“Of course, he does,” Daisy coos as if just coming to this conclusion herself. “What’s not to crush on? That little lucky firecracker has it going on.” She smacks Jet across the chest. “We just need this beast to settle down. Give these two lovebirds a little room, would you?”
“What’s this?” That all-familiar, highly irritated voice chirps from behind as Lucky steps in center stage. “Holy hell, what are you telling my brother?” She snaps so loud and fast—the fury in her eyes leaves little to the imagination. Yes, Lucky Madden is assuring everyone in our little circle that there is absolutely nothing going on between the two of us.
“I didn’t say anything.”
Jet holds a hand out toward her in an attempt to calm her down. I bet he’s spent a lifetime trying to do just that.
“It’s true,” Jet says it low and even. “He’s completely assured me he’s not the least bit interested in you like that. You know these two.” He hitches his thumb to Daisy and Scarlett. “If given half the chance, they spin out a romance novel. This dude has sixteen girls on his mind.” Jet mock socks me and nearly knocks the wind out of me. “And believe me, kiddo, you’re not one of them.”
Lucky blinks a mile a minute, and only when she twists into the light can I see the moisture forming in her eyes.
My heart stops. There’s no way she’s upset. God, she’s upset.
“I do like her—as friends.” I pretend to sock her arm and come just shy of connecting. “She’s my little buddy. We’re doing the community interaction program together at our old stomping grounds—Hollow Brook Middle School. It was Lucky’s idea to make sure we hang out with kids who are seated alone. I remember those hectic junior high days. It’s not easy out there, but thanks to this girl right here, a few lonely kids aren’t feeling so bad these days.”
The girls break out in a choir ofoohsandawws.
“You’re doing that?” Jet pulls her into a hug and drops a quick kiss to the top of her head. “I’m proud of you, kiddo. Here you try to tell me you were born without a heart, and come to find out, it’s taken over your entire body.”
“That’s me.” She glances back my way. “Your little angel.”
Jet might be buying the halo routine, but, swear to God, I just saw her horns poke right through. Something tells me once we’re alone there will be a special hell to pay. In no way did I set out to upset her tonight. It was just a matter of bad timing, badluckon my part.
“That’s too bad about these two.” Scarlett exaggerates a frown to Daisy. “We’ll have to find you someone else—a nice girl.”
“Not too nice.” Daisy wags a finger. “Sometimes a little spice is what makes life finger-licking good.” She jumps on her tiptoes and steals a kiss off Jet’s lips before they take off, and I for one am glad to see them leave.
I glance down at Lucky and find the steam still blowing out of her ears. She’s a spicy one, all right.
The night wears on and Knox and Trixy cut into their cake. Soon enough, the entire room begins to disband.
Dad and Lynette come over along with Scarlett and Rex.
“It was great seeing you, son.” Dad pulls me in.
“And two nights in a row!” Lynette snaps her fingers in the air as if she’s marshaling a conga line. “Hey, where’s your little girlfriend you brought by the house last night?”
Shit.
“Oh, there she is!” She waves over at Lucky and pulls her in as she’s about to pass us by. “Was the Netflix and chill everything you wanted it to be?”
Lucky’s mouth opens, and a series of choking sounds emit. Her face ignites in flames as she looks frantically from Scarlett to Rex.
“I tried knocking on the door to say goodnight”—Lynette continues—“but you two must have been quite busy in there.” She gives a solid wink. “We’ll see you all later!Toodles!” She and Dad saunter off toward the exit, and Lucky points in that direction before hightailing it out of the room herself.
“What the hell was that about?” Scarlett’s eyes enlarge the size of melons.
“Holy crap.” Rex covers his face with his hand a moment. “Are you messing with Lucky? Dude, have you met Jet?”
I give a nervous glance around “Yes, I’ve met Jet. And no, I’m not messing with her. We really are just friends.”
Scarlett smacks me in the gut. “I know what Netflix and chill means, but evidently one of us doesn’t know the true definition of a friend. So help me God, you had better be using protection.”
“I’m not using protection.” I hold my hands up in defense as my body breaks out into a sweat. How does this keep happening tonight? “I don’t need to. We just kissed.” And there it is, out in the open like a tin can getting ready to have Jet’s monster truck smash right over it. “It’s not going to happen again, so I’d appreciate it if you didn’t say anything.”
“Done.” Rex takes a step back.
“I won’t say a word.” Scarlett twists her lips in a dozen different directions because I know for a fact she’s still undecided.
