Page 14 of Laugh

I rear back, shocked by the vomit of words she just spouted.

“What the hell are you talking about? Who’s your sister?” I literally have no clue what she’s talking about.

I hate that I think it’s cute when she tilts her head to the side to study me. “Bamber?”

“Who the fuck is Bamber?”

She sighs dramatically and this time, I’m irritated by it. I don’t like being in the dark about things, especially when it comes to women in connection with me. “Amber. Amber Byer? My sister. You know, the blonde who was all over your arm the other night down at O’Reilly’s Pub? She told you I was her sister.”

I shake my head slowly, trying to remember that night. “Honest to God, Happy. I barely remember the woman, let alone anything she said. And I’m certainly not dating her.”

Her explosion of tittering laughter catches me off guard. Waving me away, she tries her best to stifle it. “Sorry, sorry. God, it’s like I’m constantly apologizing. It’s just thatshethinks you’re dating. To where our family dinner became World War Three. No joke. Hold on, open your eyes for me.”

“Jesus, woman. I can’t make heads or tails of this entire conversation!” I feel so fucking agitated. I’m a smart guy, but Haddie has me off center in a bad way.

“Hush, I know. Again, super sorry. Just, please, open your eyes so I can look at them.”

Huffing out, I decide to say fuck it, and just do what she wants. Maybe she’ll eventually let me catch up and sit at the big kid’s table. Widening my eyes, I stare at her unblinkingly. She mimics my action and we stare at each other silently while her eyes dart back and forth across mine.

In the sunlight, it’s easy to notice that the color of her eyes is a piercing green with gold flecks in the irises. The color is so unique that my breath stalls as we’re locked together, Haddie studying me so closely that she can probably read my soul.

It jars me, and I jerk back, looking away from her. “Had enough?”

“Freaking blue. Iknewit.” Her smug answer confuses me even further.

Snapping at her, I don’t hide my frustration. “Knew what, Haddie?”

“Hap–”

I cut her off. “Yeah, I get it. Happy. Fucking explain now, so we’re not late getting in there.”

This time I ignore it when she flinches, and when another blush crawls up her freckled cheeks. “The fight with my family. Amber was telling our stepmom about you and kept insisting that your eyes were hazel, among otherah-mazing attributes you have. When I informed her that your eyes were in factnothazel, but blue, shit hit the fan. Anyway, it doesn’t matter. We’re going to be late getting in there, you know. We’ll figure out what you owe me later when I rock your world. Got some ballers to get up to par, am I right?”

With that, she flashes me a broad smile with perfectly straight, white teeth, then grips the handle to hop out of my SUV.

Jesus Christ, I can’t keep up with this woman.

Chapter 6

Squirrel Nuts

Haddie

Beau makes me feel unbalanced, and when I’m floundering, I know my mouth gets extra gauche.

I swing my bag in front of me and dig through it as I speed walk toward the library to get a moment alone while I recenter my crazy. Wrenching my phone free of the receipts and other random objects I don’t need; I swipe the screen to search for my text thread with Marcus.

Me: 911!!! I need you to tell me to stop being me.

Marcus: Never.

Marcus: Wait. You’re with the Captain, aren’t you?

Me: God, YES! Foot-in-mouth is a real condition. For the love of God, I need to be talked down.

Marcus: You’re nothing but extra special and fantastic. It’s okay to be yourself.

Me: Marcus. I need you to hear me right now. I PLOTTED A BOOK. With him. In the car. He had no escape.

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