“Other than James, obviously, otherwise there’s no competition,” she added, giving a flirty, mischievous glance at the meathead who was about to leave.
“Why’s Hunter beat up like that again? Jesus.” It seemed to occur to Amelia right then that James’s eye was black and blue and his lip was more swollen than usual. “Do you know anything about it, June?”
I shook my head. Lie number two.
“If I was his dad, I’d start thinking about the eulogy I’d give at his wake.”
“So who would you bang? Just go by instinct, otherwise it doesn’t count,” insisted Melanie, swaying her hips to the beat.
“Depends on the point of view. If we’re just talking about looks and not character . . . but hold on, face or whole body?” Poppy’s eyes widened.
“Why are you talking so much? Say a name and that’s it. It’s not like you’re marrying them tomorrow!” Marvin’s cousin teased.
“Jackson,” she answered all in one breath.
“Um, well played. Yeah, me, too, probably,” the brunet answered, putting a finger on her lips.
“Considering that Brian’s off-limits since he’s my best friend’s ex, not to mention my other best friend’s brother. Even then, now that I think about it . . .”
“Poppy!” Amelia rebuked.
“Jackson. Definitely Jackson,” she rushed to conclude.
Jackson had a quirky sense of style, but he was definitely a good-looking guy. Shame he had a bad temper like his friend.
“I don’t know. Jackson’s really cute, but—” I muttered, “he’s not William.”
Marvin’s cousin giggled and put a hand on my shoulder. “You really like the good guys, don’t you.”
My eyes caught James walking back in. I swallowed.
“Yeah, I sure do.”
“So given that you guys don’t seem to have understood a damn, listen to this,” Taylor began without anyone asking her opinion.
“White’s the only one scoring tonight.”
“Why?” asked Marvin’s cousin.
“Because Jackson doesn’t like what’s between our legs, wake up!”
“What are you talking about? He went to bed with Tiffany, and he’s always with Sammy . . .” Amelia’s voice faltered.
“Tiff’s my best friend. And trust me, she doesn’t even know what Jackson’s member looks like.”
Taylor jerked her head at Jackson, who was now sitting on the couch in James’s arms.
“Are you saying that Jackson’s gay? How do you know that?” Amelia seemed shocked and had now completely forgotten how to dance.
“Even if he was, so what?” I interjected.
“Becky went out with him a bunch of times,” the girls continued in disbelief.
“James sleeps with them. Jackson’s never been with a girl,” explained Taylor with a little smile of someone who knew a thing or two.
“Cite your sources, then,” insisted Poppy.
But she just looked at us and didn’t say anything else. She started to leave, so I grabbed her by her arm before she could walk away.
