Page 40 of Bound by Family
“No. Get this. He wanted her to lure the dancing guy outside so he could show him his karate moves. Like, legit. Dave even demonstrated in the bar with his hands how he would break the guy’s neck.”
“Oh, my God, just for dancing he’s going to kill him? Guy sounds like a nut.” My brothers would totally kick someone’s ass for this, but never kill them for it. At least, I don’t think so.
“I know, right? Well, the radio people are laughing hysterically, and Dave comes on the line. He then proceeds to tell Stacy that he had to defend her honor, and the only way to do that was to end this man for disrespecting him.”
“Wow.”
“I mean, I’m all for a guy sticking up for me and all, but this Dave guy went into it, talking about how he’s a master in karate and knows how to defend her. That he’ll protect her by any means necessary. On and on. Now, maybe if they’d been dating a while and they, like, love each other, I can see a man standing up like that, but this is their first date!”
I laugh hysterically, my stomach clenching and unclenching as I double over. “Holy shit, that’s funny as hell.”
“Yeah. Thank God that wasn’t us.”
“No shit. Wanna go shopping? I need a new bag.”
Leah rolls her eyes. “You don’t need a new bag; you just want one.”
“True.”
Women have all different obsessions when it comes to clothes and accessories. Mine are handbags. I love them. They don’t have to be the expensive, you-must-give-me-your-first-born-child ones. Nope. Some of the best ones I found are from discount retail stores. I don’t care about the name on the purse, or if it’s some great fashion designer that I’ve never heard of. Nope. I only care about how it feels when I carry it, and if I can put all my shit in it.
A day shopping with my best friend will keep me from checking my phone every few minutes, which I’m catching myself doing.
When it does ring, I’m looking at a blue bag that’s the color of Cooper’s eyes, and excitement courses through me. I hold up a finger to Leah and step away to the side.
“Hello?”
“Hey, beautiful.” His sexy as hell voice comes over the line, shaking me to my core.
No one can wipe the ear-to-ear grin from my face. How can two simple words make me feel so damn happy? Him calling me beautiful without even blinking is the best feeling in the world, besides being in his arms.
“Did you get some sleep?”
“Yeah, just rollin’ out of bed.”
I smirk. “Must be nice. Not all of us get to sleep the day away.”
“It’s a hard job, but somebody’s gotta do it.”
I look around, seeing Leah staring at me knowingly. I turn my back to her.
“I’m out shopping with Leah; can I call you back later?”
“Sure thing. Later.”
“Later.” I swipe the phone off and clutch it to my chest.
“You got a man,” Leah says from behind me, making me jump out of my skin.
“Don’t do that!”
“What? Come up behind you? Or tell you something you already know?”
“I’m not talking about it right now.” I move past her, grabbing the bag I was looking at and then setting it back down. I’m really over shopping right now, especially now that Leah has a bone and won’t let up.
“You have a guy, and you’re keeping him from me?” Her hands fly to her hips in bitch stance, and other people in the store start looking at us. Great.
“Later.” I skate around her and through the store toward the exit, Leah hot on my heels, blathering on.
