Page 63 of Inviting Trouble
“Yeah.”
“I told you that stuff is crap.” Josh was a foodie and disapproved of fast food. Sometimes comfort food hit the spot, though. She’d gone by herself, quietly enjoying the decadent meal of fried chicken, French fries, fried corn bread, and coleslaw. The past couple of days had been rough for her, trying to come to terms with the fact that she wasn’t Park’s type. Why did he say that if it wasn’t true? He was usually so careful of her feelings.
She looked over to where Park and Ethan stood and back to Josh, who still held her drink hostage. “Can I please have my drink?”
He let go. “Fine. Start your New Year with a hangover.”
She saw the caring in his deep brown eyes and caved. “Okay, I’ll sip,” she said on a sigh. She had to pick her battles with her overprotective brothers.
He dipped his head and went to help another customer.
She shifted over to Park and Ethan. “Charlotte wants a turn dancing with you, Eth.”
Ethan raised a brow. “Never keep a lady waiting.” He strolled over and took Charlotte’s hand, who looked surprised for a moment but then quickly went with it.
Mad set her scotch on the bar and turned to Park. “Why did you say I wasn’t your type?”
He leaned close, keeping his voice low. “I told you already. I need us to be just friends. Sorry I hurt your feelings.”
She relaxed a little, feeling more like the Park she knew had returned. He was one of the few men who ever noticed when her feelings were hurt. “So why do we have to be just friends?” She needed a real answer. One that made sense to her. Otherwise they were wasting time when they could be together.
He stared straight ahead, his jaw tight. “We’ve always been friends.”
“And then we weren’t,” she said evenly.
He turned back to her. “And now we are again.”
She took a deep breath and caught Hailey smiling encouragingly at her. She turned back to Park, who gave her anisn’t it great to be friends againsmile. She silently seethed, her temper pushing her to one of her signature reckless and regrettable moves.
“And that’s all we’re going to be?” she asked.
“What do you think of the Patriots’ chances of going to the Super Bowl?” he countered.
It was a question she found hard to resist. They’d always been hardcore football fans at her house. They launched into a long discussion of football that had Park downright animated. She enjoyed herself despite the fact they weren’t exactly moving things to where she’d hoped.
Finally the topic wore itself out. Ethan returned and Park asked him about his latest arrests.
Mad let out a long breath, worn out from the roller coaster of her emotions, grabbed her barely touched scotch, and headed back to her friends. They were gathered in a group, talking and laughing. All of that stopped when she returned and they all looked at her expectantly.
“Good job!” Hailey exclaimed.
“Don’t get too excited,” Mad said. “He just wants to be friends.”
“Friends is a great start,” Lauren said. “You guys are living together. It’ll happen. Just give it time.”
“Why are you always so sweet?” Mad asked. “Nothing ever bothers you.”
Lauren’s green eyes widened. “I was just trying to help.”
“Sorry,” Mad said. “I’m just not good at being patient and taking things slow.”
“Look at it this way,” Ally put in, “if your goal is to marry him, you’ll have your whole life together.”
Says the woman who ran away at the altar. None of her friends had any good relationship experience that would help her.
“I didn’t say I wanted to marry him,” Mad said in a fierce whisper. “Why does everyone assume women want to get married?”
“You don’t?” Hailey asked.
