There’s a knock at the door, then the sound of heavy steps coming toward us. “It’s just me, Brin,” Kace calls.
Stella turns to Abbi. “Speaking of mediocre dick.”
Abbi throws a pillow at her face and Stella catches it. “I cannot believe you just said that. Yuck.”
The room goes quiet as Kace enters. He has the same dark hair as his younger sister, but the resemblance ends there. Where Abbi is all feminine sweetness and curves, her brother is all masculine scruff and muscle. Testosterone drips off this guy. If he weren’t Mr. Good Guy, I would’ve definitely enjoyed that during my wilder days. “What’s up, ladies?”
Stella presses the pillow against her face and snickers.
“Not much, Kace,” I say, peering around him. “Where’s Hope?”
“She’s at Mom’s still. We’re actually going over there for dinner and dessert, if that’s okay with you. Mom would love to see Cami.”
Again, I’m buoyed by that lightness that comes with having friends who truly support me. “Of course. Thank you so much. Cami will love it.”
“Anytime.” He waves a hand to the drinks and food filling the coffee table. “What’s the occasion?”
“Sex-toy party,” Stella says, turning in her seat and grinning up at her old crush.
Kace’s cheeks redden, and he coughs. “Hey, Stella.” I shouldn’t be delighted by how uncomfortable he gets around her, but I can’t help it.
Stella grins. “Next time, we’ll get you a sitter and you can join us.”
Abbi shoots her a look. “Behave, Stella.”
Stella shrugs and gives her the sweetest smile. “But I don’t know how.”
“So this has nothing to do with Marston being back in town?” Kace asks.
I stiffen. I love Kace, but I’m beginning to feel like too many people know my business. “What have you heard?”
“I saw him at Smithy’s. When I asked him why he was in town, he said he was here for you.”
The girls aww in chorus, and I want to hide under a rock. They’re not making this any easier.
He arches a brow. “But you’re still marrying Hallison, right?”
I give my friends a death glare. “That’s right.”
“I’m home,” Cami calls from the front door.
Relief washes over Kace’s face. Poor guy. Every bit of this conversation makes him uncomfortable.
“Kace!” Cami says, wrapping her arms around his waist. “Where’s Hope?”
He musses her hair. “At Nana Matthews’. Want to go over there and have dinner with them?”
Cami beams. “Mom, can I?”
“Yes, sweetie. Have fun. I’ll see you in a couple of hours.”
As if just noticing the other girls, Cami goes around the living room, running the circuit of hugs to her honorary aunts. “Okay,” she says to Kace. “We can go now.”
“I’ll see you all later,” he says. He turns toward the door then stops with a grimace and throws me a wary look. “Listen, I don’t know what’s between you and Rowe, but you two should probably clear the air if nothing else.” Kace holds my gaze for a long beat. “See you in a couple of hours.” Then he follows Cami out.
When the front door clicks shut behind them, Abbi tosses another pillow at Stella. “I don’t want to know anything about my brother’s skills in the bedroom, thankyouverymuch.”
“Nah, I don’t know anything anyway,” Stella says. “The only thing remarkable that happened that night was Kace’s head exploding when he realized who was reaching for his dick. It just makes me feel better to imagine he’s bad in bed, since he totally rejected me.”
Abbi rolls her eyes. “You were seventeen. And drunk.”
“Can we get back to Brinley’s problem?” Savvy asks.
“Yes,” Abbi says. “Brinley, the bitch, who has a fiancé and a husband, when I can’t even find a date for Friday night.”
“Hear me out,” Savvy says. “I’m not telling you to end your relationship with Julian or to start a real one with Marston.”
“Our lives don’t work together,” I say. “Please take Marston off the table.”
“First of all, I’m not sure about that,” Savvy says. “Second of all, I’m saying this has all happened really fast, and this marriage might mean you can slow it down. Collect your trust, buy The Orchid, then figure out what you want.”
I snag one of the martinis off the coffee table and wince when the intense sweetness hits my tongue. “That’s not an option.”
“Why not?” Abbi asks.
Because my parents are controlling jerks. “Because marriage isn’t the stipulation for getting my trust before I turn thirty. I only get it early if I marry someone my parents approve of.”
“Oh, fuck,” Savvy whispers, and the other girls look down at their laps. Everyone in this room knows my history with Marston, and that a marriage to him won’t get me the money under those terms. Not only do my parents not approve of Marston, they’d rather see me and their granddaughter on the streets than welcome him as part of their family.
Chapter Seven