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“Hello!” I shout when we enter. The living room is crowded with all of my girlfriends plus my brother.
Mom rushes out from the kitchen to give me a hug. “I’m glad you didn’t chicken out.”
Of course, my friends told Mom I wasn’t going to come tonight. My girlfriends wouldn’t know how to keep a secret if it showed up on their doorstep with a step-by-step guide on secrecy.
“Whoo hoo! It’s drunk poker time!” Chloe yells.
“Someone started drinking without us.”
“I’m allowed to be excited the band’s back together.”
Paisley frowns. “Is she referring to us? We’re not in a band.”
Nova smiles. “But we could be. Girl bands rock.”
“But none of us play instruments or have any talent.” Paisley’s not letting this go.
Chloe points to Maya. “She can sing.”
Maya’s cheeks darken until they’re a deep, dark red.
Nova hits Chloe. “Don’t embarrass Maya.”
“How is it embarrassing to say she has the voice of an angel?” Chloe scans the room. “I’m being serious. How?”
“I believe because you’re bringing attention to her in front of a large group,” Paisley states.
“This isn’t a large group. This is our family.”
I wrap my arm around Maya’s shoulders. “Chloe isn’t wrong for once. These people are your family. There’s no reason to be embarrassed.”
“Unless you have a crush on Weston and want to make him your sugar daddy,” Chloe says.
Weston grimaces. “No offense, Maya. But I’d prefer not to get the snot beat out of me by Caleb.”
Maya rolls her eyes. “Caleb’s just a friend.”
“An overprotective friend.”
“He’s in Afghanistan now anyway.” I didn’t think it was possible, but Maya’s cheeks darken further.
“Are you going to stand around all night or are we going to play drunk poker?” I ask to get everyone’s attention off my shy friend.
“Drunk poker!” Chloe squeals as she rushes for the dining room table.
The table is laden with snacks since drunk poker is Mom’s way of getting everyone to come over for a meal once a month. She claims when it was Sunday roast people would cancel at the last minute. No one cancels for drunk poker. Or, at least, no one gets away with cancelling for drunk poker.
Everyone hurries to the table, and I straggle behind. I realize my mistake when I notice the only chair available is next to Flynn. Nova points to the empty spot with a big smile on her face.
My friends think they’re matchmakers. Too bad they suck at matchmaking since Flynn and Sophia is not a love story waiting to be written.
“Sophia said she’s going to kick everyone’s ass tonight,” Flynn claims.
I glare at him. “I did not.”
“Oh, sorry. You said you were scared to lose. My bad.”
If looks could kill, he’d be toast. “Don’t be a jerk.”
