Total pages in book: 139
Estimated words: 141281 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 706(@200wpm)___ 565(@250wpm)___ 471(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 141281 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 706(@200wpm)___ 565(@250wpm)___ 471(@300wpm)
Holy crap, I could kill her.
I hold in a gasp.
The worst part is she’s not done when she says, “And do you ever get a day off from the whole ripped Leonidas act? A smile wouldn’t hurt—or does it just feel that good stomping around scaring people?”
“Marnie!” I hiss, kicking her under the table.
I had a feeling we’d be dealing with her warped humor, but she’s coming in swinging today.
I’m not happy about the way she keeps eyeballing Chris, either. Almost like he’s her next course on the menu.
But I can’t up and tell her he’s taken...can I?
With Marnie’s mouth, I’ll never live it down on campus. I’ll be doomed, forever that girl who’s hooking up with her stepbrother.
Chris takes a long pull off his dark beer before he answers. “About as hard as it is for you to take a day off from eye-fucking other guys while your boyfriend’s right next to you.”
And served.
I try not to laugh as her face screws up and she coughs awkwardly.
It might be the first time I’ve ever seen Marnie Rowdy put in her place.
“Well, you’ve got a pair the size of grapefruits, huh?” she asks, toying with the straw in her drink. “I like it. Delia’s hella lucky—to have you as her step, I mean. She told me Vegas must’ve brought her some luck, and now I see why.”
Marnie’s eyes sharpen, casting a glance like she knows more than she should.
She knows exactly who my mystery man is.
And she isn’t just talking about the money we pulled down on that trip...
Eep.
Clearing my throat, I suck down half my margarita and try to deflect. Where the hell is her beach boy and that drink order, anyway?
“What can I say? I take care of the women in my life,” he says, but he barely glances at Marnie.
His eyes are glued to me, sharp and focused, so sparkling clear he means I’m that woman.
My breath stalls.
“Damn, guys. It’s sweet how you two get along when your folks shacked up later in life,” Marnie says, just as her wall of tangerine muscle returns with a fresh round of drinks. “I’m glad you’re helping yank her out of her shell, Chris. Lord knows I’ve tried to get her mingling with the boys. She had me worried for a while. If she was still a virgin by the time they handed over her degree, I swear...”
Again, my supposed friend gives me a downright carnivorous smile.
Oh my God.
I put my hand over Chris’ and lean forward, though, done with these games.
“Marnie, that’s enough. We don’t need to make my love life a public spectacle, right?”
I watch her inhale another martini glass of that bubblegum-pink sugar booze. She’s drinking like a fish and already tipsy.
Normally, I’d be scared to call her out like this, but I’m sick of her crap.
We’re friends.
I’m not the butt of her jokes.
“...right. Sorry, Cordie,” she says with a huff. “It’s just been forever since we caught up. Seems like you’ve been busy all summer ever since that beach party.” She cocks her head. “Oh, and when are you inviting us out there again? Remember last year? We had like ten barbecues under our belt by now.”
I slouch in my chair, unsure how to feel.
She’s trying to be nice, conciliatory, but I wonder when the hell Marnie might decide to grow up. Or maybe hanging around Chris so much just makes me realize who I’ve been surrounding myself with.
“Lots of family stuff going on lately, like I told you. Plus, Dad’s been keeping things kinda private. You know how he gets when people are coming and going for business,” I lie, desperate to cover up the fact that I’m totally under my stepbrother’s spell. “I mean, fall will be here before we know it. Maybe we should do one more bash.”
“Hell yeah!” That perks her up. She pulls on boy toy’s arm, and he gives her this smile that looks way too much like a drooling golden lab. “How about a house party? Your folks are still going out of town a lot, right?”
I hesitate.
While I’ve hinted at the problems in Dad’s new marriage, I’ve kept it light on details, other than Evie’s overdose.
I also don’t want to pile more stress on our staff who are already walking on eggshells thanks to Evie. The last thing they need is cleanup duty left by Hurricane Marnie and a few dozen party animals. I can’t find every broken beer bottle and used condom when the music stops.
“I’ll talk to Dad, okay? He said something about a big conference in Atlanta soon. Maybe then. But I’m not sure if Evie will be tagging along. She’s been going through some crap lately.” I clench my jaw, side-eyeing Chris.
The last thing I want to do is remind him of his ruined mother.