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“The woman wearing the indecent bathing suit, accosting my brother.”
My eyes pop out. “That was a bathing suit?”
Addie scans my face and busts out laughing. “Supposedly.”
“Wow, guess I’m shopping at the wrong stores.”
This sets her off further, her cackles bringing attention our way. Jewls, Harley, Shayla, and Raven saunter over.
“What’d we miss?” Shayla glances between us.
“You had to be here. It was an ‘at the moment’ type of comment,” Addie explains, wiping her eye.
“Did it have anything to do with our new roommate walking outside in her lingerie?” Jewls guesses correctly.
“Not your roommate for long.” Carson joins us, still scowling. She downs half her margarita in one swallow and blows out a breath. “Addie and I are taking her to view apartments tomorrow. We should have never put her in touch with Ford.”
“How did that come about?” Shayla inquires.
“Tera Sails has been our friend since middle school. She is my age, but was in Addie’s class because of the cut-off date.”
I knew Addie and Carson are only thirteen months apart, so it makes sense they’d share friends.
“Tera was always spoiled. But we didn’t bow down to her, which is why I think our friendship worked. We stayed friends throughout the years, but the relationship simmered down. All of us doing our own things and all that shit. Last year, out of the blue, I ran into her at a charity function. She was with her boyfriend, and he was as down-to-earth as they come. She was clearly in love and her entire personality had changed. We rekindled our friendship. The boyfriend moved here, and she planned to come with him. Upended her whole life—quit her job, gave notice on her lease, found a new position, and planned to start a life in Nashville. Two weeks before she was moving, he broke things off. Said she wasn’t his soul mate. It devastated her. Carson and I found her hysterical, not making any sense and lamenting her bad choices.
“After a day or two, she calmed and decided she wanted to start fresh. Her job opportunity was a huge promotion and Nashville is a big city. Chances of running into the ex are slim. Then came the obstacle of finding a place. We half-heartedly mentioned the house and Ford. She jumped on the idea, promising to find a place as soon as she got here. Of course, Ford agreed.”
“I’ve never gone through a true break-up, but that woman hasn’t displayed signs of heart-wrenching devastation,” Harley throws in.
“Not at all. I caught her in the kitchen the other day wearing one of Ford’s MNPD shirts. She was very comfortable flitting around making herself at home,” Jewls adds.
My heart pitches at the image. It’s a stupid and jealous response, but there’s a sense of intimacy about it.
“I overheard Talon and Major talking Thursday morning. Both were irritated. Apparently, she latched onto their gym routine and tagged along. She made a scene and Ford was pissed. When he set her straight, Talon told him to lock her down before it got ugly.” Jewls looks at me, her eyes filling with sympathy.
“So, this woman’s plan is the old ‘get over one man by getting under another’?” Shayla states bluntly.
I wince, taking a sip to hide my reaction.
“We got suspicious when every time we questioned her about her apartment search, she blew us off. We came to move things along at warp speed. She will be out of here soon.” Carson pins me with kind eyes. “Plus, she’s not screwing up whatever is happening with you and my brother.”
The blood drains from my face and I inhale sharply. “W-what? There’s n-n-nothing happening.” Dammit, stuttering is a dead giveaway.
“The only people who don’t see it are the two of you.”
“I have to agree.” Ember pops into the circle of women who are all staring at me. Sweat beads on my neck and I chug the cold drink to help.
Ember’s glare is different, filled with understanding and knowledge. It’s obvious Cruz shared something with her.
Pepper whines, nudging my thigh.
“She’s getting stressed. We should lay off,” Ember offers, helping me out.
“We’ll lay off, but please, God, one of you make a move soon so Mom will stop fretting.”
I don’t know what shocks me more, the fact that Addie suggested I make a move on her brother, or that Celia Whitman is fretting.
“You guys have it all wrong. Ford isn’t interested in me. He saw too much ugly to ever see past. To him, I’ll always be a victim.”
