Page 88 of Laws of Love
“Yet,” Riquie countered. “Unfortunately for you, if Lila decides she wants to, you won’t have much choice. She’s a brat like that.”
Ezra smirked. “I don’t mind brats.”
“I rest my case,” Riquie responded, and they chuckled.
Knox’s phone vibrated, and he pulled it out to find a message from Aiva. He responded before putting his phone away.
“They’re finished at the spa,” he told the table before downing the rest of his drink.
“I guess that means we’re headed to that damn magic show,” EJ stated. “How did we get roped into that again?”
“We were outvoted,” Ezra responded, and four sets of eyes glared at Knox since he’d abstained from voting, not caring either way.
They exited the bar, heading towards their rooms to meet the women. The magic show was set to start in an hour, and Marreigh had demanded they arrive early to get good seats.
They were sitting in a lounge later that evening after dinner. Aiva and her sisters had enjoyed their spa treatment, and the magic show Marreigh had been excited to see afterward was better than any of them probably thought it would be. Even EJ, who’d been adamant that he wouldn’t like it, seemed to enjoy it. Afterward, they separated for a while before meeting for dinner and going to the lounge.
Soft music played, and Aiva monitored Riquie, whom Marreigh had already slipped two drinks. She was probably the only one he’d be able to convince to give him one easily. Lila would also probably fold if he pestered her enough, while the rest of them would give him a definitive no and not order him one; they also wouldn’t rain on his parade while he got them.
Knox’s hand rested on her thigh, his middle finger rubbing circles into it as he and Ali talked. Her little brother worked at a rehab facility and was finishing his master’s in exercise science. She knew he wanted to open his own facility once he had, and was likely roping her boyfriend into client referrals for when he did.
Aiva turned her attention to the dance floor, where Lila had dragged Ezra minutes prior. She wasn’t sure what Ezra was always whispering in her sister’s ear, but it never failed to make Lila laugh or smile. So, if she liked it, Aiva loved it. She also got the sense that Ezra was a good guy. She was protective of her siblings, and while she always let them make their own mistakes and kept her input to herself unless asked for, she was not above getting someone together over them.
Meila and Eva returned from the bar, and a minute later, Ezra and Lila rejoined the group. They’d settled in a corner with couches and chairs around a coffee table.
The boat was docking at their first destination tomorrow, and they were talking about the excursion they were doing when a woman approached their table.
“Yeah, hi,” she interrupted. “You were rude to my friend earlier,” she said, pointing at Ali.
Ali shrugged. “I’m rude to many people. Be more specific.”
The woman’s eyes narrowed. “Earlier today in the sports bar,” she clarified.
“Ah, I should have known. You look like you’d be friends.”
“What is that supposed to mean?”
“What it sounds like, and I wasn’t rude to her. I told her the truth; if she found it rude, that’s her problem.”
“Who do you think you are? Where do you get off—”
“It could have been on her face were I interested in what she was offering, but as it stands, none of us are,” Ali responded, bored.
Aiva pressed her lips together as many of the others chuckled, but Lila found the situation hilarious. She wasn’t surprised that her brother offended someone earlier in the day. It honestly wasn’t a vacation if he didn’t a few times. He was blunt and straightforward, and while most people used that as an excuse to say something mean, Ali was always honest in his responses or questions. His twin finding it funny was always a result.
“I’m glad you’re amused,” the woman stated, pointing at the women in attendance, and Aiva raised a brow. “So much for women supporting women.”
“I’m all for the girls, but I do not support all women. Some of you are dumb,” Eva responded. “You are a prime example. You didn’t have to come over here at all. You brought this embarrassment on yourself, and I can assure you while my brother probably said something your friend found rude, it likely wasn’t unprovoked.”
“What he said to you,” Marreigh began. “Was provoked. You came over here looking for a reaction, and you got one. It wasn’t the one you expected, but it damn sure was the one you deserved.”
“Now go away before you embarrass yourself even more,” Lila instructed.
“Or if you’re feeling froggy, you can meet me outside,” Meila added. “It’s been a while since I had a good fight.”
Aiva sighed. “If that’s what you choose, you can bring your friends. I don’t enjoy fighting as much as some of my sisters, but I will, and I’ll be more prone to throw someone overboard.”
The woman looked between them momentarily before doing an about-face and returning to where she came from. Aiva turned her attention to Ali.
