Page 73 of Official

It’s time to put it all on the table.

I set the phone aside and turn to my friend, but I don’t realize he’s standing so close.

And the bastard punches me right in the gut.

“Jesus… what the fuck?” I sputter, my lungs shriveling up like a dried fruit.

“That’s for sleeping with my sister in the first place. And I’ll do a lot worse if you fuck this up again.” He lies back on the chair and tucks his hands behind his head like he’s ready to stay for a while.

I would be glad about it, but I can’t decide if it’s because he wants to hurt me again or not.

“I thought you were happy for us,” I rasp around a cough, slinking onto the seat next to him.

“I am, but you still broke the code.” He shrugs.

“Fair enough.” I mimic his comfort level and lie back, my stomach already sore. “So, your girlfriend’s daughter has a crush on you?”

“She told her mother she would sell her own car, cell phone,andscrunchie collection to be with me because she’s out of her mind in love.” He shakes his head. “Letting her down was not a fun conversation, but her mother still ended our fling. Apparently, I’m too much drama.”

“A word that’s never been used to describe you.”

“That’s what I said!”

“What are you going to do now?”

“Nothing. I got off easy, and it’s made me think I should probably end things with Bianca too.” He twists his lips like he’d rather lick the sand at Venice Beach than have that talk with her. “She’s actually the one with too much drama.”

“You’re just not man enough to tame her.” I snicker.

“Now you’re just asking to be punched again.”

And this is how we spend most of the day—laughing and drinking like we would during any other afternoon before Sam.

Thank fuck for that and for the fact that things aren’t weird. I was so afraid they would be. Now everything’s out in the open, and I still have all my fingers and toes intact, even if my stomach will be aching into next week. I definitely can’t fault the guy for getting a shot in, though.

Even so, there’s a Maui-sized weight that’s been lifted off my damn shoulders, that’s for sure.

Almost, anyway.

There’s one more West I need to convince to forgive me.

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