“I thought they worked with this blazer,” she says absently. “But enough about me, let’s talk aboutyou, Luc. HowwasFriday night?”
I frown at Luc. “What happened Friday night?”
“Oh, you don’t know?” Vee grins. “Bachelor Number Twenty here took his date on the town. Sally Renee’s been telling anyone who’ll listen all about it.”
“Wait.” I hold up a hand, staring at Luc. “You already went on a date with Sally Renee? That was fast.”
He shrugs. “I reckoned why put off the inevitable, you know?”
“You sure made an impression on her.” Vee nudges him with her elbow. “She said she didn’t think she had anything more to learn when it comes to…uh…” She lowers her voice. “You know what. But apparently, you taught her a thing or two. Well done, you. If you decide to be part of Aunt Bea’s bachelor auction next year, who knows how high the bidding will go?”
Throwing her head back, she laughs merrily. “Well, it was good seeing y’all this morning. Enjoy your brunch. Bye, Maggie.” She barely spares Cash a glance before joining her friends at the table in the corner.
I keep my smile in place, but it’s brittle. If someone blows on it, my whole face might crack.
Cash punches Luc in the shoulder. “What the hell, dude?”
“Ow.” Luc glares at him incredulously. “What the hell dude me? More like what the hell dudeyou? Why are you hitting me?”
“I thought we talkedabout this.”
“No.Youtalked about it. And it’s fine for you, but I don’t see whyIhafta abide by your rules.I’mnot the one aiming to—ow! Jesus!” Luc bends and rubs his shin, leading me to presume Cash kicked him under the table.
“I’m sorry.” I lift a finger. “What am I missing? What’s going on here?”
“Nothing,” they say in unison.
I look back and forth between them. Neither seems ready to spill whatever mysterious beans they’re cooking up. Doesn’t matter. I’m more interested in Luc and Sally Renee anyway.
“You slept with Sally Renee?” I don’t know why, but the thought is an irritant. Like a wad of gum stuck to the bottom of my shoe, or a splinter festering in the tip of my finger.
Luc scowls at Cash one more time before turning to me and clearing his throat. “A gentleman never tells.”
“Right.” I twist my lips. “Which means the answer isyes. If the answer wasno, then the gentleman would tell, because the gentleman wouldn’t have anythingtotell.”
He doesn’t say anything, simply stares at me and takes a slow drink of his café au lait.
“Lucien Dubois.” I try to make light of the situation. It’s none of my business, and it shouldn’t bother me, so I convince myself I won’t let it. “All this time you had me fooled into thinking you were this sweet, wholesome guy.”
“Iamsweet and wholesome.”
I grunt. “Sounds like Sally Renee might have something to say about that.”
“Don’t you know, Maggie May? There’s good and bad in all of us. We’re all devils and angels.”
