Page 54 of Forbidden Hearts
I turn before he can say anything else and head over to Melinda and the two other girls who I cheered with. “Ahhh!” Rebecca yells as I walk over. “It’s you! You look freaking hot. Trying to pick up some guys, I see.”
“No, just needed to feel pretty,” I say, pulling her into a hug. “You look amazing.”
“Thanks, marriage suits me.”
“And me!” Tara says as she thrusts her incredibly large rock in my face.
What is it with all these girls and getting married?
Also, how are they the vipers if all but one of them has a husband at home? Oh, my head hurts.
“Wow, congrats to all of you! Seems like I missed a lot of weddings.”
Tara pulls me into the chair beside her. “Tell us everything. Why are you back? How is it working with Asher freaking Whitlock? He’s so hot. Every girl here has a huge crush on him.”
“I’m sure your husbands all love that,” I joke, but not really.
Once again, that thread of jealousy starts to wrap its way around my throat.
“Oh, please,” Melinda says with a laugh. “Tara’s husband is a developer, and he’s never around. He couldn’t care less what she does as long as she’s discreet.”
“Melinda!” she hisses.
“Becca is a different story. Her husband is overly jealous, which is why she flirts so damn much. She likes reminding him how lucky he is,” Melinda finishes.
At least Becca doesn’t seem bothered by what she said. “It works for us.”
“Then that’s great.” I have no room to judge any of them. “As long as you’re all happy.”
Tara takes my hands in hers. “In about an hour, this place will be packed. The ranchers all need to clean up, and then they’ll come down, needing a tall drink of woman.”
“I can’t wait.”
We spend the next hour catching up. They seem equally excited and confused by my career choice to be an audiologist. Melinda is actually the most supportive one since her niece is hard of hearing, and she asks me a million questions.
As we talk, eat some appetizers, and they pound drinks, the bar fills up a lot. There are definitely more guys than girls, which works perfectly for me.
“All right, it’s showtime.”
“Showtime?” I ask as Melinda and Tara rise.
“It’s time to get free drinks.”
I lift my Diet Coke and shrug. “I’m good.”
Now I understand why they needed me to be the designated driver, they have a system. Not that it bothers me to be the sober one. My grandpa was a raging alcoholic, so I tend to avoid drinking when possible.
Melinda and Tara head to the bar, leaving Becca and me at the table. “You’re not going?” I ask.
She shrugs. “I actually think I might head home. I’m going to get a ride.”
“Okay,” I say, not sure what else to say. “I can take you.”
“No need. I have a meeting in the morning, and I can get a ride. Can you tell the girls I said I’ll call them tomorrow?”
“Sure . . .”
She ducks out, leaving me alone. Well, I came here to flirt and be young and stupid, so I might as well.
