He waves me off and settles on a made-for-television movie. “You make me sound like a celebrity.”
“You are. Even I, a Founder’s Kid, couldn’t talk to you just because. I’m willing to bet you didn’t know who I was until I had to plan your wedding.”
He nods his agreement. “I hate to say that’s true. I don’t do Founder’s functions. Elmer killed those for me a long time ago.”
“See! So imagine how the other islanders feel. Like, have you checked the number of followers you have on Instagram?” I keep going because his expression tells me he doesn’t give a damn. “You have over fifteen million followers and you’re new to the fold.”
He purses his lips as if considering the number. “I hope they love under ten pictures…”
I laugh at his nonchalantness. “You are an interesting friend for sure.”
He smirks and winks at me. I get it, we have an unconventional friendship; one that has crossed and uncrossed plenty of lines.
“Good talk. I’m leaning in. Don’t be alarmed. This hug is replacing the tainted one.”
His chest rumbles against my cheek as he bands his massive arms around me, squeezing me to death. It’s a bear hug from hell, or should I say Hale. He’s a bully just like my husband. I may have passed out a little before he released me but at least he smelled divine. Oran guffaws when I fall off the couch. I simply roll onto my back and take deep breaths.
When I open my eyes, whiskey ones stare down at me. “Are you trying to get in trouble again, wife?”
“No, that was an apology hug but your friend tried to kill me since he’s petty as hell. I’m guessing payback for squeezing his ass,” I explain.
Both men snicker and I’m not surprised. Ainslee needs to wake up because I’m being double teamed.
Jagger reaches out his hand and pulls me to my feet. He pulls my face to his and kisses the breath I’m attempting to regain. He lets me go just as I try to get more from the kiss and I fall on my original spot on the couch.
I huff and blow hair out of my face. “I’m going to lie down next to Ainslee. I don’t care if she’s naked. I refuse to be double teamed.”
* * *
We settledinto a movie after my brush with death and Ainslee finally joined the living. The four of us had a peaceful night but Jagger and I awakened to a crap load of baked goods. I almost did a happy dance. I love Ainslee’s bakery and her being irked with Oran - she bakes when she’s annoyed - has played in my favor.
We had what Jagger called “Morning Entertainment” watching Ainslee spar with Mikonos. Sometimes her bubbly, almost oblivious nature makes me forget about her lineage but sparring is just another example of how far her badassness goes.
Now, we’re at brunch doing what we’ve been doing best on this vacation, drinking. One thing I’ve noticed about our time together is that our conversations are never dull. We don’t struggle for something to talk about; we’ve had a natural banter from the moment we officially met. Now, we’re discussing proper husband texting protocols since her lack of texts always gets her on Oran’s shit list.
Ainslee isn’t the type to look at her phone if she isn’t using it for social media. If Oran is anything like Jagger, that will get her in trouble a lot. She checks her phone at my encouragement and does her version of blushing. As she texts with Oran. I’m sure it’s an interesting conversation.
“Should we leave?” I tease her.
She playfully rolls her gray eyes. “I guess.”
It still amazes me how we miss our crazy men when we’re away for a little while. We’re a little quiet once we settle in the back of the SUV with her boys. Ainslee’s brutal honesty never ceases to surprise me so I know her “intimate question” would be amusing.
We got a good laugh about our lack of desire to swap husband’s again. Oran fucked her the rest of the night and I agreed that Jagger tried to kill me.
The more we talk the more her love for Oran shines through. It’s a beautiful thing. I’m happy that although our marriages are forced upon us, all of us found happiness in each other. I agree with her assessment earlier that they are nutjobs but they are our nutjobs.
“You really love him don’t you?” Ainslee’s gray eyes fill unfiltered love and I have my answer before she speaks.
Ainslee leans her head on the window and looks out. “Yeah.”
She says more but the part that sticks with me is when she asks me to be her friend. I’ve been her friend since the day we’ve met but there’s a loneliness in her request that I feel the need to address.
We’re already outside of the villa but we need a minute. I ask the guys to leave us alone. Squeezing her arm, I get her attention so she can look at me. I can see the sadness there and know I must put it to bed.
I can’t control a lot of things but I can promise friendship. I tell her just that. Eventually she’ll be one of the sisters. Honestly, outside of my sisters I don’t have any female friends. The ones I thought I had bailed on me the moment my card was declined. We were supposed to go to lunch after shopping but I wasn’t special enough to warrant a free lunch from any of them.
Fuck them. In a way, my dad did me a favor even though it didn’t feel like it at the time. She hugs me as she cries and I tear up but hold it together. I already see the big man looming at the door looking for his tiny wife. He and Jagger are crazy enough to try to fight anyone who made their wives cry.
