Page 7 of Make Me Laugh

I gasp. My best friend, now my biggest traitor. She’s grinning like a kid who was given an extra scoop of ice cream by their dad after mom said no. “I’m going to kill you.”

Frankie leans in, her smile never faltering. “See you in hell when you get there.”

I open my mouth to say something else, but someone interrupts me.

“Jo,” he repeats.

Why does my name in his mouth sound like a feline’s purr?

I whip my head around to see him rising from his knees.

“Well, listen Joey—mind if I call you that?” West asks, but before I’m able to tell him that I do, in fact, mind if he calls me that, he’s talking again. “It hurts to look at you.”

My jaw catches slack and falls open. Excuse me?

“For starters, because you’re hands down the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen in my entire life, and I can’t stop looking at you.” He wipes his forehead like he’s sweating. “But also, because you seem absolutely miserable. Are you not having a good time?”

I’m not going to answer. I’m going to get up and leave. I don’t have to stay here and listen to⁠—

“She doesn’t think you’re funny!” Frankie calls out again, her tone revealing just how much fun she’s having with this.

What have I done to my best friend to deserve this betrayal?

I gawk, turning to find her wiggling in her seat with so much excitement she might burst.

West holds his hand over his heart, feigning sorrow. “But this is some of my best material.”

That almost gets a laugh out of me because of how ridiculous he looks.

But then that would mean he wins, and I’m not about to lose another battle today.

“She thinks people only find you funny because you’re a hot washed-up hockey player fuckboy with dimples and a nice ass!” Frankie squeals this time, really feeding into the energy the crowd is giving her.

“Okay, too far, Franceska,” I hiss, knowing damn well she’s going to completely ignore me.

Once a performer, always a performer. Frankie was born for the spotlight. It’s why she makes a damn-good musician, although I’m not too happy about her love for attention right this second…

“I’m not even mad about the hot washed-up hockey player comment because it just means you’ve heard of me.” West bites his lip, and it sends a shockwave down my spine. “And that you think I’m hot.” His blue eyes are like an ocean, drawing me further away from land. He grins, breaking my trance. “I can work with that.”

A hot and cocky athlete! Unfortunately, that’s been known to be exactly my type—which is why I’m single now and have been for almost four years.

I’ve sworn off athletes of any kind. Current, retired, washed-up. Doesn’t matter. I’m not interested.

“I think you’re full of yourself, and I wouldn’t be here if my best friend,” I sneer at the title like I’m second guessing it. “Hadn’t dragged me kicking and screaming.”

His eyes travel to Frankie for a second. “What’s your name, best friend?”

“Frankie,” she preens like a sweet teeny-tiny birdie I can’t stay mad at for long.

“Can we get a round of applause for Frankie?” West sweeps the crowd as they cheer—for what? They don’t know. They do it because Hotshot over here says so.

Is this a cult?

Frankie stands and takes a bow, blowing kisses at a few people next to us who are cheering the loudest.

For sure Frankie would be the one to accidentally get initiated into a cult.

“Frankie has done the complete opposite of what every single best friend has told them to do.” He laughs, settling his magnetic stare back on me. “Besties make a pact to send the dude interested in their uninterested friend down the road with a bruised ego. Frankie? Frankie’s out here adding gasoline to my fire.” He wags a finger at her. “I like you.”