“Thank you,” Evie continues, her sudden, relieved smile brightening up the whole room. “I appreciate it.”
“The step is a joint responsibility, Evie.”
“You’re absolutely right, send me half the bill.”
Shepherd shrugged. “I’m doing it myself with stuff I have on hand, so there won’t be one.”
Evie considered for a moment. “Then come by and grab a couple of pastries on the house,” she told him, a hint of a tease in her voice, which Shepherd didn’t seem to know what to do with. One that rubbed Gabe decidedly the wrong way, since he wished it was aimed at him, instead of the very proper facade she always threw up between them.
Shepherd managed what might pass as a smile, though it was closer to a grimace, then tipped his head in farewell before striding off. Evie looked at him over her shoulder as he left. Was she checking out his ass? Damn it all, he was going to miss his chance with her if he wasn’t careful.
Shaking himself, Gabe turned back to Evie. Not wanting the conversation to end, he scrambled for something to say, looking around the room for inspiration. He saw Iris, Marigold, and Bee in hushed conversation, throwing conspiratorial glances in their direction. What the hell were they up to now? Still… “I’m surprised you agreed to play Santa’s elf at the grotto this year. I thought you’d have enough on your plate.”
Evie looked at him blankly. “What?”
Gabe raised his eyebrows, but before he could respond, Evie’s bff came scurrying over.
Posy gave Evie an effusive hug. “You saved me!! You have no idea how grateful I am!”
Evie still looked nonplussed, but he had no idea if it was in response to his comment or Posy’s.
“I did?” Evie tipped her head to one side, her eyebrows scrunching together.
“Yep. Mom was gearing up to make me the default elf if no one else agreed, and with the best will in the world, there’s no way I’m donning a spandex elf costume.”
“Pretty sure you saved us all. That’s not a sight any of us want to see.”
“Victoria…” Gabe warned his ex-girlfriend as Evie glared, and Posy looked thoroughly taken aback before she pulled on a hasty mask of nonchalance.
“What?” Victoria shrugged as if she had no idea what the problem was. “It’s not like I didn’t say anything that wasn’t true.”
Posy grimaced, and Evie looked like she was about to go into battle, except Victoria Stirling, as usual, didn’t know when to stop. “Although I’m not sure Evie’s ass is going to look so great in an elf costume, either. But at least your ass is only half the size.” Evie’s mouth dropped open.
“Evie will look curvilicious,” Posy countered, rushing to her friend’s defense. Gabe liked the way they had each other’s backs.
“Whereas Posy would just look like the Goodyear blimp.”
“Hey, don’t talk about people like that,” Gabe interjected, letting Victoria know his displeasure. Victoria had been actively trying to get on his good side. Gabe knew she wanted them to get back together, but this was exactly why they’d broken up; because he couldn’t stand her bitchy nature.
“God, it’s not like it isn’t the truth,” Victoria declared with a huff. “Posy sees those kids in school every day. They do not need to be traumatized by seeing Miz Caldwell looking like she’s lost an argument with a clingwrap machine. She’ll look more like a bauble than an elf.”
“That’s enough!” Gabe snapped, while Posy looked away in embarrassment, and Evie took a step towards Victoria, fury sparking in her expressive brown eyes.
Both Evie and Posy were what Gabe would call ‘real’ women, rather than stick insects, like Victoria. Evie was all delicious curves, a delightfully spankable ass, and tits that would overflow your hand, and while there was no denying Posy was… round, Victoria was way out of line, and one look at his face ensured she was aware of it.
Posy was also one of the nicest people he knew. It annoyed him that anyone so much as hinted that either woman’s worth should be based in any way on their figure or how they dressed. He also knew society was fickle and placed far too much importance on looks and size.
Oh, and money. Mustn’t forget that one.
He hated it.
Victoria rolled her eyes, muttered under her breath, and stomped off.
“I’m so sorry,” he apologized when she was out of sight.
Evie shook her head, still glaring into the thinning crowd where Victoria had disappeared. “It’s not you who should be apologizing.”
Posy sighed, her usually bubbly character subdued. “Well, it’s not like I couldn’t stand to lose a little weight.”
