Page 19 of Just Between Us

I murmured a noise in acknowledgment but eyed the mysterious woman. Veda watched guests take their seats with cool indifference. She was a puzzle, and I was determined to get to the root of why she’d gone so frosty on me in the tattoo parlor.

It was a challenge I couldn’t seem to give up, despite my brother’s warnings. My overzealous boundary hopping may have sentMsBlackCatrunning for the hills, but Veda was real, and I was never one to back down from a challenge.

In many ways our brief interactions reminded me a lot of the frosty exterior of my secret online friend.

Wouldn’tthatbe the ultimate sick twist of fate?

Laughing at myself, I swept the ridiculous thought aside as the processional music began.

The wedding waspeaceful and heartfelt. When Abel and Sloane exchanged vows of love and devotion, I cried like a baby but pretended the slight breeze had kicked sand in my eyes.

The garage-style doors to the brewery were opened, and the reception was in full swing. MJ had taken Veda under her wing and insisted she sit with us at dinner. The guest list was small, and my sister had managed to squeeze an extra place setting at the long banquet table. Abel and Sloane had wanted everyone sitting family-style, so Kings and Sullivans were haphazardly sprinkled throughout the place settings.

Across from me, I studied Veda as she sat with her back ramrod straight. She listened to the conversations around her without participating, but her eyes were always watching.

Assessing.

Lark and my little sister seemed to be in some kind of heated debate over pets.

“He was kind of a golden retriever. We lasted one date,” MJ said with a sad lift of her shoulder.

The fuck?

“Wait, what?” I leaned forward, intrigued by their conversation.

Lark laughed and waved a hand in my direction. “Girl talk. No boys allowed,” she teased.

I shook my head and pointed at her. “Nah. This is my little sister we’re talking about. Since when do you date?”

MJ rolled her eyes and swatted her hand between us. “Don’t worry about it. Besides, we’re talking aboutenergy. Black cat?German shepherd? Golden retriever? There are all kinds of energy to consider when dating someone.”

“For example,” Lark added, gesturing across the table at the oldest Sullivan. “Duke is a German shepherd. He’s fiercely loyal and protective. He also hates everyone but Sylvie.”

Duke frowned, proving Lark’s point, and Sylvie preened as she leaned into her husband. I paused, considering how frighteningly accurate her assessment was.

I grinned, enjoying the game. “Okay, so what am I?”

“Golden retriever,” MJ and Lark answered in unison, then laughed. It even garnered a smirk from Veda.

“Wait, wait, wait.” I pressed a tattooed hand to my chest. “I’m the dopey idiot of the dog world?”

My words made the women laugh only harder.

I shook my head. “I work hard at the gym for this body. I’m covered in tattoos. Iscarepeople with my presence.”

Right?

“You literally just described Abel, minus the tattoos.” MJ’s hand slid across the table to pat mine. “Sorry, pal. You’re fun and optimistic and kind and sensitive.Biggolden retriever energy.”

I pouted and crossed my arms.

So not cool.

My eyes shifted to Veda, who was struggling to hide her own smile.

Doubling down, I leaned back in my chair and assessed the woman across from me. “Come to think of it, Ihaveheard about this. Black cats are aloof. Standoffish, right?”

MJ shrugged. “There’s an allure that only some people can pull off.”

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