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“You drunk?” he questioned back.
“No.”
“Sound drunk.”
“I’m somewhat inebriated.”
“Spell inebriated.”
I glared at him. “I’d rather not, thank you very much.”
“That’s what I thought—drunk.” He looked over my head. “And what the fuck’s this? You bring your girls so they can run their mouth at me about shit they don’t fuckin’ know about too?”
“What the hell does that mean?” I questioned.
“Um, actually, we aren’t here to run our mouths at you at all. We’re here to give you affection.”
Sean stared at Sydney after she finished speaking. “You’re here to what?”
“Give you affection. Hugs.” Jenna shot her arm out over my shoulder. “Stitch, is it? I’m Jenna, Brian’s sister. I don’t believe we’ve met.”
“This is hardly the time for introductions,” I snapped, pushing her arm down.
“Sorry. But I just didn’t want it to seem weird when I did this…” Jenna pushed forward to get in front of me, then, stepping up to Sean, she wrapped her arms tight around his middle and gave him a hug.
He stared at the top of her head until she pulled away, then he watched her with suspicion until she pushed her way back behind me, allowing room for Syd and Tori to step up next.
One at a time, they each gave Sean a hug that he did not reciprocate in the slightest—Syd holding on a little bit longer than Jenna, and Tori ending hers with a quick kiss on the cheek.
That would’ve pissed me off if it wasn’t Tori, and if I didn’t know the reason behind her doing it. Since it was one of my girls and she was merely giving Sean affection that was innocent in nature, I did not make a mental note to beat her ass another day and time.
With everyone back in position behind me, Sean lowered his eyes and met my own.
“You,” he said, not sounding angry but not sounding friendly either. “Inside,” he gently ordered. “The rest of you, go home. Now.”
“Righty-o!” Syd yelled, spinning around and hopping off the porch.
“It was so nice to meet you,” Jenna said. She waved at Sean and followed after Syd.
Tori gave me a quick hug and whispered in my ear, “I want major details tomorrow.”
I tried to smile when she leaned away, but it was fully hitting me now that I was about to step into Sean’s house with him, alone, and confront the shit show I just rolled up on all while making my move. The best I could manage was a half smile while laughing nervously.
“Bye, Stitch!” Tori yelled as she walked across the yard.
I slowly turned around, met Sean’s eyes again, and explained, just in case it wasn’t obvious already, “It was girls’ night. We get a little wild on girls’ night, and sometimes come up with a plan that involves a guy in one way or another.”
“This plan have to do with givin’ me hugs for some strange fuckin’ reason?” he asked.
“Yes.” I nodded firmly. “They, uh, have all been somewhat informed of your terrible upbringing and wanted to show you the love you’ve deserved your entire life. They feel you deserve it too. As much as me.”
Sean stared at me for a breath. His face held some emotion I was having difficulty comprehending under the low porch light. Then he straightened off the door, rubbed at his mouth, and stepped back, allowing me room for entry.
He did not speak.
I wasn’t sure that was a good sign or not, but I didn’t inquire. I cleared my throat and moved inside.
The light in the living room was on, but aside from that, the house was dark.
I pulled the linked chain of my cross-body bag over my head and tossed it on the couch. Sean stood at the door three feet away, staring at me. I wanted so, so badly to make my move, but that woman being here was bothering me, and I couldn’t get past it.
“I just—I don’t understand why you think you’d have to pay someone to—”
“Heard your speech the first time,” Sean interrupted. “You don’t need to repeat it.”
I breathed slowly through my nose and waited, feeling ready to crawl out of my skin, I was so troubled by this.
Sean brought his arms across his chest, took a deep breath, like he was preparing to say a lot, and then shared, “Bridgett, Val’s sister, was here tryin’ to pay me to stay away from my girls.”
My entire body went ramrod straight.
Sean did not, in fact, say a lot.
But what he did say had me flying so fast for that door, I forgot about my heels and nearly face-planted.
“Tell me where that skank-whore lives!” I shrieked. Sean’s arm circled my waist as he caught me up. He kept it there and he lifted me off my feet, preventing me from reaching the door. “I’m going over there right now! She cannot do that to you! She has no right!”
