“Younger,” he replies as he finishes off his wine.

“Do you have any siblings?”

“No. JD is the closest thing to a brother for me.”

“Coretta’s kids were like older sisters to me. Even though I didn’t have a dad and my mom wasn’t around much, I still felt like I was part of a family.”

“When was the last time you saw your mother?”

“My high school graduation. My grandmother offered to pay for her flight from Florida at the time. I don’t think she would have come otherwise.”

“That’s harsh.”

I shrug. “I think my mom was genuinely hard up.”

Though it wasn’t like my grandmother had a lot of extra income to spare, but I had overheard her talking to my mother on the phone, insisting that she had to be there for my graduation. My mother would have jumped at the chance to go to Phuket. Who knows, she might be there now with her latest millionaire boyfriend.

But I’m not my mother.

“You said your mom’s not likely to attend the wedding?” I ask.

“She’s looking after a sick relative in Singapore.”

“That’s nice of her. Do you get to see her much?”

He stares at me. “You always ask a guy so many questions?”

“You prefer that we just sit and eat in silence? Although, you’re not even eating,” I point out.

“I’m not hungry.”

But the look he gives me suggests otherwise, only I’m the main course. I take another sip of the water. Part of me wishes I was drinking the wine instead. “I should check to see when Amy plans on heading back.”

“You think she’s not spending the night with JD?”

“I shouldn’t assume. I’m just going to give her a quick call.” But I realize I don’t have my cellphone with me because I had to leave it with security. I was told by a bouncer my first time here that photos aren’t allowed. I had thought it a strange policy for a nightclub, but now that I’ve seen the other side of the club, I understand.

Darren dials his cousin on his cell. “Bridge wants to speak to Amy.”

He hands me the phone and I hear Amy say in between giggling, “Sorry, Bridge, I meant to call you but forgot. I’m on my way to JD’s place. Hope that’s okay.”

What was I supposed to say? That it’s not okay? Besides, this has happened before. She leaves with JD, and I’m left with Darren.

“So I’ll see you tomorrow then?” I confirm.

“Yeah…tomorrow.”

“Have fun.”

“You, too.”

With a final giggle, she hangs up.

“Amy’s going to JD’s place for the night,” Darren says.

I hand his cell back to him. “Yep.”

He grabs my wrist instead, making me drop the cell on the table, and yanks me to him. Pulling me onto his lap, he clasps the back of my head and crushes my mouth to his. Desire warms my body immediately. His mouth engulfs mine, and I’m fine with drowning in his kiss. In fact, I can’t get enough. I thread my fingers through his hair and try to keep up.