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Oof.
I’m not sure if it’s just Marnie’s overbearing style, or if she gets some weird thrill out of bringing these men to their knees.
“So how does it feel to be my girl’s muse?” She turns to Chris. “I know you’ve been helping with the paper, mostly, but has she like painted you naked yet?” Marnie bats her eyes, leaning forward with her hands folded under her chin.
Holy crap, I could kill her.
I hold in a gasp.
The worst part is she’s not done when she says, “And do you ever get a day off from the whole ripped Leonidas act? A smile wouldn’t hurt—or does it just feel that good stomping around scaring people?”
“Marnie!” I hiss, kicking her under the table.
I had a feeling we’d be dealing with her warped humor, but she’s coming in swinging today.
I’m not happy about the way she keeps eyeballing Chris, either. Almost like he’s her next course on the menu.
But I can’t up and tell her he’s taken...can I?
With Marnie’s mouth, I’ll never live it down on campus. I’ll be doomed, foreverthat girlwho’s hooking up with her stepbrother.
Chris takes a long pull off his dark beer before he answers. “About as hard as it is for you to take a day off from eye-fucking other guys while your boyfriend’s right next to you.”
And served.
I try not to laugh as her face screws up and she coughs awkwardly.
It might be the first time I’ve ever seen Marnie Rowdy put in her place.
“Well, you’ve got a pair the size of grapefruits, huh?” she asks, toying with the straw in her drink. “I like it. Delia’s hella lucky—to have you as her step, I mean. She told me Vegas must’ve brought her some luck, and now I see why.”
Marnie’s eyes sharpen, casting a glance like she knows more than she should.
She knows exactly who my mystery man is.
And she isn’t just talking about the money we pulled down on that trip...
Eep.
Clearing my throat, I suck down half my margarita and try to deflect. Where the hell is her beach boy and that drink order, anyway?
“What can I say? I take care of the women in my life,” he says, but he barely glances at Marnie.
His eyes are glued to me, sharp and focused, so sparkling clear he means I’mthat woman.
My breath stalls.
“Damn, guys. It’s sweet how you two get along when your folks shacked up later in life,” Marnie says, just as her wall of tangerine muscle returns with a fresh round of drinks. “I’m glad you’re helping yank her out of her shell, Chris. Lord knows I’ve tried to get her mingling with the boys. She had me worried for a while. If she was still a virgin by the time they handed over her degree, I swear...”
Again, my supposed friend gives me a downright carnivorous smile.
Oh my God.
I put my hand over Chris’ and lean forward, though, done with these games.
“Marnie, that’s enough. We don’t need to make my love life a public spectacle, right?”
I watch her inhale another martini glass of that bubblegum-pink sugar booze. She’s drinking like a fish and already tipsy.
