When Jack frowned in question, Dex mouthedRiley.
Jack nodded. “Right. So what else can I tell you about Maya? Hmm. Let me think. She’s still competitive. Still addicted to coffee. Has a soft spot for dogs and kids, go figure. At Halloween she gave out too much candy and Ann kept bitching at her to slow down. But of course they ran out, because our neighborhood is crazy at the holidays.”
“I thought about buying in there, but it would have to be the right place.”
“For the right girl.” Anson sighed. “Are you sure you’re set on her? I know a shitload of women who would love you. You have your own job, your own car, money, don’t live with your parents and aren’t paying four different child support payments a month. Thecoup de grace, you’re related to me. You could be rolling in pussy if you wanted.”
“Now isn’t that an image.” Dex grimaced. “Thank you, but I can get my own dates. I’m not interested in easy or expensive.”
“Hooker is not a four letter word,” Anson said.
“Neither is girlfriend, you moron.”
Jack laughed at them. “Oh man. I used to be you two. Wanting what I can’t have. Then I nabbed her.”
“Lucky prick.” Dex wished he could be as happy as Jack. But he had a plan—to keep Maya on her toes by continuing to force her to date him.
“Exactly how did that blackmail happen again?” Jack asked. “I was with Ann in the back room in your studio when it went down. Something about Selena’s face?”
“It was a thing of beauty,” Anson admitted.
Dex frowned. “I thought you said you didn’t see anything.”
“I saw everything. Selena was mouthing off, then Maya belted her in the face. Broke her nose with a classic punch.”
None of them had liked Selena, and they liked her even less now since she’d just divorced—and raked over the coals—a friend of theirs.
“Yeah, well, before Maya could tackle her to the ground, I grabbed her and stopped her from making things worse. Anson backed me up. We said Selena walked into a door.”
“Her lawsuits are over, by the way. She knows she can’t win.”
“Good.” Dex met Anson’s raised glass with his own. “Now with Selena out of the way, I can focus on seducing Maya. I finally got that kiss I was denied at prom.”And it was everything I’d hoped for.“That’s right, gentlemen.” He ignored Anson’s groan. “I’m calling dibs. Maya is mine.”
Jack had already staked his claim on Ann. “Guess that just leaves Riley for Anson. Oh wait. She hates your guts. Sucks to be you.”
“She doesn’t hate me.”
Dex refused to cut his cousin any slack. “She sure doesn’t like you. Face it. You screwed up. Instead of trying to be nice and just talking with the woman, you kept trying to outdo her at every turn.”
“I was trying to impress her,” Anson admitted. “But that was a long time ago. I grew out of the need back when I was a teenager.”
“Uh-huh. Not believing you.”
Jack shook his head. “Me neither. Come on, Anson. Try to be a little nicer around her. Just think. The three of them are friends. The three of us are friends. Ann’s already bringing up date nights with other couples. I want to hang myself at the thought of doubling with her principal and her husband. The woman is forty going on ninety. God save me from cat people. But you guys? Hook up with Maya and Riley and I won’t have to shoot myself when we’re ‘Camping with Couples’.” He ended in air quotes. “Just think. No annoying Harvard types or rabid athletes trying to show us up. Well, that’s if Anson can tone down his need to be better than the rest of the world.”
“Up yours, Jack.”
“He’s got you there,” Dex admitted.
“I’m not trying. Iambetter than everyone else.”
“Except Riley,” Dex added.
This time, Anson didn’t argue with him. He just grunted and drank.
“Right. So, Jack, I have nine more dates with Maya to get her to love me forever. You’re in with the best friend. Any suggestions?”
“Besides an exorcism?” Anson quipped under his breath, which Jack found hilarious.
