Page 82 of Beyond the Hate

“It’s good you have two police officers in your friend group,” Eli says.

I smack him. “Why do we need police officers?”

“You know exactly why.”

The kitchen door swings open and Lily hurries into the living room while fixing her hair. Jack follows her with a grin on his face.

Sophia moans. “My parents have been making out in the kitchen again.”

“What’s wrong? Are you jealous? Do you want to go make out in the kitchen?” Flynn waggles his eyebrows at her.

“Is this him?” Lily asks and makes a beeline for Eli.

“This is Sophia’s mom,” I introduce. “She gave us a safe place to misbehave while we were growing up.”

“Good. You needed one since your mother didn’t keep you safe.”

“You’ve met Paisley’s mother, Eleanor?” Lily asks.

Eli scowls. “If you can call her a mother.”

Lily smiles. “He has my seal of approval. Although, I always assumed you’d be in a polyamorous relationship.”

I groan. “Lily.”

She bats her eyelashes. “What?”

“I’m Lily’s husband.” Jack offers his hand to Eli. “She’s as much as a troublemaker as these kids.”

Lily huffs. “I am not a troublemaker.”

“And you didn’t bring up how Paisley enjoyed watching orgy porn when she was young either.”

“I insinuated. You’re the one who brought it up.”

My cheeks warm. “Can we stop discussing porn now? And, for the record, it isn’t as if I was watching porn constantly as a teenager.”

Eli shrugs. “I was.”

Chloe barks out a laugh. “He has my stamp of approval.”

Unlike Chloe, I don’t enjoy being the center of attention – especially when we’re discussing my watching porn as a teenager. I need to move this conversation on. “Are we going to play drunk poker or are we going to stand around all night?”

Chloe raises her hand. “I vote for standing around making fun of you all night.”

Eli squeezes my hand. “Paisley’s had enough teasing after a visit from her stepsisters.”

“The evil stepsisters came to your house?” Maya asks. “Why?”

“The oldest one, Wicked Regan, thinks she can steal me away from Paisley,” Eli answers.

Sophia shakes her head. “Those two always were delusional. Thinking they’re prettier than Paisley when they both need a boatload of make-up to hide all of their moles and hooked noses.”

As much as I appreciate my friends rallying around me, I don’t want to discuss my family. I want to spend the evening having a good time with my friends. Not dissecting everything my stepsisters said and did.

“I’m going to win poker tonight,” I announce.

Nova giggles. “You always win.”

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