My best friend.
My confidant.
She’s kind, and pure, and strong. And she hides a serious case of asskickery in her pockets and pulls them out whenever she needs to. She’s amazing.
“I broke up with Ben…” Iz’s breath catches on emotion. “He… I don’t know. Something’s not right. I think he’s hiding something.”
“Why do you say that?”
She shrugs. “It’s just stupid. He’s weird about his phone. We’ve been seeing each other since December, but we only see each other every second weekend. It all feels so scripted, you know? I’m not a needy chick. I don’t have to be with my man all the time, but something other than radio silence between visits would be cool. Then tonight, he didn’t wanna meet my family. The guys piss me off,” she snickers, “for real. They piss me off so much, I’m tempted to put them all into one car and send them into the lake for an hour or two. But annoying, overprotective, no boundaries, all of it… they’re mine. I love them, even if I don’t like them. And Ben didn’t want to meet them.”
“That’s not gonna fly around here.”
She smiles. “No, it’s not.”
“So, you broke up with him?”
“Yeah, kind of, I guess.” She shrugs, and finally, some of the tension leaves her slim body. “I’m not in love with the guy. He was just there, he said I was pretty, he asked me out.”
And Jim didn’t.
Tink reaches across and pats Iz’s hand. “Good for you, Sissy. Don’t settle, okay? You’re too awesome for some dick who won’t commit to even meeting your family. If he’s not in it a hundred percent, then he’s not it for you.”
Iz snorts. “Like you can talk.Don’t settle. In it a hundred percent.”When Tink’s brows crease, Iz laughs. “When are you and my brother going to commit, huh? This half in, half out, Leo and Sunshine show has been on repeat, and I’m bored. Time to shit or get off the pot.”
Leo and Sunshine?
“Jesus, shut up about that shit. You’ll give me heartburn. And don’t even start throwing rocks, girl. Your house isallglass, and we both know there’s a man in the kitchen that you wish you could cuddle up to at night. Your brothers are blind, but we aren’t.”
Izzy’s hands fly to her scandalized face. “What do you know about that?”
“Oh please,” I scoff. “How long have you been in love with that man? I swear, T and I come along for less than a year and it’s like you have big flashing neon lights above your head. It’s screaminglove!But your stupid brothers have been around forever, and they know nothing.”
“He’s just my best friend.”
“Yeah, he’s your friend,” Tink adds. “But you wish you could touch each other’s bathing suit areas, too.”
Iz chokes and slams her hand down over Tink’s mouth. “Jesus, can you shut up?”
“Why aren’t you together, Iz? You both like each other. This isn’t one sided.” I point toward the door. “Guaranteed, you go downstairs right now and sit in his lap, no way in hell would he push you off.”
Her eyes flash angrily. “I guarantee you hewould. He’s a stubborn jerk and his loyalties lie somewhere between me and Jon. If Jon’s in that kitchen, you bet your ass Jim would push me off.”
“He would not.”
“He would! Then he’d text me later, call me pal and shuffle me back into the friend zone. He doesn’t wanna lose me, but he doesn’t want me, either. He likes the status quo.”
“I think you’re wrong.” I relax onto my back. “I think you’re way wrong.”
“Yeah, well you’re still new around here. It’s not surprising you don’t get it.”
“Ouch,” Tink hisses. “Baby girl’s got sass today. You got your period or something?”
Izzy turns and shoots a glare at my equally sassy best friend. “No, and I don’t want you two mentioning this to the guys. I don’t have time for world war three.”
I scoff. “No way in hell am I bringing that shit up. That’s on you, Iz. But you should get your shit straight soon. He likes you, and now you’ve shaken Ben off, the field is clear. Bobby’s lap is awfully comfy. I bet Jimmy’s is, too. Go out there, kiss him. There’s no way in hell he won’t reciprocate with a tongue down your throat. And even Jon would be too stunned for the first minute, then after that, it’s too late because you and Jim would be together. Easy peasy.”
She rolls her eyes. “Worst advice ever. Can we drop it, please? I don’t wanna talk about him.”