She points to her head. ‘So, she’s pretty but she’s got smarts. Very solid potential. I think you’d like her.’
‘How did you even find her?’
Mom opens the fridge. ‘She’s in my tennis class. At the gym.Andshe told me she’s single. I think you should get to know her a little bit.’
‘Yeah, Jakey,’ River laughs at the table. ‘She’s good wife material. Go outside and talk to your future wifey.’
‘Ma. I’ll find my own girlfriend. Alright? I don’t need your help.’
Mom pulls a jug of chilled iced tea from the fridge. ‘Of course, sweetheart. I’m just trying to guide you in the right direction. You know, some of those girls on social media or TikTok or whatnot… well, they’re just… well, they’re not the right sort of girl. You know? And thereisa right sort of a girl, Jake, before you ask. So, come. Say hi. And if you like her, maybe you could take her to dinner.’
She’s already heading back outside. I look at River, who is grinning at me.
‘Can’t I at least just settle in first?’ I say, abandoning the remainder of my sandwich.
‘Apparently not. If I were you, I’d find a girlfriend, and fast. Or the weather girl out there is gonna be first in a very long line of candidates for the position ofMrsJake Walsh.’
I watch the two women in the back yard. And all I can think is that the only woman I’d want for a girlfriend right now is apparently off limits and doesn’t even wanna give me her number.
I’m just gonna have to double my efforts.
Chapter Seven
Serenity
‘Persia Takeda, I hope you’ve got another dress to wear because you’re not stepping onto the bus in that outfit.’
Still in my towel in the CMC locker room after early-morning practice, my hair wet, I look across at Harmony. Our captain’s eyebrows are arched toward the third-year veteran, hands on her hips. Persia holds out both hands, glancing innocently down at her bodycon dress. It’s short, off the shoulder, baby pink in color with a pretty lace overlay.
‘Harm, this is anAlaïa,’ Persia says.
‘That might be, but I can practically see your pussy.’
Next to me, Jewel snorts. I bite my lip. Looking up from applying her makeup in the mirror, Shawny stifles a laugh. Persia pouts her lips in response, then tosses her long, straight black hair over her shoulder in defiance.
‘You so cannot see my pussy.’
‘Below the knee. That was the rule, remember? Ren got the memo, see?’
Harmony’s pointing to my dress, hanging next to me on the edge of my locker door. It’s sleeveless, green with a high neckline and long pencil skirt. It’s the opposite of anything I’d ever wear at Surly’s, yet while it looks brand-new, I bought it on an app for pre-loved clothes. And unlike Persia’s dress, it’s regrettably moreconservative, and most definitely not designer.
Persia looks at my dress with well-disguised disdain, but I know dislike when I see it. ‘Well, I don’t have anything else,’ she says.
‘That’s why I brought spares. You’re what, a two? Same as me.’
‘You brought spares? Harm, seriously?’
‘Go take a look.’
‘I’d rather not go.’
‘We go as a team, remember?’
Persia glowers at our captain, lets out an impatient sigh then turns on her heel. She heads for Harmony’s locker, almost bumping into Angel as she goes.
‘What’s up with her?’ Angel asks.
‘Inappropriate wedding attire,’ Shawny confirms.
