Page 125 of Embody

Aunt B opens her mouth to lay into P, but sees it, stifles her laugh, and steps back.

No way I can hide my pleased, vengeful grin, so I turn my head toward Brynn and Sky, both wearing matching, gleeful expressions. And…let the games begin.

“Ladies,” he greets the group and Presley’s spine goes pin straight, eyes flaring wide from the voice behind her. “If you don’t mind, I’ll handle this one. Presley, you can turn around now,” Sutton goads her in deeply spoken confidence.

“What is he doing here?” Pres hisses at me as though he can’t hear her…or she doesn’t care that he can.

“Oh, I don’t know, P. He’s one of my best friends, roommate, and tells me he’s been having trouble tracking you down. Whywouldn’tI invite him?” I give her a cunning smile. “Aren’t you precious, all cornered, caught off-guard and shit. Youarecaught off-guard, right?”

“Very nice,” Bennett hoots. “Atta boy.”

“So, Miss Potty-Mouth,” Whitley chimes in, “are you going to walk away with this young man or areweall scattering?”

“Oh yeah? Watch this,” Presley quips…two steps behind me. “Daddy!” she yells across the yard.

“Yes, Princess?” he screams right back, ‘cause, ya know, we have the manners of apes…sparing no barbarism in front of guests.

“There’s a boy bothering your little girl! I need help!”

“Not a boy, already met him, hired him, have fun!”

Priceless. The sputtering noises coming out of P’s mouth…good damn stuff.

She whirls around, poking Sutton in the chest. “You got tomy dad?How? Hired you? For what? You…”

“Okay then, we’ll scatter. Shall we?” Whitley says just as sweet and proper as always and we all start to dispense. Even though I’d give a nut to stay and watch. I think everyone would…well, give something.

“Guess I should go meet Bellamy’s dad,” I say to my mom.

“Yes, let’s go,” she loops her arm through mine with a pleased giggle.Guess she’s coming with…

He’s standing with his wife, Bellamy, Emma and my dad when we approach. “Son,” Dad greets me and holds out his arm, to which my mom releases me and walks into the crook of with a smile. “I was just telling Bellamy’s father about the work you do at the office.”

I nod my head then turn. “Mr. Morgan, I’m JT Kendrick. It’s nice to finally meet you in person, sir.” I extend my hand, which he shakes. “And Mrs. Morgan, lovely to meet you as well.”

“Oh Bellamy,” she coos at her daughter, “he’s so handsome.”

“Isn’t he?” my mom proudly adds in. “And Bellamy’s absolutely breathtaking. Sandra, our grandbabies,can you imagine?”

Bellamy blushes and I give her a secret smile.No babies anytime soon, but yeah…they’ll be lookers, alright.“And you must be Emma?” I say to her friend.

“That’d be me. Bring it in, hot stuff.” She throws herself around me in areallyfriendly hug…and squeezes my ass.“Damn,” she finally unwraps herself from around me and looks at Bellamy. “You go, girl.”

“Um…” I don’t know what I’m doing, saying…“baby, I never keep stuff from you, and I apologize your parents have to hear this, but, your friend just copped a feel.”

I regret it the minute it leaves my mouth. I should’ve waited and told her after the party, or at least privately. Now she’ll be in a fight with her friend. But dammit, I’d wanna know thesecondsomeone touched her.

“I’m-” I start to apologize when I’m interrupted by the laughter of…everyone except my parents, staring at me in mortification.

“Of course she did,” Bellamy sayshappily. “That’s Emma.”

“Called her out, consequences be damned,” Mr. Morgan’s still chuckling, wiping his eyes. “To be completely, immediately honest with my girl. I approve. Nice to meet you too, JT.” He claps me on the shoulder.

“Aced that test.” Emma holds out a fist, which I bump, still a little shell-shocked.

“Dane, you mentioned some aged Scotch?” Mr. Morgan says to my dad, and despite my mom’s disapproving scowl, the two of them head off together like a couple of lifelong buddies.

 

---