I watch Aurora calm herself before we approach the two handsome men at the bar. She looks to me and says, "Remember, Ryan knows this is all fake. Do whatever you have to do to get them interested in hanging out with us tonight." I look to her and suddenly I am the nervous one. What all is she expecting from me?

I look back to the bar and Theo is grabbing a whiskey from the bartender. He is looking divine in his made-to-measure suit with a thin silver tie that brings out his ocean-colored eyes. I always find Theo attractive but his arrogance ruins it all every time I speak to him. Rory is still as tall and as handsome as I remembered with his dark black hair and bright blue eyes. His tie is already slightly undone at the neck and his hair is effortlessly messy and sleek at the same time. I catch him ordering something as I waltz up to Theo, "Thanks for gettin' that for me, I was parched." I say as I snatch the tumbler from his fingers and down the shot of whiskey.

"Well I'll be, if it isn't the delectable Sawyer Sweeney in the flesh," he says while his eyes glide and linger over my cleavage. I hand the glass back to him and flit my eyes to Rory, "And if it isn't Theo's dashing Irish companion." Rory grabs my outstretched hand and gives it a quick kiss. I look over to Aurora and then back to the two men, "This is my friend Lola James, she's here for a visit from Denver. Thought I'd try and show her a good time tonight and you two always seem to be experts on that subject."

Theo looks to Lola while she tries to put on a charming smile but I can tell he's not yet captured by it. I add, "Her father owns a Challenger jet and I was just telling her my dear friend Theo owns one as well. Funny I run into you seconds later."

The mention of the private plane catches his attention, "You don't say? I've recently just taken mine to Tahiti over Thanksgiving."

Her eyes light up as she says, "Oh I've always wanted to go to Tahiti. Was it amazing?"

He's unable to answer as Rory's Irish accent now fills the air, "Bit overdone nowadays don't ya think? Tahiti is practically Cancun now."

I let out a light laugh and reply, "And where do you like to fly then Rory?"

He gives me his signature side grin that accentuates his dimples, "I fancy Deauville these days."

"Deauville?" Aurora asks so sweetly that I can't tell if she's acting or if she really doesn't know what he just said.

"Thought you were a traveling girl? Deauville, France darling. Wine and dine with the celebrities. I once met a group of models there that had just finished Paris fashion week...one of the best nights of my life," Rory says with a wicked grin. He gulps his whiskey down and immediately asks for another. I glance to Aurora before saying, "Now Rory, here I was thinking you were a gentleman."

He hands me the fresh glass of whiskey and then looks to Aurora, "What can I get for you?"

"Champagne is fine," she answers lightly and I do notice the change in her. She's getting into character. Rory hands her a glass and we all toast once the men have also picked their poison.  Aurora takes a small sip and after I take a small swig of mine I realize I am already buzzed. I glance to Theo and ask, "So you just got back from Tahiti where are you off to next?"

"Well I thought I'd spend the holidays at home in Oxford and then I am planning a trip to Shanghai in February," he answers. A few people try and maneuver around us to get up to the bar and I am lucky no one that approaches is someone I know. I don't want to be taken away from our conversation.

"I told him Shanghai is overrated but the man won't listen. If he's going to Asia he should go to Timor-Leste. Nothing compares to the scuba diving there," Rory replies before taking a drink. I want to roll my eyes at their travel talk seeing I've been nowhere outside of the U.S so I wouldn't know the difference between scuba diving in Lake McConaughy to Timor-Leste.

But here it begins...two men competing over who has the best travel experiences. They banter about it back and forth for a while and I can't believe I have to act interested in any of their conversation. Aurora is doing as I instructed and asks simple questions that further their bragging and acts engrossed with every detail. I glance around us and catch Annabeth talking to Maybelle and Grace now. I twist my back so she's can't see my face and I cut off the rest of the busy room by doing so. The only thing I can see now is Rory, Theo and a glistening Christmas tree behind them. Somehow the traveling circles back to France and Theo asks, "Has Austin thought any more about Paris?"

After the initial shock of being included in the conversation goes away I answer, "I think Margot wants it more than Austin. My mother isn't too thrilled about a destination wedding."

"Paris is a romantic idea until you get there and see how dirty it is. The architecture is stunning but after seeing it for five minutes you've seen it all. So over-hyped," Rory replies with a grimace. I want to roll my eyes at his delusion but instead, I say, "Well not according to Margot. She went there once as a girl and always pictured herself getting married there. So now it's up to Austin to make it a reality."

"Speaking of weddings, I hear Jackson Hemming never made it to his," Rory says with a knowing glance and I laugh, "Our wedding? Afraid not."

"I bet he kicks himself when he sees you on nights like tonight," Theo says and suddenly Ryan is back in my ear, "Steer it back to Aurora please."

