Page 98 of Loathe at First Sight

“Oh, don’t act like you haven’t been dipping your willy into the online dating pool and having your fair share of no-strings-attached fun,” Ronnie snaps.

“Do I enjoy going home with women and having some fun? Yes. It’s not my fault that it never goes any further.”

Ronnie pops a cheese puff into her mouth. “Maybe you’re not any good at it, and that’s why it doesn’t go any further.”

“Hey!” He points his finger at her. “I grew up with four sisters who constantly talked about womanly things. I know what I’m doing in that department.”

Desperate to change the subject, he turns his attention toward me. “Lizzie, how are things going with Jack?”

“Uhh. Things are good,” I reply, a little caught off-guard. “He asked me if I wanted to go to Miami with him soon.”

“Miami?” Jo asks. “Why Miami?”

Not wanting to give away secrets that aren’t mine, I answer, “That’s where he’s from. It’s his mom’s birthday, and he wants to go surprise her. Thought maybe I would like to go sit on a beach for a couple of days.”

“That sounds lovely,” Michelle says.

“Yeah, should be fun.”

Jo asks, “What’s the deal? I thought Jack hated you.”

“We kind of hated each other, but I think both of us just had bad first impressions of the other.”

She says, “I’m glad you got on his good side. Literally, that man gets along with everyone.”

“Unlike me who barely gets along with anyone in town anymore.”

Michelle asks, “Have you talked to anyone much since you’ve been back?”

I shake my head. “Well, if you count my little drunken scene at the bar where I insulted almost everyone in town, then, yes. But if not, I guess the only people I converse with are people connected to the inn.”

“You should get out more,” Jo says.

“Eh, I think I’m good on that,” I reply.

I choose not to say anything about the inn. Tonight is supposed to be fun, and I don’t want to be the one to bring the party down.

“We need booze,” Ronnie says before standing up and rushing to the kitchen. “What are we in the mood for? Shots?”

“No!” We all cry out in unison.

“Pussies.”

She returns a couple of minutes later with some wine and five assorted cups—none of which are actual wine glasses.

Jo takes a sip of hers and says, “Man, drinking here is kind of weird.”

“You never drank when Mom and Dad weren’t home?” Ronnie asks. “I used to do it all the time. At least this time, I won’t have to refill the vodka bottles with water.”

“Or the whiskey with iced tea,” I add with a laugh.

Jo looks at us with wide eyes. “And I thought I was the hooligan of the family. I’d just go smoke weed under the bleachers.”

Michelle looks around, “Is anyone else kind of worried that Mom has this place bugged and is listening to everything we say?”

Ronnie stands up and walks over to the stereo system. “Oh, calm down, Martha Mc-Do-No-Wrong.”

“What? I had a baby in high school. I’m pretty sure I’m the family disappointment.” Michelle takes a few large gulps of her wine.

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