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Colton slowly shook his head. “It’s amazing what babies do to women. Twenty-four hours ago, Tori told me she’d twist off my balls if I got her pregnant. Now, she’s outside cooing over a week-old baby. I don’t get it.”
Seb chuckled. “I’m going to get drinks. Maverick, do you need another?”
“I’m good, thanks.”
“So, you write.” Oli sat down opposite me, moving Piper’s drink to the side. “Romance, right?”
There was a reason I kept my circle small and didn’t often make new friends.
That question right there was it.
“Yeah, I do,” I said warily. “Sorry,” I added when they all looked at me a little suspiciously. “It’s not usually a question I like answering. People always ask me why romance and not sci-fi or something like that.”
Dylan laughed. “As long as you do what you love, who bloody cares? You’re obviously good at what you do. Fuck anyone who doesn’t agree.”
Colton agreed. “If we all did the same thing, it’d be boring. If I was a baseball pro like Seb, he’d still be playing little league.”
“Yeah, right,” Josh muttered.
Baseball.
Fucking hell.
“I knew I recognized him,” I said, sighing.
Colton laughed. “Shit, he’s falling into obscurity. How will he cope?”
“He’ll cry into his millions. He’ll be fine,” Oli observed. “So Piper’s helping you with your book.”
“Yeah. My lead female is a baker, and I can’t bake for shit. She’s helping me out.”
Josh grunted.
Yeah. He didn’t like me.
“Shut the fuck up,” Colton said. “You’re fucking my sister.”
“I’m marrying your sister.”
“Doesn’t have the same ring to it.”
“Let me guess,” came a voice I didn’t know. A woman with long, dark hair approached the table and studied everyone. “You’re Maverick.”
“Hello?” I said, uncertain.
“You and Piper have a thing, Josh doesn’t like it, and Colton is reminding him of the time he hooked up with his sister behind his back.”
“We don’t have a thing,” Piper said, taking the seat next to me. “But the rest is probably true. That’s Tori,” she said, leaning.
“Yeah, looks like you don’t have a thing.” Tori laughed and sat next to Colton. “Hi. I’m the life and soul of the party.”
“We don’t have a thing,” Piper repeated. “I’m not interested in dating, and he knows that. We’re just good friends. People can be just good friends, you know.”
“Y’okay.” Tori grinned, leaning back. “If you say so.”
Josh grunted again.
CHAPTER TEN – PIPER
RULE TEN: AVOID ALL PLACES WHERE ANYONE KNOWS YOU.
“Tell me again why karaoke is a bad thing.”
I blew out a breath and watched as everyone except me and Maverick threw back a shot. “It’s not bad, but Kinsley tends to rap Kanye and the guys do Bohemian Rhapsody. It’s more fun if you’re sober and can watch from back here, though.”
Maverick laughed. “I can imagine. Should I give them the disclaimer than anything that happens here tonight can and will go in a book?”
“Nah, they’ll read it eventually and figure it out.”
“Good to know.” He leaned over as the music got louder. “Your brother doesn’t like me, does he?”
God, he’d been a rude ass shit all night. I was about ready to throttle him.
“Don’t take it personally,” I said. “I know it’s hard, but he’s just protective of me. He doesn’t seem to get that we’re just friends, and it’s not like Tori helped matters earlier.”
Just friends who once fucked and now have butterflies. No biggie.
I also had to agree that Tori hadn’t helped.
I finished my second drink. Three was my limit, and I usually waited until later on, but given my brother and Tori, I was going to need that third one right now.
“I’m going to get a drink. Do you want one?”
“Yeah, sure. Here.” He pulled a twenty out of his back pocket.
I shook my head. “You bought dinner.”
“You’re saving my ass.” He held it out further. “Take it.”
With a sigh, I did, and I headed over to the bar to order a drink. London was already there, and I slipped in next to her. “Did you order yet?”
“No, but I’m next, so good timing!” She grinned. “How’s your friend?”
“Shut up.”
“Oh, come on. You have a crush on him. Admit it.”
“I’m not interested in dating,” I said firmly. “And you know it.”
“Neither was I when I got to know Oli, and here we are.”
He’d just moved into her house. “Doesn’t matter. Mav doesn’t live here. We’re just friends who are working together.”
Nobody knew we’d slept together, and I was going to die keeping that a secret. My friends would meddle incessantly if they knew the truth.
“Okay, okay, fine.” London held up her hands. “But you’re spending an awful lot of time together for just a couple of friends. Even tonight.”
“He doesn’t really know anyone, and my brother has a stick up his ass. Plus, I have to be up early tomorrow because it’s the half-marathon and I don’t want to be hungover when the bakery is slammed.”
