Page 83 of Lucky Mother Pucker

They shake hands as I roll my eyes again. “My only sister.”

“Way to ruin the joke,” Zoey says.

Lucy laughs. “I’m Lucy. Leo’s friend and roommate.”

Zoey’s eyes brighten. “You’re Lucy?” She smiles. “Leo told me about you.”

Lucy blushes. “Hopefully only good things.”

My sister aims a knowing smile at me. “Only good things,” she reassures. “Hopefully, living with my brother hasn’t been a total drag? I lived with him for most of my life, so I know how annoying he can be.”

“Hey, you weren’t a walk in the park to live with,” I say. “Remember how you hogged all the bathroom counter space with your makeup and skincare and hair stuff?”

Zoey gently shoves my shoulder. “It wasn’t the whole counter. And I don’t know why you’re complaining. You never had that much stuff anyway. Just a toothbrush, a bar of soap, and a bottle of Axe body spray.”

Lucy covers her mouth as she laughs. I roll my eyes and hold back a laugh at my big sister roasting me.

“Wow. We’re taking cheap shots, huh?” I look at Zoey. “Should I mention how you almost set the bathroom on fire with your candle and body spray addiction?”

“That was one time.”

“Oh, sorry, I didn’t realize lighting the bathroom on fire was okay if it was just one time.” I turn to Lucy. “She lit a candle, then doused herself with vanilla body spray while standing next to it. Some of the spray hit the candle and poof. You should have seen how big those flames got.”

Zoey crosses her arms and frowns at me. “I was a kid. I didn’t know that body spray was flammable.”

Lucy bursts out laughing.

Zoey breaks into a smile. “I’m hoping living with Leo has been a bit smoother for you?”

Lucy nods. “It’s been great. He’s a sweetheart. I feel so at home.”

A warm feeling burrows inside of me, wrapping around my heart. I try to rein in my smile, but I catch my sister staring at me.

A server walks by with a tray of champagne glasses. Zoey grabs one. She and Lucy chat while sipping on their glasses of champagne. I stand back and sip my drink, happy that they’re getting along.

I glance around the ballroom, wondering where her boyfriend, Jeff, is. Maybe he didn’t come. That would be a nice surprise.

But then, a minute later, he walks up to our table. He wraps his arm around my sister’s waist. For a second, it looks like she stiffens, but then she turns to him and smiles.

He kisses her cheek. “Sorry I’m late. I had a work call.”

“It’s okay,” Zoey says. She hands him her flute. “Want a sip of champagne?”

He takes the glass and drains it. “Damn, that’s good.”

I notice Zoey’s smile turns tight. Annoyance zooms through me at how he finished her drink when he was only supposed to have a sip.

When he looks at me, his expression hardens. “Leo. Hey.”

I nod, barely looking at him. I’m so sick of this guy.

Zoey ignores our tense greeting and turns to Lucy. “Lucy, this is my boyfriend, Jeff. Jeff, this is Lucy, Leo’s friend and roommate.”

“Good to meet you,” Jeff says before glancing around the room. “Where’s the waiter? I could use some more of that champagne.”

“So you have a job now?” I say to him.

He turns to me, brows raised like he’s surprised at my blunt question.