“Yes, please.”
“Big Bro?” I ask Evan.
“I’ll take a beer if you have one.”
Handing them their drinks, I sit back between Sebastian’s legs again. “Courtney’s single, we need to set her up. Do we know anyone single?” I ask in the bitchiest tone I can muster. “She’s holding out hope of landing a big fish, but I’m guessing we probably know a bigger fish she can get her hook into.” Turning to Courtney, I smile. “And honestly, with senior year on the horizon, you need to get someone tied down. You don’t want to graduate without even a rock on your finger.”
Courtney forces a fake smile onto her lips, while the guys throw out names of available men, and Sammy types something on her cell.
Hunter and Bunny arrive next, both dressed for the pool.
“Hey guys,” Bunny calls, rubbing Sammy’s belly as she passes, before taking a seat on the lounger beside mine.
Hunter follows a pace behind her, his gaze lethal as it lands on the back of Courtney’s head. His expression softens into a smile as he leans down and presses a kiss first to my cheek, then to Sammy’s. “Hi, Hunter Rossberg,” he says, holding his hand out to Courtney.
“Hi Hunter, long time no see,” Courtney says flirtatiously.
“I’m sorry, have we met?” Hunter asks, with clean confusion.
“We went to high school together,” Courtney snaps.
“Don’t feel bad, I don’t recognize her either,” Evan says.
“Oh my god, you guys are terrible. Courtney and I were besties in high school,” I say.
“What, in Maine?” Hunter asks, and I have to fight back the laughter that’s bubbling in my throat.
“No. Green Acres Academy,” Courtney spits.
“Apparently, she was Sebastian’s date to Harry and Cassidy’s wedding,” Sammy interjects.
“Sebastian doesn’t date. He hasn’t so much as looked at another woman since he saw Starling on her first day of high school,” Hunter says airily.
“Hunter,” Bunny scolds, elbowing him as she reaches around him to hold her hand out to Courtney. “Ignore my husband, he’s getting old. I’m Bunny, it’s nice to meet you.”
Courtney nods and makes polite conversation until the topic of finding her a husband is brought up again.
By the time Clay and January arrive, I think the guys have mentioned a hundred names, and Sammy, Bunny, and I have made digs about how awful it’d be to have gotten to our junior year and not be married.
I have never loved a group of people more than I do right now. Not only have they all dropped their plans to be here—I haven’t checked my cell, but I’m assuming Sebastian asked them to come—but every single one has been making snide comments and sly barbs at Courtney, all while smiling and laughing.
We really are a bunch of absolute psychos.
“Armand is setting up lunch in the dining room,” Clay announces when he and January step out of the house and onto the patio.
“Oh, thank god, I’m so freaking hungry. I swear this baby is eating for ten,” Sammy moans, pushing out of her seat with the help of Evan.
Instead of moving toward us, Clay and January pause in the doorway, waiting for us all to get up and move inside. Hooking my arm through Court’s, I smile excitedly at her, then tow her back into the house.
Once we’re all sat at the table that’s laden with a delicious-looking spread of salads, pasta, sushi, and even some delicious-looking sweet potato fries, Clay looks to Courtney. “I’m sorry, I don’t think we’ve met. I’m Clay Jansen, and this is my wife, January.”
“Seriously, Clay. You don’t remember me either? We went to Green Acres Academy together. We were friends,” Courtney spits, clearly angry, her chest heaving.
Pursing his lips, Clay tips his head to the side. “I’m sorry. What was your name?”
“Courtney Ortega,” she growls.
Screwing up his face for a moment, he stares at her, then shrugs. “High school was a long time ago.”
