Page 23 of Sour Notes

Fisting my hands under the table, I focus on the dig of my nails into my palms and take a quick calming breath.

“Just a random date. Mom set it up.” I flash him a quick back-off look, and he glowers at me before shoving a piece of bacon in his mouth.

“Have fun.” He slumps back, muttering mid-chew.

Nice. Real nice.

“Oh god, your mom set it up? How’d she slip that one in? I thought you’d managed to evade those so far.”

I shake my head at Haven, “Tell me about it, dude. I’m still not even fucking sure. She’s really amped up the pressure. I think the closer we get to Nick's wedding, the more insane she’s getting. I don’t know if she’s worrying about the Dickweed being there as much as I am, or she just wants to see me settled too, but it’s a lot. I’ll go tonight to shut her up, but judging by my current track record I’m not holding out much hope.”

“What’s this about?” Lucas looks between Haven and me.

“Well, you know my twin’s getting married, right? His fiancée happens to be my ex, Pete's sister.”

Lucas’ expression hardens. “You’ve got to be fucking joking. Not that guy. I thought we got rid of the fucker?”

“I mean, I guess it’s my fault. Nick only met Layla because I was seeing him. So yeah… that.” I sigh, shoving my plate away. Doesn’t take much for Pete to kill my appetite. Just his name makes me want to hurl.

I’m passing it off as no big deal, but it’s a really big deal. Even these guys don’t know how much of a cunt he was to me, and I don’t use that word lightly. The last thing I want to do is show up there single so the sniveling little toad can rub that in my face too.

Hold your breath and count to ten.

I breathe out and smile wide. I know it doesn’t reach my eyes the second Swayze pushes a thigh into mine beneath the table, and Haven’s brows furrow.

“It’s all good. Tonight should be ok. He sounds like a lot of fun.”

Yeah, if a dude pushing forty who still lives with his mom and might have a combover sounds like fun.

But the bar isn’t set that high. He might be nice. If we have enough to talk about, and I can at least stomach kissing him, it’ll be fine.

It might work out, right?

Hopefully.

And hell is just a sauna.

Ugh. What was I thinking? I’m such a dumbass.

A groan slips out, and Swayze squeezes my thigh under the table for a brief second before letting it go, the move oddly comforting despite our current status.

Haven tilts her head at me. “Well, why don’t I come to yours and help you get ready then? I don’t have anything better to do tonight since Axel has to go play the hometown hero.”

He grins and leans down, kissing Haven on the forehead, and it sends a pang straight to my heart. Axel would never treat Haven the way Pete treated me. He’d rather die. I’d bet my life on that.

“Sounds good. You can help me pick something to make him fall to his knees, begging me to take him to the wedding.”

She laughs, high-fiving me. “I got you, boo.”

5

SWAYZE

Fuck this and fuck her.

For the last two hours, I’ve had to listen to the girls giggling while Mia gets ready for the goddamn date she has lined up tonight.

It’s funny how she’s happy to date some random dude her mom chose for her, but when I asked, she basically laughed in my face before telling me no.