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With a smug grin, Ariel says, “We heard there was some excitement down at Perky’s Saturday morning.”
“Yeah, Maggie lost her shit,” I tell them, hoping it’s enough and that it’s all they’re referring to.
“Uh-huh, sounds titillating. But that’s not what we’re interested in,” Snow says.
I swallow. Figures the town gossip mill would focus on the kiss and not the psycho who attacked me. Still, I feign ignorance. “You mean Belle kicking her ass? Yeah, that was pretty fucking spectacular.”
Snow scowls, and Ariel rolls her eyes, just as Meg drags the chair out beside her.
“What are we talking about?” Meg asks, her gaze bouncing between the three of us.
“Val and Belle kissed over the weekend,” Snow announces.
Before I can shush her, my dad bellows, “About fucking time.”
My head snaps in his direction. “Excuse me?”
He ignores me and turns his attention to Snow. “Did anyone have money on the weekend?”
She grins triumphantly. “Me. Pay up, losers.”
“Are you serious?” I demand.
Her signature smirk tips her blood red lips. “Deadly.”
I shake my head, what else can I do. These girls and their freakin’ bets. And how the hell did my dad get involved? On second thought, I don’t want to know.
“So, when are you two moving in? I’m assuming soon seeing as it’s taken so damn long for you to finally get your shit together,” Dad says.
I choke on air then glare at him. “One kiss doesn’t change anything. We’re not a thing. She kissed me to drive the point home to Maggie that we were done. That’s it.”
A choir of groans fill the room, and I gape at them all.
“What? If I’ve told you once, I’ve told you a thousand times, Belle isn’t into me. She’s my bes—”
“Best friend, yeah, we know. We’ve heard it all before, from both of you and we’re all sick of watching you two circle each other like a pair of lovesick fools. It’s time to shit or get off the pot. You need to get your head out of your ass, son. Make a damn move on your girl, already,” Dad says, his gaze as serious as I’ve ever seen it.
I swallow hard, taken aback by his stern demeanor. My old man is a happy go lucky, live life by the seat of your pants kind of guy. He doesn’t do stern or serious. I open my mouth to respond, then slam it closed again as Belle strides into the room in a flouncy black mini skirt, a snug white button up blouse with a black bowtie and a sunshine yellow blazer. She heads straight for me, taking the chair beside mine.
Snow smirks and I shoot her a glare, shaking my head. Thankfully, she heeds my warning and remains silent on the matter, as does everyone else. That doesn’t stop my pulse from shooting through the roof at Belle’s nearness, though.
My dad’s words scroll through my head on a loop. They’ve heard it all before, from both of us. What does that mean? Have they had this same conversation with Belle? And if so, does that mean she really does want me, but thinks I don’t want her?
What a clusterfuck this is all turning out to be. And I can’t keep doing it. I need to know once and for all if there’s a chance for us. But first, I need to pay attention to what Miller is saying at the head of the table. Afterwards though… Afterwards I’m doing what I should have done years ago.
I close my eyes and take a breath, but it backfires.
I’m assaulted by her sweet honey and vanilla fragrance and Jesus Christ, why me? I grit my teeth and try like hell to ignore how alluring I find every damn thing about her, especially her signature scent.
“Morning, Val,” she murmurs, leaning into my space.
“Hey,” I mumble, trying like hell to concentrate on anything but her.
Her brows furrow. “You okay?”
I give her a tight nod. “Yep. Great.”
Fuck, fuck, fuck.
