Page 54 of Eight Days of Christmas
Isabella
Norah!”Isabella hissed. “What are they doing here?”
Norah winced. “Sorry, Izz, did I forget to mention the guys were coming, too?”
“Yeah, ya did,” Isabella scoffed.
“I didn’t want to drink without Landon. We just don’t do that kind of stuff without each other, ya know? You understand, don’t you?”
No, she didn’t understand.
She ground her jaw as her skin burned. This was bullcrap. Did Landon have to babysit Norah? Could the two ever be apart? That couldn’t be healthy.
“But this is your bachelorette party,” Isabella argued.
“C’mon, let’s get another drink and just forget about them,” Nina suggested.
“They won’t bother us. Landon promised. We won’t even know they’re here,” Norah said.
“Yeah, right.” Isabella glanced at Leo who now stood at the bar talking to Ricky, laughing like old pals did. It wasn’t that she didn’t want to see Leo, but tonight was supposed to be about Norah. With him there, leaning against the bar, stroking the scruff on his face, a sexy grin playing on his lips, she’d definitely be distracted. She needed to put space between them. “I’m going to the lady’s room.”
When Isabella returned, to Landon’s credit, he and the guys were seated at a table across the bar.The guysconsisted of Leo, Finn—that traitor—and two of Landon’s friends Isabella didn’t recognize but assumed to be groomsmen.
“See?” Norah said proudly. “Harmless.”
“It’s fine, Norah,” Isabella huffed. “If you want your fiancée here, that’s your choice.”
“Thanks for understanding, sis.”
Isabella ignored Norah and glanced around, searching for the waiter. She needed another drink.
Isabella had downed two beers and the buzz from the alcohol hummed its way through her bloodstream. Her usual libation was either whiskey with her coworkers or wine with Harrison, and she typically stopped after two drinks. But tonight, she wasn’t thinking. Because that was exactly it. She didn’t want to think. Not about Leo or Kelsey or the past—at all.
“Should we dance?” Maddie asked, nursing her first beer.
Isabella scanned the bar. At some point, Norah had drifted across the bar and was now sitting on Landon’s lap. Isabella shook her head and groaned.
“Or karaoke?” Taylor suggested.
Isabella perked up. “Now that…sounds interesting.”
“Really?” Maddie said. “Because I think I’d rather dance.”
“That’s because you’re a fantastic dancer.” Taylor picked a piece of lint off the front of her dress.
“I’m a fantastic singer too,” Maddie said, brazenly. “But I’m not drunk enough yet to embarrass myself in front of Landon and his friends by singing some lame version of ‘Total Eclipse of the Heart.’”
“But it’s fun. And Norah loves karaoke.”
“Truth,” Maddie agreed with Taylor. “And then maybe we can get her back over here.”
“Exactly.” Isabella pointed her beer bottle at Taylor. “I’m putting us on the list.” She pushed away from the table and went to the karaoke organizer, adding their names to the list, and choosing “I Wanna Dance With Somebody” by Whitney Houston.
She strolled toward Norah. “C’mon. We’re up next for karaoke.” She tugged her sister by the arm.
“Really?” Norah squealed, jumping off Landon’s lap. “Oh, I love karaoke.”
“Hello, boys.” Isabella smiled, waggling her fingers at them.
