Page 121 of These Pucking Boys: Part Two

“Only I what?”

“Only you would get fired and proceed to get shot protecting a former student.” He laughs.

I get half hugs from May and April, then from my father and finally Mom. She’s still prickly around the boys, but at least she’s no longer saying out loud what she thinks—that our heathen ways will get us a first-class ticket to Hell.

“I can’t believe they fired you,” April chimes in. “Aren’t sex tapes, like, the norm in LA?”

Oh my God. She had to mention the video.

“Really, April?” May glares at her. “You had to bring it up.”

“It’s fine. I need to get used to that topic coming up in conversation.”

“No, you don’t, sweetheart.” Jake places a hand on the small of my back. “People should know better than to remind you of that.”

April’s face turns bright red before she drops her gaze to the floor. “Sorry, June.”

“Let’s hope that’s the last scandal in your life,” Mom says, annoying me.

“Hmm... I don’t know, Mom. I think I need a few more before I retire.”

My comment does what I intended—it ruffles her feathers. She squares her shoulders and says she’s going to check on the catering. Dad gives me an apologetic glance before he goes after her.

“She’s never going to accept my choice, is she?” I ask no one in particular.

“Maybe once you get married,” August replies, then he looks at the boys. “No hurry though. I’m more than fine with June taking all of our mother’s attention.”

“Can’t make any promises,” Ryan replies, making my sisters’ eyes go rounder.

“You’re proposing?” April asks loudly.

Now everyone is looking at us expectantly. Shit. Do they think it’s going to happennow? Oh my God, what if that’s their plan?

Melissa is suddenly near us. Maybe she saw my panic and came rescue. “June, I’m so glad you’re finally out of the depressing hospital.”

“Yeah, me too.”

She’s no longer hiding her face under sunglasses, and her busted lip has healed. However, her bright eyes are sad, despite her smile. I didn’t have a chance to ask her about it, but I feel like I need to at least try to get her to open up.

“Hey, can you come and help me with my makeup?” I ask her. “The boys gave me no warning, and I probably look like a troll.”

“You do not look like a troll, lass,” Lachy reassures me.

Melissa smiles. “Of course. Lead the way.”

I give the living room and the rest of the guests a wide berth and rush into Lachy’s bedroom, which is the closest.

“Where’s your makeup bag? In the bathroom?” Melissa asks.

“No. I don’t have anything here. I just wanted to talk to you in private.”

She arches her brow. “Oh? About what?”

“Before you came to see me at the hospital, did you really have an accident?”

She flattens her lips and then turns to the window. “Was it that obvious that it wasn’t?”

“Only to me and Jake. Lachy and Ryan didn’t notice the bruise.”

---