“If you’ve heard anything about me,” she says in a tone ominous enough to bring Butch back to my side, “then you know you donotcross me.”
“I really wanted to like you, mate,” Jake says. “But you don’t cross my mom. Especially over the woman whowillcome back to me when she realizes you’re…a fake.”
I ignore him as I stare back at Lucinda.
Still smiling.
Naturally.
I immensely enjoy battling my nemeses while smiling. “Your previous flattery means far less now as I’m realizing you clearly don’t know very much about me either.”
“I know you’re burning through your money faster than it’s coming in now.”
I smile broader. I have heard those rumors as well. “I fought bullies and tormentors long before I had money to my name. And I enjoyed it. And I always won.”
“Howdareyou.”
Jake growls from behind me. “My mother isnota bully, you dickhead.”
Thirteen bleats loudly.
Butch grabs me by the shoulders and physically moves me all the way to Hudson’s other side.
And Thirteen—the goat who could not get his nose out of Bea’s pussy a moment ago—charges at Lucinda Camille.
“Leaving. Now,” Butch orders me.
Lucinda screams and takes off running around the nearest tree.
“Mom!” Jake gasps, and he chases after his mother.
Presumably to catch the goat.
“But I’m rather enjoying this,” I tell Butch.
The chipper instructor appears at my side too. “I’m so sorry to have to ask you this, Mr. Luckwood, but I think you’re going to be a distraction, and as you can see”—she gestures to the tree that Lucinda is circling while the goat continues chasing her, and while Jake chases them both, and Ryker merely watches from a distance—“distractions are a little dangerous. I’d be happy to give you a private class, no charge, with whoever you want but no goats later.”
“Molly’s right.” Hudson’s chest is puffed out broader than a peacock’s. “It’s not personal, Simon. It’s just—the goats, and Bea, and you—not your fault.”
“We’re leaving,” Butch tells Molly.
“I’m staying,” Hudson says. “Best behavior. And I’m moving so I’m not next to my sister’s ex. Promise.”
“Jake won’t stay,” Bea says. “He’ll have to take his mom home so they can plot who they’re suing over this.”
I gulp. “Sincerely?”
She winces. “Maybe.”
Molly shakes her head. “They signed the contract releasing the yoga studio and the farm of any liability that comes with taking a risk while being in an enclosed space with animals.”
Hudson’s chest puffs even higher.
It’s rather adorable, though I won’t tell him that.
“The contract is super ironclad since Damon Camille sued the yoga studio once before over this,” he says mostly to me, but he keeps looking at Molly too.
“They’ll still try,” someone mutters.
