Page 129

We clink glasses with a rousing cheer before sipping.

After I sold my stake in my mother’s bridal business, Jeanie and I opened a restaurant group. Beneath its umbrella, we own Sausage Queens, a quick-serve Chicago hotdog stand, which is in direct competition with Roman’s. And best of all, we are absolutely crushing him in sales. Our second location opens next month. Then, we joint-ventured with Gio to open the Hedonist. It’s just the beginning of our restaurant empire.

“And let’s hear it for Casey!” Gio lifts his glass to her as she steps into our circle.

“Casey! Congratulations!” Cheers rise.

“It’s not a done deal yet.” She makes a calm-down gesture with her palms, but her face beams with pride, as it should. Her documentary on Gio, chronicling his challenging rise to entrepreneur, is about to be scooped up by HubFlix, the largest media-streaming group in the world.

“I still can’t believe you were working on that every night, and I didn’t figure it out,” Gio says with a frown.

“It would have been less authentic if you knew.” She pops one shoulder.

“You deserve every accolade. I’m proud of you and all the festivals you’ve dominated.” Gio taps his champagne glass to hers, and she mouths thank you.

“Who’s that with Matt?” Casey nods her head to a dark corner.

“Oh, finally. Betty’s here,” I say but become entranced by the scene.

Matt sits in a chair with Betty leaning over him. She’s coiling a finger around his mullet and probably cooing promises of the oncoming pleasure she’s about to unleash on his booty.

“I’m afraid she’s found her next victim,” I say.

“No, that’s not Mom, that’s Aunt Lynette,” Jeanie says. “Mom’s over there talking to Tina.” Her arm swings in the opposite direction.

My gaze catches on the two. Tina is taking notes on her phone as Betty makes lewd gestures. She’s tickling the air with her fingers and pumping her hand with the other. When she pretends to lick an ice cream cone in a swirl, I glance away with wide eyes and clear my throat.

“There are two Bettys!” Gio jumps like he’s been shocked by electricity. His gaze pings between the two women.

“Lynette is younger, but they look almost identical from a distance. I’ve heard legends, but never met her until tonight,” Nathan says.

As a group, we watch Lynette straddle Matt’s lap and grind like they’re in a private champagne room at a strip club.

“Yeah.” Nathan laughs nervously. “They’re similar except Betty is more of capture and release, and Aunt Lynette is capture and devour.”

Matt’s head starts bouncing like a bobblehead when Lynette shakes her magnificent assets.

“Either way, that’s a match-up I didn’t see coming.” Jeanie grits her teeth like she’s watching a train wreck.

“Should we rescue him?” Casey studies them, but she looks like she’s envisioning her next documentary with Lynette as the lead.

“Nathan, go help him.” I push him in their direction.

“No way. She nips at me like a hyena anytime I get too close.” He hides behind us.

“Jeanie?” I glance to her for help and warn, “She would destroy Matt.”

“Oh, hi!” She and Nathan turn and start a new conversation, leaving us to save Matt on our own.

The chickens.

“Hell Kitten, you’ve got this.” Gio nudges me toward them like he’s scared too.

“Where’s my protector now?” I grumble.

“I think I’m the one who needs protecting in this scenario.”

His face scrunches when Lynette seductively twerks Matt’s lap. His hands hover over her ass as if he’s deciding whether it’s safe to grab.