Page 12 of My Ex-Best Friends

I waited until she was far enough from the table to turn on Aunt Karlene. “Stop it. You’re messing with me because I didn’t listen to you about Finn. I get it. I was wrong. You were right. Okay?”

“Oh, Brooke. You have no idea what’s coming your way.” She wagged her brows at me and adjusted her leather headband when it slipped. I wasn’t sure just how many layers of lace and silk she was wearing but I’d never deny that she and Mom had acertain look that worked for them. “Now, tell me how your night was. I saw you with a lot of men last night.”

A soft gasp from the table behind me had me slapping my hand to my forehead. I looked back at the older couple I vaguely recognized. “She didn’t mean it like that. I wasn’t with a lot of men last night.”

“Were too. At least a dozen, I’d say.”

The woman behind me started gathering her purse. “Well, I never.”

I glared at Aunt Karlene until the couple were out of earshot. “This is why I moved away and didn’t come back.”

“You moved away and didn’t come back because you had several great orgasms from your besties and freaked out because I told you that you were going to marry one of them. Only because marrying three men at once is illegal.” She raised her eyebrows in a silent dare. “You forget that I know you, Brooklyn. I know you and I know the way you work. Plus, I’m a badass psychic.”

“You’re not a psychic.” I grumbled and looked away. “I’m not talking about this anymore. It’s not going to do me any favors.”

“And you only talk about things that do you favors?” She could tell she was pushing me too far and it made her throw her head back and cackle. “God, you’re easy to rile up.”

“Can I come over and borrow some clothes?” I begrudgingly acknowledged that maybe I took after the women in my family and dressed a little like Stevie Nicks. It wasn’t my fault. I’d been raised by crazy women.

“Sure. What else are you doing in town today, besides hiding from your men?”

Kara appeared with my coffee and smiled at me with wide eyes. “Henry said you used to eat a waffle with peanut butter and jelly, topped with a shitload of bacon. His words, not mine. Is this still your order?”

I glanced towards the back and saw the cook who’d been cratchety when I was a teenager staring back at me. As soon as we made eye contact, he scowled and disappeared back into the kitchen. Something about the cranky old man remembering my order made me oddly emotional. I had to clear my throat and look away.

“That’s still her order. Thanks, Kara.” Aunt Karlene put her finger to her temple and let her eyes roll back. “I see a new beau in your future. Someone with…blonde hair.”

Kara clapped her hands together excitedly. “Oh, my gosh! Is it Brian Rains? It’s totally Brian Rains, isn’t it?”

“I guess we’ll see what the future holds, won’t we?”

I narrowed my eyes at my aunt but I was grateful for the moment of emotion passing. After Kara left, Aunt Karlene looked back at me and rolled her eyes. I grunted at her. “You’re a nut.”

“Back to my earlier question. What are you doing today?” She eyed my coffee and winced. “You’re going to put hair on your chest drinking that stuff.”

“Is that an official prediction?”

“You’re a brat. Has anyone ever told you that?”

I grinned. “Oddly enough, yes.”

11

***Brooke***

“Ineed to find a job. Finn was screwing my boss so I don’t exactly think I want to ask her if I can telecommute.” I cut into my waffle and ate a bite with a whole piece of bacon. After I finished chewing, I took a big gulp of coffee and fanned my mouth when it burned me. “Shit.”

“So, I’ve been seeing someone. Not exclusively, of course. I have to keep myself open for the spirits who visit during the night. Some of them are hotties.” She grinned. “Anyway, this guy. His name is Dakota Simmons. He’s the new head of tourism at city hall. I happen to think he’d be willing to do me a favor if I asked sweetly enough.”

“Where’s this going?”

“Let’s go talk to him when you finish that monstrosity. He’s been wanting to start a new project to make the town a little more attractive after the storm damage. I told him I had a feeling an artist was on the way to town and he didn’t believe me. This is going to meet multiple of my needs.” She sighed when she sawhow much food I had left. “I don’t have all day, Brooke. I’m a busy woman.”

“I love you, but I’m not sure I like you.” I shoved two more bites into my mouth, finished my coffee, and then stood up. “Don’t get your bloomers in a twist. I’m ready.”

“Go outside and tell Officer Keagen that if he gives me a parking ticket, I’ll curse his mouthy mother.” Standing in a flourish of lace and grace, Aunt Karlene waved her hands to shoo me along. “I’ll pay for breakfast but if I get a ticket, I’m going to be pissed.”

I shot her one last glare and made my way outside to find her car. Half a block down the street sat a chartreuse VW bug with a rainbow flag attached to the antennae and I didn’t have to jump too far to come to the assumption that it was my aunt’s. As I started that way I noticed a police officer looking at it from across the street. My stomach sank and I swore under my breath before breaking out in a jog to beat him to the car. My head protested but I wasn’t going to face another of Aunt Karlene’s I told you so’s.

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