Page 67 of Never Kiss and Tell

I suck in a deep breath, willing myself to calm down.

“Oh, he cheated. Wasn’t worth it to me.”

Evian water girl snickers into her palm and I can see Priscilla fighting back a smile. “Why would he cheat on you, though? I mean, you’re a solid five.”

A five the man you keep pining over couldn’t keep his hands off last night.

Priscilla flips her hair over her shoulder and crosses her perfect manicured nails in front of her. “Of course, I’m sure you’re trying to work it out with him. Money, looks, a good social standing. He’s the perfect catch.” She leans forward and holds her hand up to cover her mouth, like she’s telling me a secret. “You know, Charliebeggedme to give him another chance, but he’s just too plain, you know? He’s not exciting enough. Maybe that’s what you need to do. Be more adventurous. Charlie wouldn’t know adventure if it hit him head on.”

All the girls laugh and it’s in this moment that something snaps in me.

“You know,” I say, raising my voice over their laughter. “It’s almost like you cheating on Charlie.”

Priscilla’s eyes go wide and the laughter cuts immediately. All four girls stare at me, frozen like they can’t believe what I just said.

“Excuse me?”

“Yeah, at least I have the good sense to see that Drew is a walking STD.” I shrug. “I guess Charlie hasn’t figured that out about you yet, but I’m sure the day will come.”

“Bailey,” Charlie’s voice cuts through the air behind me like the crack of a whip, almost making me jump. I hadn’t realized he could hear. A split second later and I feel his warm hand on my shoulder, gripping me roughly to try and pull me back.

But I’m not finished yet.

“And another thing,” I snap, attempting to shrug Charlie off. “Go somewhere else and act like middle schoolers. Families are trying to enjoy their dinners.”

“Bailey,now,” Charlie practically snarls in my ear. I let him drag me away from the table of soul-suckingHarry Potterdementors dressed up as Barbies and back through the kitchen doors.

He stops when we make it out into the back courtyard, practically dragging me the whole way and finally releases me. I stumble back a couple steps, almost falling on my ass.

I’m too pissed off to care. I can seeexactlywhy Andi doesn’t want her anywhere near Charlie. She’s a leech.

“What the fuck is wrong with you today?” Charlie snaps, his face red and his eyes wild underneath his guarded mask. It’s both terrifying andhot, making my body confused as to if it wants to lean in or run the other way.

“They’re all a bunch of brats,” I snap, crossing my arms over my chest. “She wouldn’tstop.”

“You can’t say that shit to customers,” he grits.

“Please, she’s only here to terrorize people. I wasn’t aware weaccepted payments from hell.”

“They are still customers.”

“She was being shitty about you! Am I just supposed to let her talk about you like that? She just uses you.”

He takes a step forward, his voice dropping to a deadly level.

“That’s not your fucking business. I don’t need you to fight my battles for me. Now, go back to work and fucking act right or I’ll send you home.”

“Please do,” I snap, but he’s already walking away from me.

He storms away, back into the restaurant and the door swings so hard it hits the brick wall behind it.

My lip shakes and tears threaten to fall, but I don’t let them. I did this and now I have to pay the consequences. It doesn’t mean I regret it. I don’t regret a single thing I said to them.

Truth is, I wanted to do more. I wanted to punch someone for the first time in my life. I’m not a violent person, but I am protective of my family. I guess Charlie is in that same category. Maybe a broken nose is what Priscilla deserves after what I assume has been a life of acting like she just did — I mean,ifI can even break a nose. I’m not sure if I’m strong enough.

Allowing myself a moment to catch my bearings, Lionel gives me a slow clap and Marybeth beams at me from the other side of the window.

I’m starting to see why Savannah never fails to speak her mind. It actually feels kind of nice.

---