Chelsea smiles, but it’s not the kind to reach those beautiful eyes. “Says who?”
“Actually, I’m not on the market,” I try to interject, but the two women are staring at one another like this is some duel. I don’t even think either of them hears me.
“I’d always just assumed the two of you were besties. I don’t know if you’re aware…”She whispers the next part…“But your bestie here has quite the reputation.”
She’s not wrong, but still. Chelsea folds her arms across her chest. “People can change. Brad can’t help it if women just swarm around him like bees to a honeypot, he’s got character, good looks and charm, he can’t help it.”
But Mindy is having none of it. “And he is quite the beekeeper.” She finally looks at me, her eyes lowering for a moment to scan me over.
Chelsea looks around quickly, lowering her voice to a whisper and blurts; “Fine. We’re fucking. Which meansBradleyLucasis off limits. Got me?”
My eyebrows shoot up.Holy shit. Did she just say what I thought she did?
Well, there is nobody around us, and all the kids are on the field screaming at one another for the ball. I guess that’s a good thing considering what I just heard.
My eyes widen at the same time I swing an arm around Chelsea’s shoulders, confirming my part in the lie to Mindy about us fake dating was one thing, but…okay then.We’re gonna go straight to fucking.
“Oh, my…” Mindy raises a hand to her chest. “You… really are an item…I just…”
I don’t think anyone has ever cussed in front of Mindy before, and I can’t say I’ve heard Chelsea drop the F bomb too many times. It’s quite comical. I like the way those dirty words sound coming out of her pretty mouth.
“What Chelsea means is, I’m taken.” I try hard not to roll my lips, but it’s fucking hard. She just told the queen bee we’re fucking, and I know for a fact she’s about to run over to Lorelei and the other moms to fill them in.
“You know?” Mindy begins to walk backwards. “I think I heard Sarah calling me, but just forget this ever happened. Okay? Buh-bye!” Her voice is high-pitched, it reminds me of the mice in Cinderella, I almost want to stick my finger in my ear and ring it out again and again.
Instead, I finger wave. “Thanks for stopping by.” Once she’s gone, I swiftly turn to Chelsea and give her a slightly bedazzled look, which she avoids. “Way to clear a room, honey.”
“Jesus, what was I thinking?” She buries her face in her palms. “To Mindy of all people!”
“Well, I think your attempt at getting rid of her worked.”
She whacks me on the arm. “Not helping.”
I chuckle, my shoulders giving way. “Do you want me to see if she’s telling the others?”
“Let’s just watch the game.”
The kids are all still running around, trying to get the ball.
A few moments pass. “Not that I’m going to get on your bad side,Mama,butfucking?”
“Shhh!”
“Nobody can hear.”
“I’m an ass. It’s official.”
I smile smugly. “Just admit it; you were jealous.”
“I was not!” She protests, then lowers her voice again. “I wasnotjealous,Bradley,but the way Lorelei and then Mindy kept manhandling you like that, and openly flirting. Neither of themis a class act. I don’t get women like that. If a man did that to a woman, it would be holy uproar.”
“For the record, I removed Mindy’s hand.”
“I know,” she sighs. “But women like her don’t give up easily. She’s a man-eater.”
I chuckle again. “I kinda established that already. But thank you for protecting my honor.”
She blows her bangs out of her eyes, clearly frustrated with herself. As if justifying her actions, she adds, “That’ll shut them up, at least.”
