Page 54 of A Little Moore Action
Her coming to their defense irritates the shit out of me. As does her logic. She doesn’t know my family’s history. Doesn’t know them. Should never have even met them.
“Oh, I’m sure Thomas and your new best friendEmcould’ve found a way.” I can’t help but sneer.
Bell takes a step back, pulling her hand free from mine. “Wait, are you mad atme? How did I become the bad guy here?”
My hand flexes with the loss. I take a deep breath, trying to recover from her withdrawal. I don’t like how quickly I calm at her touch. But I hate her physical retreat from it even more.
“I just sat through one of the most uncomfortable brunches in the history of brunches, which never even made it to actual food being served, and finished with your brother insinuating that I was some sort of prostitute-marketing-exec, which is the very reason I didn’t even want to start something with you, andyou’remad atme?”
Fuck. “No. No. Of course not.” I run a hand through my hair, trying to calm down. “Sorry, I’m just… it’s just… my brother and I don’t get along.”
“Really? I couldn’t tell.” Sarcasm heightens her Southern accent, and she plants her hands on her hips. When I keep silent, she quirks a brow, daring me not to explain.
I clear my throat. “In fact, I don’t really get along with my family in general.”
She lets out an exasperated breath. “What about Liz? You seemed to get along with her just fine last night.”
Remembering the bar last night and the laughter between Bell and Liz settles the churning in my chest. “Okay, so I only get along with Liz.”
She cocks her head to the side in that adorable way she has when she’s trying to figure things out.
“Does Liz feel this way about the rest of your family?”
“Ah, no, actually.” It’s just me that’s the outcast. Me who can’t measure up. “Besides my father, who mostly just ignores her, Liz is on good terms with our mother and brother.” I pause as I remember Liz calling Thomas a douche. “I think. I’ve never really asked her. We don’t really bring them up when we hang out.”
“I see.”
I bet she does. She’s too smart, too quick to not see how I’m the misfit in the family. The last choice to run the company. The one who flies off the handle while Thomas remains unaffected and practical. Today has been just another moment in my life where he’s come out on top. The Golden Boy wins again.
“Thomasisa bit of an ass.”
Her comment surprises a laugh out of me.
She tilts her head to the other side, a smile playing on her gorgeous lips. “What? Is this one of those instances where you can insult your family, but no one else can?”
I reach for her, my hands sliding under hers on her hips, pleased when instead of her arms just dropping to her sides, they encircle my neck. “No, no. Insult away.” My grip on her tightens, and thankfully, she lets me pull her closer. Lets me nuzzle the tip of her nose with my own.
She smiles then, a real smile, her body now flush with mine. “How about instead of wasting any more time on stuck-up T-money, we go get some breakfast tacos?”
“Breakfast tacos?” I smile wider, amazed that after such a long encounter with my brother I can smile at all. “You sure? I could probably get us into Wolfgang’s for an exceptional late brunch.”
“Nah. Who needs white linen and oysters when you can have tinfoil and chorizo?”
“You’re a girl after my own heart, Ms. King.”
Better yet, the one who is starting to own it.
A large gulpof Coke helps cool the heat from the chorizo. Bell was right: This is just what we needed.
Sitting on a bench in Central Park, the silence, for once, is comfortable as we alternate between people-watching and bites of spicy breakfast tacos.
“These are great.” I raise the last of my taco. “I can’t believe I’ve never tried them before.”
“I can’t believe the stand is there after all these years.” She wipes a trickle of salsa off her chin, grinning. “I’ve missed New York.”
Her smile is infectious, as is her joy at being back in the city. But something nags at me.
“I don’t get it. If you love the city so much, why go back to Texas?”
