Xo Novel
16
She released my arm to slap it.
“Once I have my own team, maybe I’ll feel less of an urge to constantly strangle the motherfucker. The only thing that’s kept him alive is that you’re in love with him and you’d hate me for life if I offed the man.”
She gazed up at the ceiling, her eyes practically fucking hearts. “Every bit of the asshole I fell in love with.” She looked at me again. “I get the wanting to strangle him part. When it comes to being a boss, he’s the absolute worst. But he’s also a genius-you can’t deny that.”
I rolled my eyes. “There’s something wrong with you.”
“No, there’s something wrong with you. What will it take for you to settle down?”
“A miracle.”
“Which I believe in.”
I sighed. “Well, you shouldn’t when it comes to me. When was the last time I even had a relationship anyway? High school? And that lasted, what, a whole week?”
Her hands went to her chest, holding her heart. “Dana Wade. I’ll never forget her.”
I was mid-chew and almost spit out a chunk of ice. “How in the hell do you remember her name?”
“I was so jealous of the way she curled her hair. She had these long, bouncy ringlets that fell down her back. I couldn’t ever-”
“Stop.”
She shook her head, grinning. “My God, that feels like a lifetime ago, doesn’t it?”
“Which is why you shouldn’t get your hopes up about me settling down anytime soon. It’s not going to happen, Hannah.”
Even if something were to grow with Oaklyn-it wouldn’t; I was sure of that-it couldn’t go down because of my sister.
Hannah wanted me to get locked into a relationship; she wanted to welcome that woman into her life.
She just didn’t want that woman to already be in her life.
“I’m not giving up,” she voiced.
The waiter delivered our next round, and I held the full glass in my hand. “You’re wasting your time, but you do you, sis.”
Her eyes narrowed. “I don’t know about that.” She took a drink, and her attention moved toward the center of the bar, her face lighting up as though she’d spotted someone. She set down her wine, taking a quick peek at me. “Don’t kill me, but I invited Oaklyn.”
“You two can’t stay apart, can you?”
“We can; we just hate to.”
Hannah held out her arms, and Oaklyn immediately fell into them, the two girls laughing as they embraced in a hug.
But that wasn’t the same sound that came out of my mouth.
Because I was bullshit.
A chill night with my sister was now turning into an evening of acting, trying my hardest to hide what had gone down between Oaklyn and me, attempting not to stare at her, revealing my attraction.
Since I found her so fucking irresistible, this challenge was going to be impossibly hard.
Fuck me.
If I pulled her against my body and hugged her hello, I’d have a raging erection that everyone would be able to see. Since that hard-on was already threatening to mount, I got up from the stool and moved over to the girls, angling myself so only my mouth got near her.
“Good to see you, Oaklyn,” I said, and I gave her the fastest kiss on the cheek. I stepped away and added, “I’m going to go grab a shot,” before heading for the bar.
SEVEN
Oaklyn
“W
hat, did I drive him to drink?” I asked Hannah as I watched Camden walk to the bar. “That was the quickest hello he’s ever given me.” I took a seat next to my best friend.
“He’s probably a little grumpy.” She rolled her eyes. “First, the guys wanted to come out with us, and he told them they couldn’t, and then I went and invited my bestie-oops.” She laughed as she pulled a piece of hair off my lip and tucked it behind my ear. “And theeen, we were talking about girls before you got here, and I was giving him a little shit, so he’s probably extra salty about that part since that isn’t his favorite topic to discuss with me.”
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“What kind of shit were you giving him?” I asked since she hadn’t been specific enough in her description.
“Do you happen to remember when he dated Dana Wade in high school?”
“How could I forget? You were completely obsessed with that girl’s hair,” I said. “You came over to my house and sat in front of my mirror with a curling iron, trying for hours to do your hair like hers.”
“Yes! Her!”
“Didn’t they date for, like, five minutes? And the entire school was talking about it the whole time?” I questioned.
“But that’s longer than he’s ever dated anyone.” She handed me her wine, and I took a sip. “I just don’t want him to be a bachelor forever. He needs to find love and give me nieces and nephews.” She put her hand on my arm as I tried to chime in. “Not today. I mean, we’re young-I get it-but I just need to know it’s going to happen.”
“I hate to tell you this, Hannah, but it’s also okay if that doesn’t happen.”
“No, no, nooo.” She took her wine back. “Now, you’re sounding like him. I need you on my side.”
I took a quick glance toward Camden, where he was standing at the bar, talking to the bartender. She was tall with long, dark hair, wearing a corset with cleavage triple the size of mine. What made it even worse was that she was gorgeous.
He’d probably go home with her tonight.