My phone buzzes, and it’s a text from my favorite babysister.
I miss you! And I hate that you’ve moved on without my approval. How is the little slut, anyway? Are you still hot and heavy? My God, what if she’s anotherimmaturebrat?
My heart breaks knowing that Raven feels as if she’s missing out. I don’t see why I need to torment her with my fictional relationship with Evie Slater, so I decide to officially break things off with her—as far as Raven’s concerned anyhow and have a little fun with it in theprocess.
Yup. You’re right. She’s an immature brat. A real hurricane in the flesh, too. The girl destroys everything she touches. I can’t wait to get her out of my life, but you know me, I’m too nice to do it. I might just let her use me a few more nights before kicking her to the curb. I never did have good radar for women.Until I met Low, I want to add but don’t, but, of course, Ican’t.
She wastes no time in texting right back.OH MY GAWD! I’m going to find the skank andkillher!
I can’t help but laugh. Okay, so maybe I had a little too much fun with my baby sister.Not necessary. How about you fix me up with someone nice and sweet? Anyone you know who fits that bill?I’m hoping she’ll say Low, and that might soften the blow when the relationship news finally hitsthefan.
NO. Stay away from anyone who might remotely know me. Sorry about your broken heart, big bro. I love you so much ithurts.
I stare at her text a good long while until I’m hurting, too. I’m not sure why I can’t bring myself to tell her how I feel about Harlow. But deep down, it’s because I’d rather do it in person. Low is special. We’re special. If Raven hears it from me firsthand, I know she’ll more thanapprove.
Love you, too, little sis.I hitSendand head over to where Low and Brody are listening to the band screamitout.
Axel shakes his head at the lead singer of the Daft Exchange. “We’re not the Black Bear. I don’t think this is a good ideaatall.”
Low sucks in a breath, and I can tell she’s getting ready to tell him where to go. “Ah, but that’s where you’re wrong. We are the Black Bear—but better. I bet you every person in this place tonight has visited that college bar crawling with coeds, and I bet you every person in this place was wishing there was someplace just like the Black Bear—sans the drunk sorority girls and wasted frat brats. And that’s where you come in, my friend.” She slaps her hand down over his shoulder as the two of them nod their heads in time to the rhythm. “You save the masses from ever having to inadvertently sit through another sorority-frat mixer again. In fact, the night before I showed up here pretending to be your ex, I went to the Black Bear myself in hopes of finding a good time, and the only thing I found was a petri dish of shiny new sexually transmitted diseasescookingaway.”
I blink over at her, and shewinksback.
“Imagine my surprise when I showed up at The Sloppy Pelican, the new, swanky, rustic, atmosphere to die for, hot spot in Hollow Brook, only to have a real man greet me atthedoor.”
A dull laugh pumps through me. “I did do that,didn’tI?”
“You sure as hellfire did.” She swims over to the beat of the song, and her arms find a home around mywaist.
Axel looks to the side as if he were playing back the conversation. “How did you know she wasmyex?”
Low’s pretty pink lips fall open, and she gives a panicked look from me to him. “You know, I’d better make sure Brody is hitting those recipes I gave him just right.” She takes off for the kitchen. Tonight’s the night the staff is going to try out the new menu offerings that Low built up from scratch. I’ve already sampled each and every one as Low and I worked side by side in the kitchen all week—when we were taking breaks from working side by side in thebedroom.
Axel steps in next to me, that look of worry on his forehead lets me know this is bugging the crap out him. “Did you tell her Lex wasmyex?”
“Lex the ex? Has a ring to it.” I can’t help but chuckle. “Nope, wasn’t me,” I say, looking up at the band as the girls near the front get worked up in afrenzy.
Ax steps in my line of vision. His eyes are set on mine with that serious as shit look on his face that can only mean one thing. He’s stillintoher.
“Then how did she know? Are theyfriends?”
“Not that I know of. I haven’t heard Low mention her.Dude.” I pinch my eyes shut a moment. Axel and his inability to carry out a commitment with a girl has always made me wonder what makes him tick. “Is this girl the reason that no other chick can stick? Have you been holding a torch for this Lex person thisentiretime?”
“What?” He takes a deep breath as he rocks back on his heels. “No. It’s not like that. We dated in college—undergraduate before I met you. It’s ancient history. It’s just—” He shakes his head because he can’t find the rightwords.
“You realize she’s coming back inaweek.”
He snaps his head my way, that look of morbid surprise right back on his face again. “Aweek,huh?”
“Yes, next Friday—the thirteenth.” I happen to remember the date because when we set the appointment up with Food Crack Nation it struck me that maybe rebooting what amounts to my life’s work on that particular day might not be the best idea. But the date was immovable. The next available opening was a month from now, and The Sloppy Pelican needs a vital financial infusion far fasterthanthat.
Ax is slow to say a word. He gives a nod to the band as if considering it. “I’llbehere.”
“Since she’s your ex, maybe you should call her up first—mend a few bridges.” The thought of some vindictive ex holding my financial future in her hands doesn’t sit wellwithme.
“No can do.” Axel is quick to dismiss it. He slaps his hand over my shoulder as we make our way back to the kitchen, and he doesn’t bother bringing up his exanymore.
“I’m sure it’ll be fine.” I head over to Low and wrap my arms around her as the staff gathers in the kitchen for the first officialsampling.
“What will be fine?” She blinks up at me. “I know you’re not talking about the new and improved menu because that will begreat.”
“Your menuisgreat. It’s his ex.” I nod over to him, and he glowers my way for even whisperingaboutit.
“Oh, hon”—Low giggles under her breath—“that won’t be fine for a good long while.” It sounds as if maybe Low does know something Idon’t.
The food sampling gets underway as the employees moan with approval as soon as they take a bite out of each and every dish. Low has put her mark on this place, just like she put her mark on myheart.
Low might have her secrets regarding Axel’s ex, but unfortunately, I’ve got a few of my own. Not sure why I haven’t told her yet. I guess everything will come out in due time. I just hope by then it won’t betoolate.
