Page 70 of Brewing Temptation

“You’re so screwed.”

“What?” I balked, planting my free hand on my hip before realizing she couldn’t see me.

“You two are like firecrackers—loud, proud, and inevitably explosive.”

“Ew, graphic, Brex.”

“And right on the money. How in the hell did that happen? Oh god, have you slept with him? Are all Rhodes men this well endow—”

“No! Jeez, jump to conclusions, much?”

“I’ve seen the man. I know your type. Ergo.” She flourished her hand on the screen as if my clothes had hit the floor before their plane took off. I laughed, rounding the corner where theRhodes Awayproudly bobbed in its slip. “Oh my god, you’re down on the docks right now.”

“Rein it in, woman. Jesus. I work here, remember? We’re just friends.”

“Since when?”

“Since…”He saw me naked, gave me a jar of rocks, then forced me to steal hand-me-downs?Even I wouldn’t believe it. Welp, it was time to rip the metaphorical band-aid off. “He pretended to be my boyfriend so he could get Eric to fuck off.”

Her once-animated expression fell so blank I could have reflected sunlight off her face. If…you know, sunlight existed in Mistyvale for more than a day. And she was here. And—never mind, that’s beside the point. Below her narrowed eyes, Brexley moved her fist in a circle as she made an obnoxious squeaking noise, miming an eraser.

“Roll that back.What?”

“Eric may have come into the coffee shop—”

“What?!” Her eyes flew wide in absolute horror.

“—and demanded time to talk—”

“Hell no. Like hell did my girl give him any of her time.”

“—and even though I said no, he kinda drug me out on the sidewalk.”

“Noel McShane, so help me god—”

“Anyway,” I cut in dramatically, waving away her concern. “Jameson saw, and it pissed him off, and he went allClark Kentripping off his glasses and button-up and told Eric we were moving in together.”

Her eyes rounded. “He took his shirt off?”

“No, dummy, Jesus. Stay with me. I meant he decided to playSupermanand save me.”

“See, I knew it. This is so fucked up. You needed saving.” Head falling forward, she rubbed her spare hand across her forehead.

“I had it handled.”

“Like you had Florida handled?”

“Hey!” I barked, suddenly defensive. She had no right to judge me. She didn’t live it. “That’s not fair.”

“You know what I meant.”

“Do I? Because it felt kinda judgey. Hey—no—you don’t get to cry.” My useless temper immediately disintegrated as tears welled in her eyes. What in the hell kind of resolve was that?

“Stupid first-trimester hormones. Ugh, this sucks! Ignore them, they’re involuntary,” she sniffled, wiping a tear off her cheek. “I swear to god. Listen. You know what I meant. He tricked everyone, Noel.”

“Not everyone,” I pointed out. “You and Rhyett never trusted him.”

Brex sucked down a deep breath. “No. We didn’t. But we didn’t see what was happening either. I’m so sorry, Noel. I’m your best friend. I should have known—should have seen.”

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