“Yea, but I hope you know I’d never want to make you have a bad day.”
“Even if she did show up, I would be too busy having fun and partying with you and Michael. She would just be a fly on the wall and no bother to me. It’s going to be your day.”
“I don’t plan on ever talking to her ever again.” Beth lets out a harrumph, which in turn makes us both laugh. “I already deleted her number from my phone and blocked her on all social media. I have no interest in seeing or hearing from that homewrecker ever again.”
“I did the same thing.”
The doorbells rings, so we both stand up. I slip my phone in the back pocket of my denim shorts, then pull the bedroom door open the rest of the way. It was closed, except for a small crack, as we both changed for the party.
“Don’t think I forgot that you still haven’t told me what your evil plan is for while I’m here.” I point my finger at her as we walk down the stairs. “I have money saved up to float me until I find a new job. I don’t want you worrying about me. I won’t be evicted or have the lights shut off just because I’m out of work for a bit.”
“I didn’t think you would be.” Beth hooks her arm through mine as we pass the empty living room and head toward the kitchen in the back of the house. “I’m just in a bit of a pickle, well my brother is I guess, and I was hoping maybe you could help us out while you’re here.”
“How am I in a pickle?”
“Speak of the devil and he appears.” Beth tugs me to the fridge, opens it, and starts handing me things, ignoring Bode who is coming inside through the sliding patio door from the backyard. “Put these on the island then we’ll take them outside.”
“Beth, why am I in a pickle?” Bode asks the question that hopefully will get both of us the answer we’re looking for. “What did you do?”
When I looked up from my phone and took Bode in for the first time, I was stunned speechless. I knew Beth had an older brother, and I had seen pictures of him from when he was younger, but I had no idea he’d grown up into such eye candy.
Broad shoulders encased in a dark blue t-shirt—check.
Muscles stacked on muscles down his biceps and forearms—check.
Dark brown hair with a slight curl just long enough to get a good hold on and tug—check.
A shortly trimmed beard that I imagine could rub me just right in all the right places—check.
And chocolate brown eyes you could melt in on a hot summer day like today . . . shit—check and check.
I can’t be thinking like this about him. Bode is off limits. Best friends are not allowed to have the hots for their best friend’sbrother. How cliché is that? This isn’t some cheesy late night made for television movie.
I don’t know if Beth never told me, or if I just ignored the information when she did, but it wasn’t until almost an hour ago that I found out she lives with Bode and his daughter Hazel. I know that he’s a single dad, and that Beth helps take care of her niece, but them all living under one roof was news to me until he was carrying my suitcases up the stairs and he pointed to the closed door just past the bedroom he put them in and told me it was his room.
That’s right, my room is right next to his.
This is going to be an interesting six weeks.
CHAPTER FOUR
BODE
“What did you do?” I repeat the question to Beth for a second time.
The moment that the doorbell rang, and her friend arrived without me knowing anything about her coming to visit, I should have known Beth was up to something. Not that I mind Alyssabeing here, because let’s face it, she’s stunning, but now that Beth won’t meet my eyes, I know she’s cooking something up in that sneaky brain of hers.
When Alyssa turns to set a large platter of veggies on the stove, I step in between her and Beth and get right all up in my sister’s bubble. One hand on the counter, and the other holding the fridge door open, I have her trapped with nowhere to go until she comes clean.
With a huge sigh, I watch as Beth builds her inner-warrior badass persona to go to battle with me. She may be a pixie compared to my height, but her inner-warrior is a giant and I know whatever she is going to throw at me right now, I’m probably not going to like it.
“I’m moving in with Michael next week.”
“What?” My voice echoes with Alyssa’s. I turn to look and based on the shock on her face, this is news to her as well.
“I know this wasn’t the plan,” Beth starts as she nudges me back a few steps before shutting the fridge. She braces her hands on the edge of the island counter and volleys her gaze between me and her friend. “We weren’t supposed to move into the house yet, but the contractor got the renovations done early and I really want to get everything in and be settled before the wedding. That way, after we get home from our honeymoon, we can just unpack and relax and not have to worry about packing and unpacking and all that mess. I want us all to be unstressed and for the wedding to be fun for everyone, not all scattered about worrying about what is where. Please tell me you guys understand?”
“Well, I guess that makes sense.” I get where Beth is coming from because moving is stressful enough as-is, let alone adding everything happening in the upcoming weeks before the wedding, but this change of plans leaves me in a bit of a pickle. I guess she was right. “But what about Hazel? I can’t ask you to watch her if you’re going to packing and moving and unpacking everything at the other house. She may be our princess, but let’s face it, she’ll be two extra little feet and in your way the entire time.”
