I cross my arms over my chest. “And they aren’t capable of cooking for themselves? Or one of them can’t stop for a break and grab some cookies and sandwiches at Brookhaven Market or The Burger Bunker?”
“Em, don’t be like that.” Ruby peels the lid off a container. “Jake is my new neighbor, and I hope to have a decent relationship with him.”
“You’re right.” My shoulders sink. Just because we can’t be in the same room together without fighting doesn’t mean my friends have the same issue with him. “I’m sorry I said anything.”
The hum of the bass fills the room as the song changes to a faster-paced rock number. We’ve always played music when we were together for as long as I can remember. But the music is in direct contrast with my mood, making my head hurt.
“It’s fine.” Ruby uses a spatula to loosen a tray of cookies that were cooling on the island and stacks them inside the open container as Squirt rubs into the side of her leg.
Chocolate chip cookies are lined up next to a row of sugar cookies. “I wish you and Jake would put the past behind you. We’re all friends or at least friendly with the guys, and it’d be easier if we all got along.”
“That’s easy for you to say. You get along with them. You’re talking about my brother–”
“And Dominic.” Bella interrupts me as pink creeps up her cheeks. “We fight like cats and dogs.” She rests her butt against the counter and mimics my stance.
“That’s foreplay.” Ruby laughs while snatching Squirt off the ground and marching to the back porch. “Out you go, little fella. Always sneaking in here trying to get scraps and girls. You’re a little rake.”
Squirt lets out an oink with a smile on his face. If pigs can smile.
“I wish,” Bella sighs with that flush still on her cheeks.
I arch an eyebrow and unlace my arms. “Do you have something to tell us? You look like a cherry red tomato over there.”
“No.” She bites her bottom lip. “Well, maybe. I don’t know.” Her facial features match her conflicted statements. “He’s seemed different lately. More like he’s jealous of other guys rather than just trying to push them off because of my brothers.”
“He’s ass over teakettle for you if you ask me.” Ruby snaps the door shut and promptly stops in front of the sink to wash her hands.
“I agree. He’s been fighting it for years.” I brace my hands on the island. Dominic watches Bella like an inside cat stalks a bird sitting on a porch rail. Watching. Waiting. And ready to pounce the second he’s given the chance.
“He needs to stop fighting it before I turn into an old shrew.” Bella’s eyes dance as she snatches up the spatula that Ruby ditched and shoves it under the cooled cookies.
In addition to the chocolate chip and sugar cookies, there are peanut butter and white chocolate chip macadamia nut cookies in the containers. It looks like a lot, but there’s probablyseven or more guys at Jake’s house. They’ll devour them in one setting.
“As soon as I get these off the tray, let’s go over to Jake’s house. I don’t want the cookies to get cold.” Ruby dries her hands on a white dishtowel with a pink pig embroidered on the end and hangs it on a silver drying rack.
“What can I do to help?” My innate instinct to help can’t survive any longer without chipping in and offering a hand.
“Grab the pitchers of drinks and let’s go.” Ruby unlaces her apron, revealing a green skintight halter-top dress with more legs showing than a giraffe.
Ruby is a constant contradiction. One second, she’s dressed in dingy muck boots and an old flannel shirt, and the next moment, she’s dressed like a runway model. Ruby was that girl in school who would’ve looked good in a gunny sack. She was the cheer captain at Friday night football games and showed pigs for 4H on Saturday mornings.
I glance down at my casual athletic gear–a mauve T-shirt and black leggings. I’m the odd girl out of this group. But for some reason, they put up with me.
“Wait a second.” Bella rushes across the room, yanks open her oversized bag, and digs out mascara, blush, and lipstick. “One more second.” She continues to dig through the contents in her purse from one side to the other. “Found it.” She holds up an eyeshadow palette like it’s a blue ribbon at the fair.
“Ugh.”
Her eyes narrow into slits. “Give me your face.”
I raise my hands in defense. “I’m fine. I don’t want to get all glammed up and have the guys think I’m trying to impress them or something.”
Bella arches an eyebrow. “You have boobs and a vagina. That’s all it really takes to impress them. The makeup is for you. You need some color and some confidence. And nothing says confidence like ruby red lipstick.”
“No.” I stumble backwards. “That’s Ruby’s signature look. Not mine. That’s not going to happen.” I’d look like a fucking clown if I tried to pull that off.
They laugh at the expression of horror that’s obviously on my face.
“Okay….” Bella flips the lipstick tube back into her purse and lifts a different one. “I’ll settle for a strawberry milkshake shade.”
