Maybe Once, Maybe Twice(34)
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I ADJUSTED THE BRA UNDER my V-neck as Drew and I walked into the Biergarten, a cute outdoor spot hidden under the Highline, with Ping-Pong tables and a couple different bars stretched through the space. I froze, amused to see Summer laughing hysterically at Garrett. They stood on opposite ends of a Ping-Pong table, as Garrett fished a ball out of the beer in his hand.
“You are horrible at this game,” he told her, playfully throwing the wet ball at her face.
Summer ducked, letting the ball hit a hipster behind her. She stared ahead at Garrett, wide-eyed, not taking responsibility. I exhaled a chuckle, watching Garrett and Summer make silly faces at each other. Summer told me that they had “gone out a few times” while I was on tour—but I didn’t know they were this comfortable around each other. Summer adopted the role of Smarter Older Sister to most people in her life, even those who were older than her, like Garrett. Garrett needed someone to lovingly give him a hard time, because he was a gorgeous, tall, privileged, white male. She didn’t fall for any of his bullshit, and after he became less scared of her, he really appreciated her candor.
I watched as Garrett’s girlfriend, a stunning tall creature with wavy blond hair, rubbed his shoulders. Apparently, they started dating after I left for tour, and all the information I received from Summer was that Blaire was “very hot and very temporary.”
I felt Drew grip on to my hand, and I pulled him closer as we approached the table.
Summer threw her paddle down as her eyes met mine. “There she is!” she yelled.
Summer opened her arms, letting me hug her as tightly as I wanted, and reciprocating—which for Summer, in public, was not a small deal.
“You missed me,” I said. “Look at this hug! Someone record this! See how her arms are gripping me tight? She fucking missed me!”
Summer pulled back and glared at me. “What can I say? My clothes and I have been very lonely without your needy presence.”
Summer looked over my head, sizing Drew up with a nod. He smiled nicely at her.
“Summer, Drew.”
“The photographer.”
“The best friend.”
“One of them.” Summer grinned, nodding to Garrett, who was approaching behind me. I inhaled his familiar scent—musk and vanilla—a combination that I wished wouldn’t make my heart beat a little faster. But oh boy, it did.
I swallowed hard and turned, meeting Garrett’s beaming smile. He was Casual Garrett, a sight I loved to see. And he was tanner than usual, making his blue eyes appear even brighter, and his smile even more ridiculously perfect. He took me in his arms and lifted me up in a tight hug. It felt odd that Garrett was doing this in public, while the people we were having sex with watched directly below my head. Drew shifted in place with pursed lips, trying his best to act cool, despite being visibly uncool with another man’s arms around my waist. Garrett set me down and beamed at me with a sly grin. He glanced over my shoulder, eyes scanning Drew.
“Hey, man,” Garrett said, not coldly, but not warmly, either. Like it was a chore. He stuck his hand out and Drew shook it. “Garrett.”
“Drew.”
“I’m Blaire!” the super-hot woman said, squeezing her body between Garrett and myself. “You must be Maggie.”
“That I am.” I smiled into her doe eyes.
“Babe, I’m gonna go get us some pretzels. They look so good,” Blaire cooed.
It didn’t upset me that she owned that body and could enjoy carbs. It didn’t. Because that would make me petty as fuck. And I wasn’t. I was a feminist! Feminist with an asterisk, apparently.
Drew tightened with each body and beer that curved past his broad shoulders. “So many humans,” he muttered. I glanced up to find Garrett’s eyes on mine, with a look that said he’d heard it, too. I chewed the insides of my cheeks.
“Not a fan of New York?” Garrett asked Drew.
Summer’s eyes widened toward me. She fought a grin, her gaze darting between Drew and Garrett, as if she were eager to grab a bag of popcorn and stay a while.
“Everyone here is always in a hurry to go nowhere,” Drew said with a scowl.
Garrett nodded silently, but he made a point to put his eyes back on mine. I felt the tips of my ears redden. I was being judged for someone else’s opinion. Which I guess is what happens when you choose to date Someone Else.
Drew tightened a grip around my waist. “Big fan of hers, however,” he said, holding me close against his large body. “Drink?” Drew asked into my ear, with eyes that were not on me. I was certain they were on Garrett, but my chest was pounding too hard to turn and make the confirmation.
I nodded and smiled brightly, purposefully, as if to show Garrett I was happy.
“Yes, please.”
Drew turned and tilted my chin up to him, kissing me hard. As he left, I let my eyes dance toward Garrett, who looked away instantly, picking up a Ping-Pong paddle as a worthy distraction.
Summer sidled up to me with a shit-eating grin.
“Don’t say a thing,” I warned between gritted teeth.
“I wish I had filmed that so I could replay it whenever I’m sad,” she whispered.
“We playin’ here, or what?” Garrett asked Summer, twirling the paddle in his hand, eyes refusing to meet mine.