Page 102 of The Proposal Pact
Stupidly hot and clearly has some kind of history with our Zoe, who’s still home, recovering from her daughter’s birth last week. But I’m not sure on the details, being too preoccupied with my own situation. And by situation I mean, I’ve been too preoccupied falling in love with my emotionally unavailable husband to pay attention to anything going around me.
I sigh, suddenly not in the mood to be at the bar or have fun.
I spy Clover seated with Griff and Luke in that corner who are now joined by Alec and Jacob as well. Joy looks like she’s about to murder them all, and after a few more minutes, she’s coming over to us, holding her virgin cocktail.
“You left the grumpy corner,” Grace states when she spots her oldest sister.
“It became mopey and that’s just not my thing. And anyway, I’m leaving.”
“Already? Why?” Hope asks.
“Zoe needs help with baby Mellie,” she tells Hope, but her eyes—or rather a death glare—is directed at Matteo who suddenly stopped wiping the glass he was holding and now does his best to pretend he’s not eavesdropping.
“Want some help?”
“Nope, we’ll be fine all on our own.” Again, with that pointed look at Matteo, she bids us all farewell and leaves.
“Um, what’s that all about?” I ask Grace quietly.
“Long story, but the short version is that Matteo is a chicken-shit.”
“Hey!” The man in question shouts. “I’m not a chicken-shit. She didn’t want me there.”
“Uh-huh, sure thing.” Grace waves him off, and I swear that glass he was wiping is about to be in a million shards by the look of those flared nostrils and narrowed eyes but to my surprise, Matteo doesn’t say anything back, instead turning to me, asking for my drink order.
Soon enough, he’s busy making it, and Grace and Hope sigh. “You think he’ll finally figure it out?” one asks the other.
“I sure hope so,” Grace mutters and turns her attention to me. “But enough about that. Now, you, Mrs. Lovinski.”
“What about me?”
“Was the make-up sex good?”
I nearly choke on the drink that Matteo just set in front of me.
“Make-up sex?” Hope squeals. “Oh, what did he do? Or was it you?”
“Okay.” Julie scrunches her nose. “Can we skip the sex details, but do tell what happened.”
Fortunately, I don’t have to say anything because my dear best friend is all too happy to tell the girls the whole story with some extra effects from earlier today.
“Oh my gosh,” Hope whisper-shouts after hearing all about Callum being the caveman. “Thatwasworthy of make-up sex! Wait, is the other guy still alive?”
Finally, I laugh. “Yes, the other guy was smart enough to leave my angry ogre. I’d be surprised if he wasn’t halfway across the state by now.”
Suddenly, Grace starts coughing and choking on her own drink.
“Gracie?” we all ask but she just motions somewhere behind me but I’m too busy making sure she’s okay to look.
“Halfway across the state you say? Sweet Harry, is he suicidal?” Grace whispers, still coughing.
“Who?” Before she can answer, thehein question speaks up.
“Hey, dream girl. Fancy seeing you here.” A voice I’ve already heard once before today makes my head turn. Alan, the same guy from Peace Out diner, is standing right next to me at the bar, holding a beer, and looking at me with that dazzling, dimpled smile of his as his eyes rake openly over me.
Theè mou, heissuicidal!
There’s no hiding his appreciation or the dirty thoughts running through his head. I’m pretty sure anyone around us can see it written all over his face.
