Page 15 of So Wrong It's Right

I’m equally confounded and in awe.

Chapter Seven

Stella

“That was the worstbachelorette party ever,” Perry says as she slides into the vinyl corner booth.

Our friend Miranda slides in after her, echoing the sentiments. “You guys, I don't get out much anymore since Emma was born. I was really looking forward to seeing something naked.”

“Whatever. You get to see a naked man whenever you want to, we don’t feel sorry for you.” Miranda is married to Jim Jenkins, a hottie firefighter, and she is Dixie’s cousin. “How’s the goat?” I ask.

She sends me a bland look. “That goat is the last stray we ever take in from you. I hope you know that. He’s a menace.”

I smile. Not because the goat I foster-placed with them eats their house down, but because I know that she will take any stray I give her. Because she can’t say no to animals any more than I can. It’s a curse. Unfortunately, I can’t have any in my apartment or I’d probably be a hoarder. Instead, I play matchmaker and home as many as I can with my sometimes-unwilling townspeople.

I take a long drink from my beer and set it down. “Unfortunately, that ‘party’ is my sister's idea of a perfect bridal shower. Poor Dixie. I think she might have napped at one point.” Had I been in charge, there would have been a lot more penises.

The stuffy shower finished up early, so we’d headed here to Ironwing, the only bar in Brazen Bay. It’s no dance club, but there is music from a jukebox, and booze, and my apartment is upstairs, so I never have to worry about getting a cab home.

Plus, my dad, my boss, and Nash’s dad were in Ironwing, the band, in the ‘80s, so I get a sweet deal on rent because we were raised like family. Nash named his pub for the band, so it feels like a home away from home. Nash’s girlfriend has been scouting some amazing band memorabilia, sprucing the joint up.

Though it’s the only hot spot in town, Nash runs a pretty tight ship. Last call is usually around 11:45 on weekends and even earlier on weeknights. He wants people to have fun, but he isn’t interested in babysitting a bunch of drunks. Which keeps the place cleaner and safer than some of the dives I’ve been to in the city. Plus, my walls are soundproof, so even late nights below never keep me awake.

The crowd tonight is pretty regular. Luckily Devon isn’t here. The last time I ran into him in the bar, he tried to make a case for ex-sex. No, thank you. I miss sex, but not enough to go down that road again. He spends most of his nights at the bars in Hamilton trolling college girls.

“Your sister is the most boring woman on the planet.” Perry reaches for her wine, the bangles on her wrist tinkling. “If I ever get married, promise me strippers.”

“More than one?” Miranda asks. “Like...a team?”

“God, yes. A team of hot, naked men gyrating all for my pleasure.” Perry sits back. “Damn it, now I’m horny.”

“Do we have to wait until Perry gets married? Can we hire dancers for something else in the meantime?”

“I don’t know. I’ve never actually seen them come to Brazen Bay before.”

“That would make Paint and Sip nights more interesting.”

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