Page 71 of Pretty Little Scars

“I thought you might.”

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

DARBY

I’m not gonna lie. I’msore.

Yes, I’m still worn out and achy from all the work with the horse, but more than that, my pussy is worn out and achy from getting pummeled several times today by a dick the size of my forearm.

I mean, I’m not complaining, because Tucker knows what he’s doing, and I’m already addicted to him.

But I’m not in shape for that kind of workout.

“I want you all to know that it sucks that I always have to be the designated driver,” Harper announces as she pulls into a parking space near Lucky’s in Silver Springs. “I mean, of course I can’t drink, so it makes sense, but still.”

“Do you want us to pay you, like you’re an Uber?” Juliet asks with a smart-ass grin on her pretty face. “It might take some of the sting out of it.”

“You know, you might be on to something,” Harper replies, and then she and Ava walk down the sidewalk ahead of us as Juliet falls into step beside me.

“I haven’t seen you in a while,” Jules says.

This woman and I went to school together all our lives in Bitterroot Valley. I’ve known her forever, and when we were teenagers, we were friends.

But then she left, and our lives took drastically different paths. So it’s been great to have her back in the area, married to a man I know very well, and I get to see her often.

“I know, who knew the vet life was so busy?” I nudge her shoulder with mine. “How’s the restaurant?”

“Slammed, thank God. I had to hire another person for mornings.”

“Good for you. I need to come in soon. I miss the lasagna.”

“Come get it while it’s still on the menu. It’ll be changing for summer soon.”

“Good to know.”

We walk into Lucky’s, and since all the tables are taken, we decide to sit at the bar, where it makes an L shape, so we can still chat with each other.

“Hey, everyone,” Ivy says with a wide smile. “Welcome in. What can I get you?”

“I thought you were just covering because you’re short staffed,” I say to Ivy. The other woman, so freaking pretty with her thick red hair up in a high pony, shrugs.

“I am. Apparently, I need to light a fire under my father’s ass to hire someone. I haven’t had a day off in two months. Anyway, what will you guys have?”

Jules and I order beers, Ava a dirty martini, and Harper gets a water with a twist of lemon and rubs her belly bump.

“So, Darby?—”

“Nope,” I interrupt Ava. “We’ll talk about Darby afteryoutalk about that ring on your finger.”

Jules gasps.

Harper looks like she might toss her cookies.

“You’reengaged?” Jules demands.

“Yes.” Ava sniffs and lifts her chin. “I am.”

“Here’s the thing,” Juliet says, shaking her head slowly as she seems to take the news in. “Chad’s not a complete moron. He’s a good attorney, and he helped me out, but that doesn’t mean that I think he’s husband material for you.”