Page 35 of Here and Now
Ashton takes a sip of her wine and shrugs. “If you say so, but I vote for the dirty sex with the hot ex-hockey player turned marine.”
“You would.”
“Hey, what can I say? I have a thing for a man in uniform.”
I snort. “I know.”
“You know, if you really want to piss your brother off, tell him how much better the marines are than the SEALs.”
I laugh and drain the rest of my glass. “I think I’ll keep Quinn on my good side for now.”
“You do that, I’ll keep pushing for you to live a little while you’re here.”
“Iamliving.”
“Okay, live like a twenty-seven-year-old woman and get some then,” Ashton says as she refills my glass.
“And where does that get me?”
“Orgasmville if there’s such a place.”
I laugh, loving my sister-in-law for giving me some girl time, which is clearly something I needed. “If there is, it’s been a while since I’ve visited.”
“I’m going to hold back my commentary since I’m married to your brother.”
“I appreciate that.”
“Just know it’s a lovely village and worth the trip. If this hockey coach wants to take you for a quick trip, I wouldn’t say no,” she suggests.
“I’ll keep that in mind.”
“You do that. So what’s his name?”
I drop my head back. “Ugh, you’re killing me.”
“You know, if you weren’t being so weird about it, I wouldn’t keep hounding you.”
I’m not being weird about it. I’m being pragmatic. There can be nothing between Miles and myself. We’re not even really friends. He’s just a nice guy who lives in town.
“You know you’re making this up in your head,” I tell her.
“I see it on your face, Penny, you like him and I would bet my paycheck that the next time we talk, you’re going to admit it.”
I shake my head, refusing to even consider it, because all that willhappen in the end is that I leave this town, and I can’t afford another broken heart.
No, this is for the best. Keep to the rules and stay away from the sexy former marine and all his charm.
“Do you want an update?” Quinn asks from the kitchen table. We finished dinner and the boys are out back playing.
“I don’t know, do I?”
My brother shrugs. “I’m not sure if it’s much of an update, really.”
Ashton sighs. “You’re really bad at this, babe.”
“What? Last time you told me I updated her too much and gave her anxiety, like she didn’t already have that. Now I’m asking, like youinstructedin the car?—”
“Instructed?” Ashton’s voice turns lethal. Oh, he’s in for it now. “I do notinstructyou, Quinn. I merely educate you on how dumb you are.”