"So I don't see a ring on your finger, do I take that to mean no one has been smart enough to take you off the market?" Rory asks and I suddenly feel heat in my cheeks. I'm about to tell him I am taken when Aurora cuts me off,  "Just got back on the market actually."

"I thought you were attached to your brother's friend. Ryan was it?" Theo asks and I am surprised he remembered. I give a panicked look to Aurora but her dagger eyes are telling me to go along with her fib.

"It's always been a casual thing. Nothing serious," I reply but I don't hear anything from Ryan.

"You don't say?" Rory replies and I do admit I like his Irish accent. I don't however, like the way his eyes are currently undressing me.

"She's my only other single friend," Aurora adds with a fake frown and Theo smiles to her, "No ring on you either?" She shakes her head while raising her glass to her lips. Theo must enjoy it because he asks her if she would like another glass of champagne. I take the opportunity to glance behind me and no longer see Annabeth. My mother is now standing where A.B had been with Scarlett Hemming but she doesn't catch my eye.

I decide to steer it back to Aurora, "So, as I said my dear friend Lola here is only in town for a couple weeks and I want to show her some fun. Any ideas?" I ask them.

Theo throws his arm around Rory's shoulder and with a grin says, "Oh my buddy Rory here is the man to see for a good time."

Aurora quickly perks up, "And why is that?"

Rory flashes his wicked grin to us but before he's able to answer he pulls Theo's arm off him and reaches inside his coat pocket to answer his buzzing phone. Whatever magic or trance that was just holding us four together vanishes as Rory strides closer to the Christmas tree to get away from the noise. As soon as he walks away Margot moves into his spot by the bar and notices me standing there.

"Oh hey, Sawyer!" Her eyes go to my dress and she adds, "You look beautiful in that V-neck thingy." She can never just give a straight compliment. Her sister Molly comes up next to her and immediately catches Theo behind me. He downs what's left of his whiskey and stalks off before anyone can say anything to him. I look back to Molly who grabs a glass of wine and storms off in the other direction.

"So things didn't end well with them?" I ask Margot and she rolls her big blue eyes.

"Everyone told her Theo would never settle down but she wouldn't listen. So when she started trying to get serious he stopped answering her phone calls," she answers as she gets her own glass of white wine.

Rory comes back over to us and Margot frowns when she sees him, "Rory Cunningham, the devil himself."

"Always a pleasure Margot," he responds flatly and then he turns to me, "Got to run. I'll have Theo get in touch with you and we can show Lola a good time while she's here yeah?"

Aurora nods enthusiastically and I try to act eager as well. He runs a finger down my arm and then says, "Until next time darling." He runs off after Theo and Aurora looks thoroughly disappointed. Margot grabs my arm turning me towards her and angrily says, "What was that about? Rory is a bastard and aren't you with Ryan?"

Before I can address her uncharacteristic lash out, Austin is beside her and Aurora gives him a disappointed look.

"Evenin' ladies," he says and looking directly at me he adds, "Rory was just here huh?" Margot glares at me and replies, "I think he was a bit too interested in your sister."

"Trust me I want nothing to do with Rory Cunningham or Theo Rigsby," I reply with a grimace.

"By the way he touched you I think Rory doesn't feel the same," Margot replies.

"How'd Rory touch you?" Ryan suddenly demands in our ears and my hand flies up to my hair. Aurora looks to Austin and without answering Ryan I look to Margot and say, "Lola likes Rory. I introduced them that's all okay?"

She shrugs and then hands Austin a beer. I look to my own glass and realize while talking to Rory and Theo I somehow managed to drink three glasses of whiskey- which is something I never drink. And that's on top of the two glasses of champagne I already had. I am drunk and am so over this party. Loudly I say, "Well I am going to go see if Ryan can pick me up in five minutes. I am ready to go."

"I'll meet you at the bottom of the driveway," Ryan replies.

Annoyed I snap, "You are going to make me drunkenly walk down the long ass driveway in the cold?"

Margot looks to me like I am crazy but I ignore her and push my way through the groups of dressed up people. I hear LulaBelle's signature loud laugh come from somewhere in the room and then catch Betty gossiping with Scarlett in the doorway. I don't see Annabeth or Gus anywhere but I do find a very drunk Georgina Draper being hauled toward the bathroom by her husband. I realize I am way more drunk than I initially thought. I also notice I didn't see half the people I normally do at these things. For once I had a purpose at one of these parties and it wasn't to get drunk and sneak off with Jackson to find somewhere to hook up like the last three years.

The thought of Jackson brings me to Whitney and I am not clear-headed enough right now to think about who the hell the father of her baby could be.

I somehow make it to the coat check without having to encounter anyone else. I wait for a moment before he hands me my cape and after I tip him I push my way outside and make my way to Ryan.