Page 73 of Every Bit As Perfect
23
Ladies
“Youknowwe’veallhad him, right?”
My head whipped around to find the Brady Bunch slinking up alongside me.
“What are you doing here?”Was that going to be my go-to sentence forever?
‘Here’ was The Beaver Dam.
And technically our first date.
I snorted to myself.To think I’d called Noelle a dirty whore.
Natalia’s eyebrows rose while her eyes rounded innocently.“Are we not allowed here?You may be able to kick us out of the pool area,” she gave me an exaggerated nod with wide eyes, “but this is a public place.”
I glanced at Tiffany.Married with two kids, I expected her to protest immediately.She frowned fiercely at Natalia.
I watched as she opened her mouth then snapped it shut just as quickly.
She slid a glance at me, a small smirk teasing her lips.
My shoulders dropped.I expected more from her.And myself.It was time I stopped expecting people to rise to meet the most basic of expectations.
While Tiffany hung out with the Brady Bunch, she never partook of the bullying Natalia excelled at.I thought she was stuck with them because they were family, but now I wasn’t so sure.
It pained me to have yet another bullet to dodge in town.
Daire’s deep voice behind me made me jump.“Harley, I haven’t fucked any of these…ladies.”He jerks his chin up at Natalia.“I considered taking her on a date, but after talking to her for ten minutes, I didn’t relish the idea of getting hypothermia on my dick.Can we go eat now?”
My spine straightened, my smile shining like a freaking beacon.“Sure!”
He chuckled.“You, however, are going to burn me alive.”
Tiffany laughed out loud and held her fist up to me.
I tilted my head.Maybe I was right about her after all.I gave her a little bump.
She winked.“Go get it, girl.”
Natalia gasped, “What are you doing?”
Tiffany stepped back and slanted her a cold look.“Finally growing up and making better choices.In case I haven’t made myself clear, I’m done with both of you.”
“But we’re family,” Brittany whined.
Tiffany shrugged and answered drily, “Yes, well, you can’t choose your family, can you.”
Daire’s arm around me tightened as he drew me away.“Show’s over, little spitfire.”
I snapped my jaw shut, realizing I’d been watching with wide eyes and a mouth like a guppy.
“Well worth the cost of admission,” I admitted.
He laughed and led me to our table, the same booth we occupied when I escaped to the bathroom to avoid him.
“We’ve come a long way since that night,” he stated with a grin.
