Page 40 of On a Fault Line

Claire makes a face at me. “Don’t give that man any sympathy. He made me this way.”

“Now, Penny, tell us more about this guy of yours,” Angie insists.

“It’s complicated,” I supply.

Angie lets out a huff, bouncing back onto the bed toward the bottom. “Always is.”

Claire clears her throat, coughing into her elbow. “Is he the same guy that got delivered the cock cake?”

I nod. “Yup.”

Claire taps her jaw, looking deep in thought. “Okay. Then there’s only one other way to get him to see what he’s missing out on.”

Angie folds her hands in prayer in front of her, looking up to the ceiling and muttering quietly, “Please give this girl sound advice.”

“It’s all about making him jealous.”

“Oh, no,” Angie blurts out, breaking out of her pose.

“Oh, yes!”

Angie cringes. “Please tell me you don’t have a plan.” I imagine she’s the voice of reason for about ninety-five percent of Claire’s ideas.

Claire pumps her fist into the air. “Oh yes! Nothing revs up the libido on a man more than thinking another dick is in a few yards’ radius. And it’s a twofer plan. Not only will it test this guy’s attraction toward you, but it will also serve as a way of getting you noticed with another potential match.”

“And how does this plan work?” I ask, intrigued but also scared.

“It’s simple.”

“It never is,” Angie adds, making Claire fake scoff.

“Keep in mind, Angie, it was little ol’ me who got you back together with Graham during your breakup with a similar plan.”

“That plan was a hot mess! You secretly forced me into a double date.”

I suck in my bottom lip and then pop it out. “I bet my brother lost his mind.”

Claire nods eagerly. “Yup. And it worked, thank you very much.”

I shrug to Angie. “She has a point.”

“I do,” Claire interjects, snapping her fingers for attention. “You just need to start living your best life.”

I let out an awkward laugh. “I feel like that will need its own separate mission. How do I even do that?”

Claire thinks about it thoughtfully for a moment, obviously winging this as she goes. “Ask Angie for details. She’s the expert.”

My eyes move to my sister-in-law’s. She shrugs.

“Tell her, Angie,” Claire encourages.

“Tell her what?”

“Tell her how when you first met Graham, you decided to defy him at every chance you got.”

“She still defies me,” Graham chimes in from the doorway.

“Stop eavesdropping!” I scold, making Angie giggle.

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