“Maybe ...” Lou hedges.
“You can’t kick me out when you mademy mom’ssecret caramel popcorn recipe.”
“Unless you have shaved legs and own more serums than socket wrenches, I can kick you out. This is a GIRLS’ NIGHT.”
“I’m wishing I didn’t have shaved legs and exfoliants right now,” I mutter from under my blanket.
“That would be tragic,” Hunter says. “I happen to be a fan of your shaved legs and fully support your ten-step skincare routine.”
Lou snorts her La Croix.
“Did he just say ten-step skincare routine?” Talia crows.
I whip off the blanket. “You’re commenting on my self-care rituals now?” He has an unfair advantage, using the same bathroom I do.
“Just proving I pay attention,” he says with a smirk.
Talia waves a hand. “Honestly? That’s hot.”
Lou choke-laughs on the popcorn she’s eating.
“That’s hot, huh?” Hunter quirks an eyebrow.
“Oh, for sure. Plus, you’ve got that whole tortured and mysterious vibe. You make it work.”
“This conversation has become wildly inappropriate for me to be a part of, seeing as he’s my cousin and the shaved-legs girl is my roommate!” But despite her protests, Lou’s laughing so hard she’s on the verge of crying.
“Have you all been drinking? Is thisliterallycrack-corn? What is goingonhere?” I gawk at all three of them.
“No drinking,” Talia confirms.
“And last I checked, my mom’s recipe involves no actual crack. Unless Lou modified it.”
“No drugs of any sort have been inserted.” Lou shakes her head. “This is what you call a sugar high—plus my life being pretty dang good.”
“Lou’s using pseudocurse words. Things arereallygetting out of control.” Talia starts giggling, and then Lou is laughing, too, and even I can’t resist this time.
I have no idea why we’re all so punch drunk, but their laughter is contagious. Hunter is even grinning andteasing. I don’t know what has caused this change, but I’mherefor it.
“Can’t a girl be excited that she closed the biggest deal of her life—”
“With her cousin’s expertise and help, of course,” Hunter interjects with a smirk.
“With her cousin’s expertise and help, of course,” she adds, “andhas a dreamy boyfriend who likes her enough toonlymake out at lunch and agree to take things slow,andwhose bestie is not in the hospital anymore,andthat same bestie is now going out with her cousin, who is the happiest she’s seen him in, like, a million years?”
I stare at her, wide-eyed. “Wow ... that’s a lot to unpack. But when you put it like that, I think the answer is yes?”
“Yes, it’s a yes, you idiot! It means we can use all the pseudoswears and eat all the sugar and act like we’re drunk when we’re not because we’rehigh on life!”
“Does this mean I get to stay?” Hunter asks.
“No!” Talia and Lou shout in unison and then both burst into hysterical laughter.
“Sexists,” he says, but he stands with a wink at me. “I guess I’ll go to the library or something. Good luck with these crazies.”
He grabs his keys and heads out the front door. I want to ask where he’s going, but I stay quiet while Lou and Taliacontinue to giggle about Lou’s make-out session in Chris the Banker’s Mercedes Benz.
“I’ve never seen him like that before,” I say when I’m sure he’s not coming back in.
