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“We were drunk. It should never have happened.”
He sighed. “Are you going to give me a chance to explain myself?”
“I think it’s pretty self-explanatory. You kissed me because you were drunk, and I wanted you to, and then you had a change of heart. So you talked to your ex-girlfriend instead. Who, by the way, decided to not get married to her fiancé yesterday and kept calling you instead.” I jutted my chin out. “I did go to Harvard, you know. I think I can keep up.”
“Maddy—”
But before Bob could continue, Pryce appeared from behind a potted plant halfway down the hall, making me jump. “Jesus Christ! Why are you sneaking around like that?” I yelled.
The butler didn’t seem minutely abashed. “A word, Mr. Palmieri.”
I stepped forward. “Tell my mother to call off her dog. He’s not coming with you. There’s nothing left to say.”
Pryce arched an eyebrow. “Am I the dog in this scenario, Ms. Delaney?”
“Yes, you are.” I laced my fingers through Bob’s and led him away from Pryce, toward the dining room. “Mr. Palmieri is brunching avec moi. So tell my mother to degage!”
“Your mother actually prefers Italian to French.” Bob shrugged then turned to Pryce. “Tell your puma boss that I’m too hungover to chat. Roberto Palmieri needs food.”
“Did you just call my mother a cougar in Italian?” I laughed. “Puma. I like that.”
“I don’t mean to be disrespectful.” He squeezed my hand before letting it go. “I really do need to eat.”
I’d only grabbed his hand to protect him from Pryce, but still, I felt rejected that he’d already let me go. Sense the theme here, Madison?
I sighed. “I’m hungover too. We should eat and get on the earliest ferry. I’ll check the schedule.”
“I can fly if you want.” Bob sounded resigned.
“No way, not after we did shots last night. The ferry’s just fine. We can get an Uber back to the city.”
The muscle in his jaw clenched. “I’m not in any rush to get back.”
“Okay. I’ll check the schedule,” I said, not wanting to ask what he meant. If I pressed for details, I would look desperate, and I’d already looked desperate enough for one weekend.
“Hey!” Josie and Claire waved to us from their table. I went to sit next to my cousin, but she put her hand over the chair. “That seat’s reserved for Mia.” She kissed me on the cheek and shooed me over to the next empty chair. “I love you but not in the same way.”
Bob’s eyes sparkled with interest. “Mia as in maid-of-honor Mia?”
“Ooh, I love a man who likes to gossip.” Josie beamed and clapped her hands together until she caught me glaring. “Or not.” She shoved a bite of French toast into her mouth so she wouldn’t say anything else glare-worthy.
“Yes, that Mia.” Claire grinned at us. “She’s very flexible. I might move her in when we get back to the city. We’re already picking out furniture.”
“But what about your girlfriend?” I cried. “I thought you were moving her in. Where’s the loyalty?”
“Um, you need to chill, okay?” Claire tossed her long raven hair over her shoulder. “You never even met her. Mia’s dreamy. She’s a keeper, I’m telling you. She’s the one. Wedding-guest sex is the best sex. Ooh, and it’s even better with a hot girl like Mia, who’s been in the closet her whole life. Girl went wild, let me tell you!”
“Um.” I cleared my throat. “Could you maybe spare us the details?”
Claire licked the syrup off her fork. “If I have to. But it was naughty. Mia’s making the naughty and the nice list this year. And we wear the same size shoes, so we can trade—you can’t beat that!”
Josie stopped eating long enough to collapse into a fit of giggles. “You’re ridiculous.”
“I know, right? The endorphin rush from my hormones is making me chatty.” Claire laughed. “So what about you guys? Anyone else feeling the morning-after glow?”
Bob coughed and looked down at his plate. Josie sighed and poured herself more coffee. I grabbed the pastry basket and put two blueberry muffins onto my plate. Then I stuffed a scone into my mouth.
“Sorry, guys.” Claire looked mock apologetic. “I had enough orgasms for all of us, though.”
