Page 51 of My Ex-Best Friends

My shoulders drooped as I made my way to their table. I knew I was going to be in trouble for stealing the stolen walking stick.

Aunt Karlene put her finger to her head andwoo-ed. “I see an ass whoopin’ in your future.”

I slunk in next to her and tried to smile at Mom. “Sorry. I was desperate. The guys can’t cook every morning and I don’t want to.”

“I should steal that stick back and hit you over the head with it.” Mom crossed her arms. “And I’m just in the mood to do it, too.”

“Jimmy dumped her.” Aunt Karlene licked her fingers after taking a bite of syrup drenched pancake like it was finger food.

“No, he didn’t!” Mom’s voice was shrill as she leaned over the table, towards me and Aunt Karlene. “We decided it together. Your aunt got in my head about those stupid compression socks and I asked him to take them off. The man had the audacity to tell me to get over it. What an asshole.”

I looked at my aunt. “And Dakota? Has he forgiven you for your bad behavior?”

Mom snorted. “He told her that she’s the reason he’s giving up on the dark arts.”

“It’s a bunch of hogwash if you ask me. He was never serious about it.” She sniffed. “And I already made plans to go giggin’ with Brent and David.”

“He’s a married man, for god’s sake, Karlene.” Shaking her head, Mom turned on me. “And you. I heard you were screwing Logan on the sidewalk by your nice painting.”

“You think it’s nice?” I kind of did, too. It was coming together. “Wait. You ruining things with Dakota isn’t going to hurt my job, is it?”

“Of course, it’s nice, Brooklyn. You’re an artist.” Mom rolled her eyes. “Focus on the public coitus, though.”

“I was just sitting on his lap. We were talking, that’s all.” I pressed my lips together as tight as possible but I still failed to remember I didn’t have to act like my mom and aunt. “I love them. Logan and I all but said it to each other yesterday. Is that crazy?”

Aunt Karlene tapped her head. “I tell you and I tell you that I know things and you never believe me.”

“Oh, come off it, Karlene. You see three men lusting after my daughter and see her drooling after them. Of course, this is where it was heading.”

“If you weren’t my sister, I’d curse the shit out of you on a daily basis.” Aunt Karlene looked at me and patted my cheek. “You take after me, thank god. Your mom had no imagination.”

They argued back and forth but my eyes were caught on the person who’d just walked into the diner. Finn Love. He was tan and wearing swim trunks, like he’d been taking a leisurely vacation. When he spotted me, his smile widened and he came right over.

“Brookie!” He knelt next to me, blocking me into the booth. “I came to find you.”

Mom hissed like a feral street cat. “You mean you didn’t find her between her boss’ legs?”

Aunt Karlene put her finger to her temple. “You are already cursed with a small dick and a shitty personality. It would be cruel to add more to your plate.”

I bit back a laugh and leaned away from him. “No, thanks, Finn.”

He waddled closer. “Don’t be like that. I wanted to talk. I need to run something by you.”

“Whatever you need to say to Brooklyn, you can say to us.” Mom picked up her butterknife. “Careful how you say it, though.”

He blanched. “Um… Outside, please?”

I shook my head. “I said no, thanks.”

“Look, I didn’t want to have to do this, Brookie, but it’s my dad.” He looked down and when he looked back up at me, there were tears in his eyes.

I wasn’t the world’s biggest fan of his dad, but he was world’s better than Finn or his mother. “Is he okay?”

“No! He snapped and lost his mind. He’s still in control of grandpa’s estate and he’s cutting me off. He found out about Meredith and he’s angry. He’s angrier than I’ve ever seen him.”

Aunt Karlene cackled. “Well, pumpkin, I guess that sucks for you.”

I couldn’t help it. I threw my head back and laughed with her. I laughed until I was crying and holding my sides. “Oh, god. That’s too good.”

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