Page 72 of Toxic Wishes

“Ya, but it wasn’t like that. Bodie wanted me to come so he could show me his horse.”

“Uh-huh, sure. All about Bodie.” She teases.

“Besides, I’m not sure if they are still, ya know-”

“What? Banging?” She says, finishing my thought for me.

“Ya, and isn’t there like a universal rule? All of your family’s exes are off-limits? That applies to best friends too, I thought.”

“Ya, Maybe out there in Tim-buck-two.”

“I live in Missouri, not the boonies,” I say, rolling my eyes, thankful my gesture is hidden by a phone.

“Well, whatever. The way I see it, they have no kids together, and they were never married. If we followed that rule, then we all would be doomed. It’s already hard finding a stand-up guy, and if we eliminate men due to past history, then we might as well turn Mormon so we can share men in this day and age. Besides, it’s not like she owns him. And how would she ever know?”

“Uh, she’s my cousin.” I draw out the words. “She'll sniff it out. And he’s a famous NFL player.”

“Oh please, he’s not famous; he’s just an athlete. Your words, remember.” I hear her tear off a wrapper, and I’m assuming she’s biting into a protein bar.

“All I’m saying is you are there only for the summer. Maybe you need to just fuck him out of your system,” she says through a mouthful.

“I don’t need to fuck anyone out of my system.” I bark back.

“Sure you do. Jared treated you like shit towards the end of your relationship.”

She was right, but I tried not to think about that because Jared and I were friends at one point. We talked, opened up to one another, and somehow, towards the end, he became a complete asshole, always making me feel like I was lucky to have him instead of the other way around.

“Ya, but-”

“But nothing. No man treats anyone that way. Now you’re even more down on yourself. What’s wrong with having a hot, N-F-L player fuck you down,” She accents the NFL part. “And make you feel good? It’s the perfect set-up, too.”

Heat rises in my chest, spreading down to my core as I think about Colt Killian's extensive hands on me. “First of all, he’s not even remotely interested in me that way.”

“He has a penis, doesn’t he?” I can picture Mel lowering her designer glasses as if she’s standing right in front of me.

“So what, he has never done anything to make me think that has even crossed his mind?”

“Trust me, honey, you guys are practically living together, it’s crossed his mind. Haven’t you watched porn? Men have all types of fantasies like that.”

“Ya, fantasies,” I emphasize the word. “Reality is, he probably still is into my cousin, and once he sees her all dressed up tonight, she’ll be the one moving in with him.”

“They didn’t work out for a reason. And stop stressing over Naomi.” She says her name in a nasal tone. “It’s not like she or your other cousins treated you so great. Sometimes, family is family by default. Just because you share the same bloodline doesn’t mean you owe them anything.”

She had another point. But I wasn’t even interested in Colt, so there was no need to risk losing my family over a guy I didn’t even think about, and I’m sure he didn’t think of me that way.

“I don’t even like jocks, so why are we even entertaining this conversation?”

“Exactly!” That’s even more reason to have a summer fling. You have nothing complicating the situation.”

Except his dead brother Blake.

“If I tell you yes, I’ll fuck Colt, then will you stop bringing it up?”

“Oh-ya,” she says with a Barry white accent

I laugh. “You’re ridiculous.” I look over at the clock. “Okay, I got to go. Josh is going to be here any minute.”

“Maybe you can do both of them simultaneously. Now, that would be one hot summer fling.”

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