Total pages in book: 68
Estimated words: 64337 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 322(@200wpm)___ 257(@250wpm)___ 214(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 64337 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 322(@200wpm)___ 257(@250wpm)___ 214(@300wpm)
Maybe that’s what he likes about her, that she’s not a dude with boobs.
“I am not a dude with boobs,” I mutter beneath my breath, torn between slinking away and staying to eavesdrop. A part of me is dying for further clues as to what exactly is happening between Seven and Pammy, but the other part doesn’t want to know.
What if he tells her he loves her?
What if she says it back?
How will I ever be okay again? And how could Seven even think about developing feelings for someone else when we spent twenty minutes in a tree together Saturday night sharing our favorite tree house memories from when we were kids? After he laughed at my story and ruffled my hair, and then the hair ruffle turned into his face moving closer to mine and another almost-kiss that left me breathless?
He loves me, not Pammy. I know that the way I know that lemon vodka elevates a yellow Jello shot and that rum is the only choice for the cherry ones.
“Aw, you’re so welcome, sweetheart. Yeah, you too,” Pammy says. “See you soon.”
Sweetheart…
It’s not the “L” word, but it’s way too close for comfort.
I have to do something. I have to take action now, before it’s too late.
After checking out, I hurry to my truck with my supplies, a plan serving itself up on a silver platter as a text from Wendy Ann pops through on my dashboard. The digital voice reads her message, assuring me that there will be no losers on the tour and that my space is reserved.
When the A.I. asks if I want to respond, I say yes, and ask—“Is there room for one more? I might see if Seven wants to go.”
Wendy Ann doesn’t respond right away, but I assume that’s because she’s following up with Lilac, or wrangling children, and put it out of my mind. It isn’t until I show up at the shower dressed in skintight orange and brown bell-bottoms that smell of moth balls to see Seven behind the bar with Bettie mixing drinks, that I remember my plan.
I wonder why he didn’t mention that he was bartending at my brother’s shower, but there’s no time to get to the bottom of that mystery right now. I head off to find my sister, wanting to know if there’s room on the tour before I mention it to Seven—preferably in front of Bettie, who I know will offer to babysit. She’s always telling him that he works too hard and needs to make time to play while he’s still young enough to do the grueling physical things he enjoys.
I don’t think Seven is running out of time for that anytime soon—he’s in incredible shape, proven by the number of women ogling him as they flip through the karaoke app looking for songs—but I’m not above using Seven’s mom fears to my advantage.
And I’m not above packing my skimpiest bikini for the hot springs while Seven and I are off on that climbing trip.
Or maybe I’ll forget my bikini altogether and go with some lacy lingerie…
If I’m going to make one last play for Seven before he’s snatched up in the gravitational pull of Pammy’s giant boobs, I intend to make it a serious one.
Chapter 5
SEVEN
Iknow the second she steps into the bar.
Before I turn to look.
Before she’s said a word or slipped into my peripheral vision.
I don’t know how I know—her perfume isn’t strong enough to carry the distance between us—but I just know. Where Binx McGuire is concerned, I have a sixth sense, and even though she doesn’t come over to say hello, I never lose track of where she is.
First, she drops a tray of Jello shots with Starling and her friends, who welcome the delivery with a cheer and a chorus of giggles. Then, she stops to speak to Wendy Ann, who’s hiding out by the snack table. Wendy Ann glances my way for a moment, but averts her gaze a second later, and when they’re done speaking, Binx doesn’t head my way. She pulls her phone from her small purse, texts something in response to whatever message she received, and starts for the back door.
She doesn’t so much as glance my direction before stepping into the beer garden that’s always a big draw in the summer.
But it’s closed now, and Chip, the bar manager, made us promise not to let anyone take drinks outside. He’s already put away the plasticware for the season and doesn’t want to deal with broken glass on the cobbled paving stones.
Binx didn’t have a glass, but when she doesn’t come back inside for several moments, I start to wonder what she’s up to.
Then I start to worry…
Because that’s what I do when it comes to Binx, even though she’s one of the strongest, most capable people I know.