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Waylynn frowned.
“What? I thought you liked her.”
“I do like her…as the owner of one of my favorite little boutiques, but honestly, Tripp, what do you see in her?”
“What do you mean?”
She shrugged. “She doesn’t seem your type and she doesn’t fit in with this motley crew.”
A long sigh came out of my mouth. “Are you saying that because you and Harley are BFFs again?”
Waylynn shot me a dirty look. “No, but I’m not going to lie. It would be nice to see you two back together.”
“Christ, Waylynn, not now.”
“I’m not pushing you, Tripp. You asked. And back to Mallory. She is fucking boring as hell. Amelia said she acted like she’d never even been in a kitchen before.”
“That’s crazy. Mallory cooks all the time.”
“Well, then, she didn’t want to be bothered with helping. I mean, you’d have thought she would have told Corina to sit down, and she would take over peeling the potatoes, but she just sat there and watched, Amelia said.”
“She probably just didn’t want to get in the way. You know as well as I do that everyone has a role. If Mom needed her to do something, she would have asked.”
She shrugged. “Maybe. But Amelia said she hardly spoke two words. Just smiled every now and then and only spoke when someone asked her something. And she sure is private.”
I laughed. “That she is. Did you ever think she’s just shy?”
Sighing, she turned to face me. “You’re right. I’m trying to find reasons to not like her. I’m sorry. If you really like her and see a future with her, than you know we’ll all support you.”
My brows pinched together. It was like she could read my mind and see every doubt floating around my head.
“What’s wrong? Are things not going well with y’all?” The smirk on her face spoke volumes. She wasn’t rooting for Mallory.
“We’ve both been busy and not spending much time with each other. Plus, it’s still hard when Mallory refuses to let me stay the night at her place. I mean, I get it, but I could also sneak out before Laney wakes up.”
“Does she stay the night with you at your place?”
“Sometimes.”
Waylynn crossed her arms over her chest. “So, excuse my frankness, but where do y’all fuck?”
Someone cleared their throat, and we both turned to see an older couple walking by.
“Oh! Sorry, Mr. and Mrs. Jacks!” Waylynn called out and then covered her mouth and chuckled. “Ooops.”
“Not that it’s any of your business, but either my house or my office. Or her office at the store.”
“Gross! In your office?”
I grinned. “Yep. The desk, chairs, sofa. Even against the door.”
“I sit on that sofa, you sick motherfu…”
Waylynn clamped her mouth shut and looked around before placing both hands on my chest and pushing me back. “Jerk. You’ve ruined your office for me forever.”
“Hey, what’s going on?” Mallory walked up to us with Laney trailing behind.
“Nothing. We were just talking about how it’s time for me to redecorate my office.”
“Amen,” Waylynn whispered.
“Why? I love your office,” Mallory said.
Waylynn mumbled under her breath, and I was almost positive she said, “I bet you do.”
“Don’t you have to go back in and help Mom?” I asked as I gave my sister a buzz-off look.
“I’ll take that as a hint to leave.”
“Please do.”
Mallory hit me in the stomach. “That wasn’t nice.”
She motioned for me to kiss her. I leaned over and kissed her cheek. “How was your day?”
I picked up Laney and kissed her on the forehead. “Did you have fun with Hemi?”
“Yes! She’s cute!”
“Harley must love animals,” Mallory said.
Tickling Laney, I replied, “Well, she is a vet so…”
“What’s a vet?” Laney asked.
“Someone who works with animals every day,” Mallory said quickly.
“Oh! I want that job,” Laney exclaimed.
“No, you don’t, darling,” Mallory stated.
“Why not?” Laney asked.
“You have to go to school for a long time. Longer than a doctor!” I said.
Laney shook her head. “Ferget it.”
“Seriously, Tripp. A vet cannot be compared to a doctor.” The way she laughed rubbed me the wrong way. She was putting down Harley’s profession. The way Harley had reacted to my earlier comment flashed through my mind. I was just about to comment when I was saved by the bell, literally.
My mother rang the dinner bell on the back porch, and within seconds, people started piling in.
“You ready for some good food?” I asked, forcing a smile and pushing away Mallory’s last comment.
“Bring it on!” she said, with a happy face. I could tell she was over branding day.
“You can’t keep your eyes off of him.”
I turned to Amelia.
“That’s not true. I’m not looking at him now, and I wasn’t looking at him a few seconds ago. Besides, they’re right there in front of us. How do I not look over there?”
She grinned and whispered, “He keeps looking at you too.”
