Maddie leaned across the table and patted my hand. “That was like, the shittiest thing to do ever. But you know what they say—living well is the best revenge.”
I shook my head. “Then I’m failing. No job. No clue what to do next.”
“Are you kidding? You live with a pack of hot men. That’s like the best revenge ever.”
“I doubt Clint would think so,” I replied. “He probably doesn’t even know.”
“I may just have to accidentally mention that fact in front of Sonia. She was quite taken with the twins, you know. So at least she’ll be jealous even if Clint’s got his head too far up his ass to be.” She grinned when I raised my eyebrow. “I’ve met him once or twice, so I’m allowed to say that.”
“I definitely wasn’t arguing about that assessment.” My smile faded as my mind returned to weightier subjects. “Truthfully, it still hurts. No one likes to be rejected. But I’ve also been questioning what I was doing with him in the first place. He really caught me off guard when he proposed, and I suppose I got swept up in it. I hadn’t ever dreamed he cared enough to ask for my hand in marriage.”
“I get it. What woman doesn’t want to feel loved and cherished?” The kindness in her eyes told me she understood. But then the corners of her eyes crinkled as she grinned. “Now you can be loved and cherished by hot-as-hell strippers, plus a bonus, bouncer and bartender as well.”
“It’s really not like that. They’re just nice guys.”
“Nice, perfectly normal, drop-dead gorgeous guys. Doesn’t sound like a bad way to rebound to me.”
I shook my head, trying not to grin.
“I’m serious, girl. You won the frickin' lottery. Tell me more about them. All of them.”
Her enthusiasm was contagious. I tried to think of details that wouldn’t betray the guys’ privacy, since they’d been nothing but kind to me. “They eat a lot. I’ve been going to the grocery store because they don’t always have time, and I have to go practically every day.”
“That makes sense. The twins must really work up a sweat on stage.”
“Yeah, and they’re all about protein and low carbs, but Tonio and Knox like pasta and bread and stuff. The guys have barbecued twice since I’ve been there because that’s something they can all eat. They have a nice little setup in the backyard. There’s a firepit and chairs and stuff, too.”
“Sounds fun, especially when the weather cools off a bit.”
“Yeah—though I won’t be there then.”
“Why not? Sounds like it’s working out. What’s the rest of the house like?”
Ignoring Maddie’s first question, I described it to her. How I was still in Denver’s room, so I shared a bathroom with Tonio. Knox’s bedroom was on the first floor off the living room, and Austin’s was in the basement.
“Where does Denver sleep?”
“He’s bunking with his brother. The basement is apparently Austin’s domain. One of the guys said there’s some sort of workout equipment down there, too, but I’ve never been down there.”
“Wow. Two twins in one bed. Kind of makes your mind wander a bit.”
“Yeah, sometimes.” I couldn’t help the smile that slipped out.
She grinned too, and then suddenly we were giggling like little girls. “I don’t know how you keep your cool. Austin and Denver are pure perfection. I could barely handle talking to that bartender, and he had his clothes on.”
“Austin often goes around in just his boxer shorts,” I confided.
“No! I’d die on the spot. And die happy, mind you. How do you stand it?”
“I don’t know,” I said truthfully. “All of that plus the sudden end of things with Clint—it all still kind of feels surreal. So I mostly just go with the flow, and every so often I wonder if this is all a dream and one morning I’ll wake up back in my tiny studio apartment back east.”
“Well, it’s not a dream and I don’t want you to go back because I’m glad we met.”
Aww. For a moment, Maddie’s words made me choke up. It was funny how Clint’s extraordinary rudeness had led to so many acts of kindness from others.
Maddie’s smile was kind. “Anyway, sorry, but I need to get back to work soon. Sonia was relieved when I said I’d get your stuff so that none of them would have to deal with it, but she won’t be pleased if I’m gone too long. Are you ready to go make the transfer?”
I nodded and got up. Denver had lent me his car, and it was only a few spaces away from where Maddie had parked. I asked about her sister’s wedding while we transferred my suitcases, boxes, and stuff from one car to the other.
“My sister is excited, but she keeps me hopping. I’ve got maid of honor duties on top of the dress fittings.”