My gut tells me to look into this more, but the house is in shambles when I get out of the shower. Ruby is panicking about the caterer not answering her calls, and Savannah is stressed about the DJ flaking and programs she’s having printed, so I get distracted by helping them instead of looking into it.

I figure it can wait another day.

By the night of Hazel’s party, everyone is so busy getting the house ready that I don’t get one extra moment to talk to Savannah. For some reason, I want to at least be on friendly terms by the time guests arrive. I want to get tanked and know that she’ll be in my bed at the end of the night.

Of course when she walks down the stairs that night with the same dress on that she had at the gala, I can barely remember my own fucking name. Only two weeks have gone by since that night, and already it feels like I have a lifetime of memories of her. How in only two weeks have I memorized the taste of her lips and the feel of her skin, every freckle, every dimple, every spot that makes her shiver?

And how the fuck have I messed it up so badly?

Lucy and I are sitting around the fireplace while the party roars on around us. It’s strange to me that it’s the company of a five-year-old that I enjoy the most. She’s the only person at this party who doesn’t care about money or impressing others. For some reason, she’s perfectly happy spending her evening with the grumpiest man at the party.

All of the songs that remind me of Hazel are playing on repeat over the speakers and everyone is drinking her favorite drinks. Gin and tonic and bourbon on the rocks. Pictures of her from her earliest days adorn the walls while everyone tells their favorite stories of the eccentric woman. It makes me miss her so fucking much.

I pound back another bourbon when I spot Logan and Sierra walking through the crowd. Rafe is hovering behind them, a stone cold sneer on his face like always. He hates the people even more than I do, but he’s usually better at hiding it.

Logan slaps a hand on my shoulder. “How you doin’, old man?” he says with a smile.