Page 5 of One Pucking Destiny

“Seriously? A copy is coming from Amazon in two days. Read one of the other ten I got you instead.”

Scraping off the last bit of her chimichanga from the plate, she takes a bite. “It’s fine. I’m busy with you this weekend anyway. I’m just saying.”

“Saying what? That you’re spoiled?”

She releases a gasp of mock offense. “Hey, is it my fault that my twenty-four-year-old brother is a millionaire and loves to shower me with gifts? No.”

“You’re too much,” I kid.

The server comes back with another round of margaritas and our bill. Once again, I try to get the recipe or even a few key ingredients for the white queso, but he doesn’t budge.

“He’s not going to tell you,” Hattie states. “They don’t want to give away their secret recipe. It’d be bad for business. Visit Grandma. The pair of you can figure it out.”

She’s right that all my skills in the kitchen came from our grandmother, but she wouldn’t be helpful with this one. “You know the one cuisine that Grandma always messes up is Mexican food.”

“That’s true.” Hattie bobs her head. “She can’t handle any spice and botches the recipes.”

“Exactly, but don’t worry, I’ll figure it out.”

“I’m sure you will.” She nods toward my fresh margarita. “Drink up so we can get to the club.”

“Speaking of the club. Anthony isn’t going to be there, right?” The last person I want to hang out with is Hattie’s ex-boyfriend. The guy is a tool.

“I don’t think so, but you know, he’s not that bad.”

“Ugh,” I groan. “Please don’t tell me you’re thinking about getting back together with him?” There’s nothing blaringly wrong with the guy. He treats Hattie well. I can’t explain it. I just don’t like him.

“No.” She shakes her head and sits back in her seat. With the straw of her margarita between her lips, she says, “But sometimes we hook up.”

“What? Hattie, no.”

“Stop,” she whines. “I know you hate him.”

“I don’t hate him. I just think you can do better. You deserve the best.”

She reaches forward and squeezes my hand. “I know. Thank you. Don’t worry. I’m not getting back with him, but sometimes we sleep together—an exes-with-benefits type of thing.”

Bringing my hands to my ears, I cover them. “I can’t hear you.”

Hattie laughs. “Oh, twinnie… you’re crazy. I’ve survived hearing about all your puck bunny sex-capades, so you can handle my hookups with Anthony. And…” She quirks a brow. “When you really think about it, this is a good thing. See, I’ve already been with Anthony. Doing the whole friends-with-benefits thing with him stops me from going out to hook up with other guys.”

“Maybe my little sister should worry less about random sex and more about…I don’t know…anything else.”

She scoffs. “Little? Please. Don’t forget, I’m two months older.”

She has me there although I can’t help but see her as a little sister. I have this inherent need to take care of her.

“You ready to go?” I ask after I’ve paid the bill and we’ve finished our drinks.

Hattie stands from the table and splays her hand across her stomach. “Maybe I should re-think the crop top, given I have a ten-pound burrito baby in here.”

My sister is drop-dead gorgeous with or without a belly full of Mexican food. Still, she makes me laugh. “You look great.”

“True. Still, let’s swing by my apartment for a fit check nonetheless. Plus, I want to brush my teeth.”

“Sounds good.”

The air is filled with the scent of cheap beer, even cheaper cologne, a faint smell of sweat, and the occasional whiff of a fruity cocktail made in a lab, usually one containing coconut and strawberries. Is there anything better than a club jam-packed with drunk twentysomethings in a college town? Well, yeah, actually. But still… this is pretty awesome.

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