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All of us are still laughing when we pull up to a stop beside Popa B and Gran’s car.
Pope walks around the corner, smiling. “No need to get you a bell, little slugger.”
He pulls her out through the window as she asks, “What’s a bell for?”
“So we hear you when you’re coming,” he explains and gives me a wink as he walks away with her on his hip.
“Please tell me I’m not the only one whose ovaries just exploded,” Chloe whispers.
“Gonna check for wet spots as soon as Whit?—”
I smack York in the arm. “Don’t be nasty.”
“Are you two finally official? Please tell me yes because so many of us wanted to kick you square in the ass just to watch you fall into that boy’s open arms back in school.”
“What are you even talking about?” Okay, so I’m playing dumb. I do kind of know what she’s talking about since going through Bianca’s private photos, but there is no chance I’m admitting to that.
“The only male who’s ever looked at me like John Paul has always looked at you is a dog I had growing up.”
“Golden retriever?” York asks.
“Yep, old Max.” Chloe leans forward. “Rumor has it, you dumped Stewie, so what’s the holdup?”
“She’s an idiot,” York states in her tell-it-like-it-is way of hers.
“How do you really feel?” I ask dryly.
Chloe turns to her and accuses. “So are you.”
York’s head whips around. “Excuse me?”
“Leland Locke? You two were as in love as they come, and then it all just fell apart.”
“Are you gonna be okay?” York deadpans.
“Not for nothing, but some of us have to live vicariously through the Whitleys and the Gwens of the world. We didn’t all come out of the womb looking like you two. The rest of us have to get up two hours early to primp in order to look halfway decent.”
That just pisses me off. “You’re insane, Chloe Shaw. You’re a freaking bombshell. I have no idea why you ever allowed the likes of Spud White within arm’s reach of you.”
“Well, what do we have here?” I turn and see Danny standing there, looking at Chloe. He stretches out his arms. “Welcome to the lake, Miss Shaw.” Then, he reaches over and opens the door. “Can I get you a drink?”
Sliding out, she huffs, “Pick your jaw up out of the dirt, Danny Aiken. You didn’t look at me twice in school. You don’t get to now that I’ve lost weight and bought tits.”
“I’ll look at you three, four, five—hell, I’ll look at you a million times to make up for my youthful blunder.”
“Well, shit.” York laughs as she gets out.
“Don’t think you’re off the hook, Miss Thing.”
“What are you talking about?” she asks.
“Leland Locke. How did I not know anything about that?”
“Wasn’t a secret. You just never pulled your head out of cloud twenty-two long enough to notice anything else going on in Walton.” She nods to Danny and Chloe. “We should probably let Chloe know Pastor B is here so she can retract the claws, or she might never walk into the church again.”
I link my arm through hers. “But her claws sure do look good out, don’t they?”
She wags her brows. “Maybe Danny can help Chloe get her groove back.”
