and forth.

“Youʼre still going to go ahead and ask her out, arenʼt you?”

Hernan laughs and holds his hands up in surrender.

“Am I that much of an open book?”

“No. But youʼre Reidʼs best friend.”

“Whatʼs that supposed to mean?” he chuckles.

“That youʼre both as stubborn as a mule... if him not more,” I say with a little eye roll.

“Ouch. But true” he admits, “And you should be thankful, Lee. Because if Reid was easily swayed, you two wouldnʼt be together and this crazy about one another like you are right now.”

My cheeks flush.

“I—”

“No, no” Hernan cuts me off, “Donʼt even try to deny it, Lee. You two are off your agreement basis. Down the path of no return. And as long as Iʼm aware of this, I am not going to sit around and let anyone break you two up. Because God forbid... if that happens...” he trails off and shakes his head.

“What?” I ask, my voice barely above a whisper.

“If that happens Lee, I donʼt wanna be here for it. And not because Iʼm going to play the 'I told you so' card, no. But because I canʼt stand to watch two of my favorite people in this world get hurt” he says, shaking his head slightly. “Thatʼs why Iʼve got both your backs, Lee. I donʼt know if heʼs told you, but mean the world to Reid now, Aileen. And that fucker saved me from a bully in kindergarten. I owe him my life.”

I laugh.

“So you make my best friend happy, I gotta make sure you keep him happy. That... and I actually like you.”

“Yeah me... and my cousin” I smirk at him and pump my eyebrows at him.

“I—”

He cut off suddenly.

“What is it?” I ask, holding back a giggle.

Hernan blinks, then shakes his head.

“I thought I had a good word, but I’m one letter off.”

Liar.

But before I can push him on it, he clears his throat loudly.

“Oh, here’s a word.”

He adds tiles onto the F on the end of my previous word: FIGHTER.

“Fighter huh?” I say passively. “Double letter score for the R, which gives you thirteen points…”

Hernan smiles at me, and I have a feeling it has nothing to do with our Scrabble match.

So I make a mental note to call Tracy as soon as possible.

Thank you for reading!
Please don't forget to vote.
Ciao
~the_atticwriter