And she glanced at Keegan for confirmation as she says the wordwe.
Suddenly, my understanding about everything that’s happened this week shifts. The way Selah is always hanging around Keegan’s place. The way he kissed me to throw her off. The fact that he wanted me here with him tonight. He wanted me here enough that he tried to doll me up in that outrageous dress he picked out for me. And seemed disappointed that I didn’t let him buy it for me. Or was that just so that I would look presentable enough that Selah would see me as a viable threat?
None of this is about the job at McQuade Development at all.
His dad has wanted him to work for the family company for years, so the job is his if he wants it. He never had to prove to his dad that he’s worthy of it. Furthermore, it’s obvious from this entire conversation that him taking the job is all but a fait accompli. This wasn’t actually about accepting the job with his dad. No, this was something wholly different.
He knew that if Bruce was here, Selah would be as well. And he needed me here forthat.
If she was just a pesky neighbor, it wouldn’t be a big deal, but she’s clearly more than that.
She’s a former ... something.
Keegan doesn’t really do relationships. But trips to exotic locations are totally in his wheelhouse. Which means that, at some point in the past, he hooked up with Selah and they went to the Bahamas together. Which is where his parents met Bruce. Which is why he needs to not piss off Selah if McQuade Development is going to get in bed with Bruce.
Well, fuck.
Just when I think it couldn’t get any worse, Selah gives another trill of laughter.
“No, it wasn’t the Bahamas trip. I’m such an airhead sometimes. It was St. Maarten.”
Even though she hasn’t yet acknowledged me, her gaze flits smugly to mine as she says this.
It’s like she read my mind. Because you might bring a hookup on one Caribbean vacation, but not two.
Two Caribbean vacations is definitely girlfriend territory.
Excuse me, sir. Can I upgrade mywell, fuckto adouble fuck?
As in, Keegan fucking McQuade and his stupid Caribbean blue eyes have fucked up my emotions and my heart. Heliedto me.
chapterseventeen
Despite my vivid imagination,general flights of fancy, and ability to get lost in my mind, I don’t think of myself as an overly dramatic person.
I don’t pick fights. I don’t throw temper tantrums. I don’t indulge in emotional outbursts. I don’t cry in public.
Honestly, I don’t remember the last time I cried at all.
There was this one documentary about how storks mate for life. Yeah. I cried during that. Don’t judge me. There was this one stork who’d lost his mate and ... well, I’m not dead inside. Anyone would have cried during that.
My point is this: despite my normally stoic nature, as soon as I realize Selah and Keegan aren’t just neighbors, they’re exes, I need some space. So, I whisper something about finding a restroom and excuse myself. And he doesn’t even notice. All of which makes me feel like ...
I justfeel, okay?
It isn’t a lie-lie. He didn’t tell me an untruth. But he also didn’t tell me thewholetruth. He didn’t tell me who Selah was to him so that I could be better prepared. He didn’t tell me she’s an ex, not just a girl with a crush. And he damn sure didn’t tell me that she’s Bruce’s niece.
I feel all kinds of very complicated emotions I am not prepared to deal with. Certainly not in public. Definitely not anywhere within range of that human jellyfish Selah (i.e. all clinging tentacles and poisonous sting).
So I do what strong women have been doing for hundreds of years.
I order a drink at the bar.
Thankfully, there’s not a line, so I smile gamely at the bartender. He’s young and hot and the flirty smile he gives me tells me he probably earns big tips at events like this.
“What do you recommend?” I ask the flirty bartender.
It’s what Sasha would do. If a hot bartender gave her a flirty smile, she wouldn’t assume it was for tips. She would assume it was genuine. So I try to channel that energy. Let’s face it, right now, I don’t want to be frumpy Meg who’s been duped by her best friend. I want to be someone else.
