Page 60 of Inviting Trouble
“Shh,” Mad said.
“That is ridiculous!” Hailey practically shouted. “You’re everybody’s type!”
“Geez, keep your voice down,” Mad said.
Hailey went on as if she hadn’t heard her. “A smart, confident, educated woman. If he doesn’t see that—”
“Yeah, I think he’s a liar,” Ally put in. She cupped a hand near her mouth and said in a stage whisper, “He’s checking out your ass right now.”
Mad stiffened. For real? She peeked over her shoulder at Park, who turned to say something to Josh.
“You guys,” Mad said, completely exasperated, “I know you’re just trying to make me feel better. He likes petite girly girls. That’s not me.”
“You look petite to me,” Lauren said. She was kinda tall, at least four inches taller than Mad.
“To me too,” Charlotte said, who was nearly as tall as Lauren.
Ally grinned. “I’m petite and you’re my size.”
Hailey threw an arm around Mad’s shoulders. “And you’re definitely pretty when you’re not scowling.”
Mad scowled.
“Turn that frown upside down,” Carrie, a sweet nurse with glasses, quipped, doing a big exaggerated frown-to-smile gesture that nearly made her tip her white wine.
Missy Higgins, a brunette in her twenties and a new member of the group, put a hand on her hip. “I don’t get why women have to be smiling all the time. Maybe I don’t feel like smiling. Does that make me a bitch?”
“No,” the women chorused.
“I have a scary resting bitch face,” Charlotte said, giving them a dead-eye stare. “I like it that way.”
Missy gave her a fist bump.
“But you look cute when you smile,” Hailey said to Missy, completely missing the point. Hard to fight years of pageant training. “How do you like Clover Park?” Missy was new to town and the sister-in-law of a former book club member.
“I like it,” Missy said. “I got a good start with the Marino family sort of taking me in. I go to all the Sunday family dinners with Nico and Lily.” That was Missy’s sister. “Plus I met these two at the apartment complex.” She turned to smile at Sabrina and Lexi.
“And we’re awesome,” Sabrina said, lifting one hand in the air.
“True dat,” Lexi agreed. They toasted each other, clinking their plastic glasses of champagne.
“You should definitely flirt with Park,” Charlotte said. “He’s into you for sure. See where things go.”
“I don’t know how to flirt,” Mad muttered.
“Ah,” Hailey said, “my specialty. It’s a dance. You lean in, pull back, give him a chance to lean toward you. Yes?”
Mad stared at her blankly. “I have no idea what you mean and I’m a terrible dancer.”
“I’ll show you.” Hailey smiled sweetly and leaned close to Mad. “Hi. Great party.”
Mad backed off. “Don’t flirt with me. Show me with a guy.”
Hailey flicked her hair over one shoulder. “Okay. Pick one.”
Mad looked around. Most of the men seemed to be with someone. Of course, there was Josh, but that wasn’t really a fair example. He liked to mess with Hailey too much to go along with it. Then she zeroed in on a guy in his thirties, dark hair parted to the side, and a wide grin.
She pointed. “That guy.”
