Sonny knocks on the door at exactly eight. I pull open the door, smiling. His eyes rake over my body slowly from head to toe before he meets my gaze.

“You look amazing.”

“Thank you.”

Before I can complement him back, he speaks again.

“Come on. We want to be late but not too late to the party.”

I flick off the living room light, cloaking the apartment in darkness before closing the door and locking it. I slip the key into the pocket wallet on my phone before following Sonny down to a black Jeep Wrangler It looks freshly washed. Not a speck of dirt on the body.

Sonny opens the passenger side door, waiting for me to climb in before shutting it. He rounds the vehicle, getting into the driver’s side and starting it up.

“Care what kind of music I put on?”

“Anything is fine, just no jazz.”

This makes him laugh. The sound sends butterflies straight to my stomach. Sonny pokes a couple of the buttons on the radio and the music turns on. I’ve never heard the song, but it has a good beat. I settle in, listening to the music. Sonny taps his fingers on the steering wheel. He catches me staring and smirks. I look away, blush creeping up my cheeks. He turns up the song a bit, singing along with the rap portion. He’s a really good singer! Not as good as Gavin, but he’s still really good. He continues singing straight into the chorus. He can’t hit the higher notes, but he’s not that far off. As soon as the song is over, another one starts. The cursing starts up immediately and Sonny reaches to change the song.

“Leave it on. Please.”

He raises his eyebrow but leaves it on. It doesn’t take long for him to start singing along with the lyrics. Sonny starts singing passionately as soon as another person in the song starts singing. I’m amused by his personality and the fact that he isn’t afraid to sing in front of me. He’s just being himself. I find myself tapping along to the beat.

Sonny turns onto a narrow dirt road. The music stops and Sonny reaches over to play with the radio.

“Mind if I pick a song?”

“Go ahead. You might not know any of them though.”

I scroll through the songs, picking the one that sounds the most interesting. The song starts and I listen to the lyrics, intrigued. The beat draws me in, refusing to let me ignore the song. I look at the title and artist, making a mental note to download the song later.

We approach an old barn. Light is visible through the cracks and spaces in the wood. Sonny shuts off the Jeep, climbing out and walking over to open the door for me. He helps me out before closing the door. Music gets louder and louder as we approach the barn. I don’t recognize this song either.

Sonny opens the side door to the barn, motioning me inside. The place isn’t jam packed but there is a decent about of people here. Twenty, maybe thirty people are standing and sitting around.

“Sonny!”

A guy with hair down to his shoulders walks up to Sonny, wrapping him in one of those weird bro hugs. The stranger turns his attention on me, surveying my appearance.

“Hey gorgeous, I’m James.”

He extends his hand and I do the same, shaking his hand in a friendly manner.

“I’m Skye.”

“I’ll still call you gorgeous.”

Sonny puts an arm around me and steers me away from James and towards a cooler.

“Want a beer?”

“Is there any soda or water?”

He looks at me, confused. I tug at my shirt, making sure my belly isn’t too obvious.

“I’m not a big drinker.”

Lie! I just know better than to drink while I’m pregnant.

“I’m not judging.”

He reaches into the cooler, handing me a can of cola and snagging himself a beer. He cracks it open, taking a swig. I miss alcohol. Before I realize what I’m doing, Sonny smirks. He licks his lips slowly and I look away as the blush creeps up my cheeks. I seriously didn’t realize I was staring. Sonny chuckles before putting an arm around me again.

“Come on, I’ll introduce you to the guys.”

I let my eyes survey the room and the people occupying it. No sign of Gavin but Trevor is here. Sonny leads me over to the group Trevor is with. Right before we can start with introductions, someone grabs onto me. I’m pulled away from Sonny and spun around to face Gavin.

“Hey!”

“I need to talk to her for a second.”

Sonny doesn’t have a say in the matter because Gavin pulls me into one of the tack rooms. He looks down at me, pure rage in his expression.

“What the hell are you doing here?”

“What does it look like I’m doing?”

“It looks like you’re making a stupid choice.”

His words have a bite to them. It stings but not enough to knock me down.

“By attending a party?”

“A party that has alcohol.”

“Thanks for the compliment but I’m over 21.”

He runs his hands through his hair, closing his eyes. He makes a frustrated noise.

“That’s not what I meant.”

He opens his eyes again, lowering his hands to his sides.

“You’re pregnant, Skye. You shouldn’t be here.”

“I’m fully aware of that and I’m not going to be drinking you idiot!”

“Then why else would you come?”

“Sonny invited me and I figured ‘Hey, why not come out and socialize? I might even find a cute guy there’.”

My statement only enrages him more. His fists clench and his jaw ticks, but I don’t feel threatened. He won’t hurt me. He wouldn’t hurt any woman for that matter.

His expression softens to concern.

“Go home.”

“No.”

“Why the hell not?”

“I already told you. I’m socializing.”

“Socialize at the bar.”

“I’m also surveying my choices in men. The ones at the bar are boring.”

I know my words won’t do anything but getting him angry. It’s still fun to see his reaction.

“Stop lying to yourself, Skye. I know you aren’t looking for a man and you are just here to get on my nerves.”

It’s clearly working. I keep that thought in my head.

“I can do whatever the hell I please. Maybe I’ll go get your brother so we call roll in the hay somewhere else!”

It’s like trying to light a match. The first couple strikes don’t work. When it finally works, a beautiful flame emerges.

The final strike: Gavin pushing me up against the wall.

The beautiful flame: Gavin’s lips finding mine in a heated kiss.

We’ve been dancing around this moment for a while. Now that’s it’s happening, I don’t want it to end.

But it does.

That beautiful flame starts to go out the second he pulls back. His eyes are glistening pools of emotions and words left unspoken. And they stay that way. Gavin exits the room without a single word.

And the beautiful flame is extinguished.