Page 104 of Bragg's Match

Eden claps. “Finally. We’re back to the matter at hand.”

Shit. I should have kept my big mouth shut.

“What’s the matter at hand?”

“I’m not going to dignify your question with an answer. Now, tell us what happened.”

“Yeah.” Ashlyn nods. “Why did you kick Brody to the curb?”

“And is it true the gossip gals witnessed the entire thing?” Moon asks.

I hold up my hands as if to ward off their questions. “Hey! This is supposed to be a cheer me up session. Not a Soleil is an idiot session.”

Eden shrugs. “Why can’t it be both?”

“You’re going to give us the dirt eventually. Why not rip off the bandage right away?” Harmony asks.

I contemplate my group of girlfriends sitting on my bed eagerly awaiting my response. I can evade their questions for a while, but Harmony’s correct, I’ll give in eventually. If only to get Moon and Ashlyn off my back.

“Fine,” I huff. “What do you want to know?”

Eden doesn’t hesitate. “Why did you break up with the man you love?”

“I don’t love Brody.”

Ashlyn sighs. “This is going to be a long night. Did someone bring booze?”

“It’s true. I don’t love Brody,” I continue to lie.

“And I don’t love to cook,” Moon says.

“And I don’t love plants,” Eden says.

“And I don’t love animals,” Harmony says.

“And I’m not awesome,” Ashlyn says. Moon smacks her. “What? Everyone’s stating falsehoods to show Soleil what an idiot she is. I’m awesome. Therefore, saying I’m not awesome is a falsehood.”

Moon groans. “I just can’t with you.”

“Twenty dollars says Soleil lies about loving Brody for the next thirty minutes,” Ashlyn says.

“Fine! I love Brody. Are you happy now?”

She smirks. “Very happy. I tricked you.”

Moon holds out her hand. “You owe me twenty dollars.”

“And me,” Eden adds.

Harmony waves her hand. “Don’t forget me.”

“Another twenty bucks says Soleil broke up with Brody because she got scared,” Ashlyn proposes.

“It’s like taking candy from a baby.” Moon chuckles. “Of course, she broke up with Brody because she got scared.”

“Hey! I’m not scared.”

Harmony bumps my shoulder. “It’s natural to be scared.”

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