Page 78 of My Scorned Best Friend

A phone rings in the distance and LeeAnn leaves to go answer it, I assume.

“Which one is Fabio on?” a man calls.

“He’s not really on covers anymore, but I might be able to find one,” Clara says.

“There’s a twenty in it for you if you bring us that one with the red room,” another man says.

A woman with a walker stands in the back. “Am I the only one who thinks we’re asking for disaster by bringing romance books in here?”

A few people grumble and I look at Clara, silently begging her to get us the hell out of here.

“Sit down, Rita. You’re such a prude.” Midge waves her hand at her.

“I’d rather be a prude than the center slut.”

All three of the grandmas stand, albeit slowly. Grandma and Dori look ready to defend their friend.

“Now, ladies,” Clara says, stepping forward.

I’ve never seen this aggressive side of them, but the three grandmas wind through the room until they’re in front of Rita.

“Do something,” Clara whispers to me.

I slide past all the chairs until I’m between them.

“Say it to my face,” Midge says.

“Everyone knows you like the sex,” Rita huffs.

“There’s nothing wrong with sex.” Midge points in her direction, and if I wasn’t between them, I think her finger would’ve pressed into Rita’s chest.

I glance at the doorway. Where the hell is LeeAnn?

“Please, the other day I saw Earl wearing this ridiculous clown underwear outfit and you kept saying, ‘Let me honk your red nose.’”

My mouth drops open and I look at Clara across the room. This has to be a coincidence.

Before I can brace myself or see it coming, a huge bag smacks me across the face.

“That’s my grandson!” my grandma screams at Rita, as I find my way to a chair.

Clara rushes over and situates herself between my legs, staring at my cheek. “Oh, X.” She’s laughing hysterically.

I knew tonight was a bad idea.

24

“UH-OH, SOMETHING HAPPEN WITH PRINCE CHARMING?”

Clara

Xavier has been home for a month, and we’ve found our new normal. Mostly we spend time at my place, but tonight he asked me to come to his house.

I drive out to the other side of the bay, closer to where Adam and Lucy live, and park in his driveway in front of his house.

Xavier bought the land and built his house years ago knowing he’d be spending the majority of his downtime in Sunrise Bay. It’s a four-bedroom, three-bath, gorgeous home and everything is new. Should things move forward with us, it would make sense for us to live here, but I love my childhood home and the fact that it’s close to town.

I open the door and knock. “X?”

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