Without as much as a second glance, he’s closing my door and walking back down the dusty driveway. Leaving me sitting in my car confused, aroused, and completely fucked.
I think I’m into Dallas Northlane.
No, IknowI’m into Dallas Northlane.
Six
Annabeth
My car door slams behind me louder than I expected as I knock it shut with my butt. I can see the flickering neon sign of the bar across from me – as if the idea of going out this weekend isn’t enough, now the bar is actuallytauntingme. Okay, so it probably isn’t, but in my mind it is, and the mind is a powerful bitch.
I have barely taken a step when I hear, “Hey, Annabeth!” I’d know those voices anywhere, and before I even have a chance to turn around, the girls pounce on me. “Where have you been woman?” The melodic symphony of Hannah’s southern drawl and now not-so-polished Aussie accent rings through my ears. As one of the only Americans in town, Hannah’s accent definitely stands out.
“Adjusting to a new class has been more draining than I thought. Sorry I keep missing karaoke night,” I say, shrugging off the explanation.
“Babe, you’ve missedtwo.And I’ve missed you and your angelic vocal cords. It’s been the equivalent of cats drowning over there with this one,” River says, bumping her hip into Hannah before pulling me in for a hug.
“Don’t you have enough spouses?” Hannah quips, wiggling her eyebrows cheekily.
River ignores her, turning her attention back to me. “Ella said you recently had the pleasure of meeting Dallas.” It may have come out as a statement, but it’s phrased more like a question that I don’t know how to answer. Hannah slaps her arm, scowling.
“Good news travels fast then,” I say, shrugging sheepishly, as if that’s gonna subdue further inquiry.
“At least we know you have good taste,” River chuckles, her smirk saying everything as she cocks a brow in my direction.
“Woman, you havetwohusbands,” Hannah reminds her.
“I’ll have a third if you don’t fuck off.”
“Hey, you leave my Link out of your shenanigans.”
I can’t help but laugh. Knowing that Link and one of River’s husbands, Teddy, had a fling way before either of them met the girls makes this entire debate far more ridiculous than it needs to be.
“Hang on a second. If Teddy was with HannahandLink, does that make you sister wives by extension?” I ask, unable to hide my grin.
They think for a moment before bursting into laughter and squealing, “Sister wives!”Pair of lunatics these two.
I’m about to think of a witty comeback when all three of the men in question stroll aimlessly out of the liquor store, all wearing matching shirts… yes, you heard me. Matching. Shirts. As if this day couldn’t get any weirder. I stifle back a laugh, watching as the girls swoon over their partners.
Link is first in line. His shaggy hair is swept back off his face in an effortlessly sexy way.Nice going, Hannah.His smile greets me, meeting his eyes as he flashes Hannah a cheeky smirk. Teddy and Jonas, River’s husbands, are two steps behind, hand in hand. I’ve only seen them all together a few times, since they’re more Ella’s friends than mine, butthe way they all love each other makes me wish I was part of their crew. I mean, I guess I am, but I feel more like the weird cousin that’s invited by default.
Teddy and Jonas wrap their linked hands around River, pulling her in for a three-way kiss. She pulls back in curiosity before demanding, “Where the hell is Frank?”
“Frank? Never heard of him,” Teddy quips. Jonas huffs a laugh which only makes River more annoyed.
“Theodore James Carter, where is our son?”
A hysterical giggle rings out from somewhere behind us, as a gangly toddler bursts from behind the post-office box outside the store. His eyes are just as wild as his hair, which rivals that of The Fonz himself. Dimples plunge into his cheeks as he stomps toward us, arms flailing as he impersonates what I can only assume is a T-Rex.
“Stomp, stomp, I eat you Mummy. I big dinoo!” Frank roars, edging closer to his mother.
“Your kid,” Jonas smirks, elbowing Teddy in the ribs.
Teddy shakes his head. “Then why does he haveyoureyes, darling?” We all erupt into laughter, watching the little dude pretend to eat River’s arm in a violent display of dominance. River affectionately runs her fingers through Frank’s hair, leaning down to whisper in his ear so soft only he can hear. His eyes light up as she straightens, clearly pleased with whatever she said to him. Immediately, he’s off, running away from the group.
“Daddy, Daddy, I gonna bite chuu!” he roars between giggles. I can’t help but smile at the way he pronounces ‘you.’
“You’re gonna bite me? Ahhh,” Jonas squeals, well as close to a squeal as a thirty-something-year-old manly cowboy can get.
