Page 54 of No Place Like Home
I was in such a good mood that day that Tonya’s comments all afternoon didn’t even irritate me. I couldn’t figure out if it was because she was actually less irritating, or if my naughty thoughts about her son—his warm lips as they kissed all over my body, his arms as he held me tight, sleeping next to him every night without her knowing—gave me a joy that her irritation couldn’t penetrate.
Now it was Thursday, and I was at Jerry’s Pub with Kora, Darlene, Susie, and Lilly. We were meeting for one last wedding plan review. I swear, if we did any more wedding reviews, I was going to strangle Kora. It was a small wedding at a ranch, not a royalball. What else could we possibly learn? I didn’t know, but I was there, once again, and ready to receive last-minute information. So annoying.
They were all there when I entered—just a little late. Rowan and I had another fun night, and tearing myself away from him was a little difficult. He was going back to Texas for his interview in a week, and I didn’t know whether he’d be coming back or staying there, so I was trying to get my fill of him for as long as I could.
“Hey, Summer,” Kora chimed as I walked up to the table. She stood and gave me a hug.
“Good morning,” I said.
“It’s a little late for morning,” Darlene said. “It’s about noon.
I sat, took a sip of the mimosa waiting for me, and shrugged. She was right, and I had no reason to argue.
“So,” Darlene said, cocking her head and narrowing her eyes at me, “you showed up lateandyou’re awfully chipper. What’s up with that?”
I held her gaze and said, “Well, it’s been a great week, and my best friend’s marrying an amazing guy. Maybe it’s giving me a little hope in humanity.”
Lilly leaned forward. “I seriously doubt that. Who are you and what did you do with Summer?”
I wasn’t going to let these women get to me or ruin my mood. I took another drink of my mimosa and, suddenly starving, dug into the breakfast burrito bites on the table. Damn they were good, and there weren’t nearly enough. I cleaned the plate and finished my mimosa.
“Maybe some hot times in the hay with my cousin is creating this new happier Summer,” Kora added, eyeing me as I licked my fingers. “Though itisa little creepy.”
I glanced around the table. They all had ridiculous grins on their faces and watched me expectantly. I had to change the subject. “You asked us here. It’s lunch. The mimosas are gone. Are you going to feed us now and maybe spring for some margs?” I stopped. Their grins were now annoying. “What? I missed dinner last night.”
“I bet you did,” Darlene said.
Kora, Susie, and Lilly laughed.
Trevor showed up to save the day. He dropped off nachos, the mini tacos we loved, and a pitcher of margaritas. Thank God.
“Here you go, ladies,” he said. “Good afternoon, Summer. Good to see you finally made it outside before dark with the long hours you’re keeping with my best friend.”
I shot Trevor an eat-shit-and-die glare, but I couldn’t deny it, which only served to prove all their suspicions correct.
“So, itistrue,” Darlene said as she sat up straighter and moved to the edge of her seat.
Dammit. These nosy-ass friends. “He doesn’t know what he’s talking about,” I said.
“Oh, I call bullshit,” Kora said. “Rowan tells Trevor things he doesn’t tell me, and he’s been here a lot. Maybe he’s venting and getting everything off his chest? Give up the goods, Trev.”
Trevor put up his hand and took a step back. He was a smart guy at times. “I don’t know. I just walked into something, and now I’ve gotta get out of it.” He backed away like he was walking out of pasture full of cow shit in Crocs—which was a pretty true comparison at this point.
I took another sip of my margarita, then clasped my hands on the table. Here goes nothing. “We like each other more than ‘just friends’.”
Kora laughed. “No kidding!”
“We’ve known that for ages,” Darlene added. “There’s got to be something going on.”
“Fine,” I said. Rowan had kept his promise, time for me to step things up. “We’re an item.”
I held up my hands and shook my head to ward off all the ear-splitting squeals and hollers that erupted around the table. It did nothing.
Trevor appeared out of nowhere, pulled up a chair, and sat backward on the seat. “About damn time,” he said.
“I knew it,” Kora yelled.
“Good for you,” Lilly chimed in.
