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“I would have thought you could talk Ben into staying,” Kala said. “After all, you’re the one who’s been working with him.”
“Maybe if you’d been nicer, we wouldn’t have this problem,” Chet shot back.
“She’s not going to fuck someone to make your life easier.” Cooper had sat up, his eyes going steely.
“Well, Tasha fucked someone and made my life harder,” Chet replied.
“Hey,” Dare began.
Tasha put a hand over his. “He’s not worth it.”
Zach was leaning against the wall, not far from Chet. “I don’t know. I think he could be worth it.”
“You stay the fuck out of it, you pathetic twit.” Chet stood, turning Zach’s way. “Do you honestly believe I don’t know? Everyone knows. I would think you would be on my fucking side. Maybe if that dumbass gets killed, you’ll get another shot at Tash. Isn’t that what you want? Do you think I don’t know you’re the one who sent her looking for me that day?”
Zach’s shoulders had straightened, his eyes narrowing. “Well, it was better for her to figure out what an asshole you were before the wedding.”
“And you thought you could slip in.” Chet seemed determined to taunt the beast.
“Now is not the time to have this discussion.” She was rapidly losing control.
“Wait, what are they talking about?” Tristan asked.
“Zach has a thing for Tasha, apparently.” Cooper seemed to catch on. He looked at Kala. “Did you know about this?”
Kala shrugged. “Nah. I do not put my nose in that shit. It’s hard enough to watch the crap that goes on between Lou and TJ. I don’t need more longing looks in my life. I stay away from feelings. I’m sure Kenz knew, but she’s still hiding out.”
“Nah, she’s screaming at me through the glasses.” Lou winced and seemed to try to turn them down. “She wants to put a twenty on Zach.”
“I will not take that bet,” Cooper said. “Zach looks ready to eat Chet’s innards.”
“There’s no crap between me and Lou,” TJ protested, losing his stoic expression. “We’re the best of friends. She’s the only person in the world who actually knows me.”
“Does Big Tag know you blew my op because you couldn’t let Princess Tasha go?” Chet taunted.
Zach’s lips curled up in a smirk. “Who do you think gave me the intel?”
She heard her father snort from behind her but didn’t turn around because she couldn’t take her eyes off those two.
Well, that fit a narrative. “I think we should get back to the problems at hand.”
“The only person who knows you? Are you kidding me?” Kala faced off against TJ. “She might know you, but do you actually know her or do you use her to feed your never-ending ego?”
“Hey, TJ and I are friends. I don’t know that I’d say we’re best friends,” Lou hedged. “Kenz, stop shouting. I can hear you.”
“Seriously?” TJ was focused on Lou now. He had a kicked-puppy look on his face. “Is this because I wouldn’t kiss you the other night? You have to know how much I want to. I told you why I thought that was a bad idea. Baby, I adore you on every level, but I’m not in a good place to settle down.”
“You’ll never be in a good place to settle down,” Kala argued.
That was the moment Tasha realized Dare had moved. He’d gotten up and joined her dad, who was standing in the doorway that led to the kitchen. Her dad was leaning against the jamb and had a bag of chips in his hand. He offered some to Dare, who whispered something to her dad that had him explaining.
They were enjoying the drama.
Men.
They would be pulling out the beers next.
She didn’t want to think about the fact that Dare seemed to fit in with her dad.
“Let’s get back to the question at hand.” It was time to take charge.
“Should you be talking?” Tristan directed the question Kala’s way. “Dude, that is the pot calling the kettle black.”
“Tris,” Cooper warned.
Kala’s brow rose in that “Taggart is about to explode” way of hers and their father’s. “Really?”
“You think TJ’s been stringing Lou along?” Tristan asked. “What have you been doing since we were freaking fifteen years old? You chased and chased him, and the minute he wanted you, you froze him out.”
“I’m surprised you haven’t found a way to get rid of the new guy,” Chet was saying.
“I’m not going to get rid of him. Tasha loves him, and he’s good for her,” Zach replied. “I got rid of you because you’re not good for anyone.”
“I don’t know that I would call it stringing me along,” Lou said, biting her lip. “TJ’s been clear about the fact that he doesn’t like me that way.”
“I do like you that way,” TJ countered. “I just don’t think it’s the right time. You know you’re the only girl in the world for me.”
