Sydney (Book One) (That Wedding Girl 1) by Maggie Way Read Free Book Online Page A

Even though I doubt my ability to do so right now, I take Gabe’s car keys sitting on the oak hall table near the door and head out. Grabbing my wallet and house keys, I quietly close the door behind me.  Gabe will never need to know I took it for a drive in the middle of the night. I intend to have it back before he gets up. This is reckless and impulsive, completely unlike me, but it’s the only thing on my mind and it’s because of the anger I feel for Adam.
    I push the door and walk out into the quiet street. Damn its cold, and I breathe out condensation as I start walking towards Gabe’s car. It’s parked out on the public street, only twenty metres away, and I walk as quickly as I can. As I reach it, I start to press the keys but my slippery hands fail me and they drop to the ground. I groan and bend down to reach, but my foot slips and I fall on my bottom, the thin material of my dress a terrible cushion. This is not a good start.
    As I reach for the keys, someone, just a few feet behind, calls out to me.
    “Are you okay?”
    That voice…. it’s smooth and husky, striking a chord. Definitely a male. The mysterious man starts walking towards me but I remain stationary with my back to him. He finally stops beside me, waiting for an answer.
    “I'm fine,” I mutter. I expect him to walk away but instead he leans forward to catch a glimpse of me.
    “No freaking way. Lacey, is that you?” The chuckle that replies is sneering, and I shriek internally because I recognise it. I’ve heard this laugh before…where…how?
    I glance up at him, my mouth ajar at the sight of the broad-shouldered man in bootleg jeans and a rolled up plaid shirt. I have to crane my neck as far as possible to see all of him, he’s really tall . All I see is piercing, coffee brown eyes and short black hair. But that could be because it’s pitch black and I can’t really see him clearly. But that voice is so familiar…it can’t be who I think it is. Because if it is, he looks so different to the last time I saw him – which was almost four years ago.
    “What are the odds, Hansley’s snotty little sister sitting here on the street. How hammered are you?”
    “Trrrrrr…Tristan? Hansley’s friend?”
    “Okay, you’re completely wasted.”
    What the hell is Tristan Keys doing here in Sydney, let alone standing in front of me? He is the last person I expected to see, ever. My brother’s best friend all through high school, he was the most annoying person and I had to deal with him constantly.
    Always one to tease me about my braces, my ‘nerdy’ braids, and my love for collecting 3D jigsaw puzzles and scrapbooking, he always found a way to badger me. Instead of a normal ‘Hi’ or ‘What’s up’ he would instead greet me with ‘Miss Strait-laced’ or ‘Prissy’ and I would reciprocate by poking my tongue out at him.
    He’s so much more built than I remember, and his hair….it used to be so long.
    “What are you doing back, h-h-here?” He moved to New York almost four years ago, and by all accounts he’s done very well for himself over there.
    “I was having drinks at Surry Hills. What the hell is that you’ve got on your feet? Do you intend to go camping or are you always dressed this weird?”
    Oh yes, he’s still the same except his accent is smoother and a lot more refined. I need to get inside the vehicle now – given my current state, I am in no mood to deal with anyone, least of all my brother’s annoying friend. Planting my palms on the gravel pavement to push myself up, I manage it in one swift movement along with my wallet and keys.
    “Heeeeey I’m comfortable, alright? I’m going home, soooooo if you don’t mind…” I fail to not slur my words as I stumble to the side.
    His wide and engaging eyes look at me with serious doubt.
    “ Wow , even when you’re drunk you’re still a square. I really don’t think you should drive though.”
    “Wwwwwhat I’m fine! I’m totally under the