Bailey wasn’t letting go though. When a few girls entered, her embrace tightened and I smiled. At least, I thought I smiled until Bailey looked up at me and frowned.
“What’s wrong?” she asked, holding me in her vise-like grip.
I didn’t answer because there was no way to make her understand. Her family was built on a criminal enterprise, but they were the classic nuclear unit. A mom and dad with four blond kids who spent summers traveling around the country in a RV. Overhearing Tucker talk about his childhood once, I imagined having such an easy life. The image always felt wrong when I was included. As if I polluted it with my presence.
“People bail,” Bailey muttered and I thought she might cry.
Wrapping her silky blonde hair behind her ears, I whispered, “I’m not people.”
“I want to sit next to you in every class.”
Finally, I smiled for real. “Staking your claim, huh?”
“Fuck yeah,” she said without a smile. Glancing around the room, she sized up the competition. “I’ve killed for less.”
Laughing, I knew Bailey was full of shit. When I scooted my chair closer, her brilliant blue eyes lit up. Her reaction to such a small gesture gave away how I had Bailey Fucking Johansson hooked.
Chapter Five ~ Bailey
My classes ended before Nick’s, so I drove home and showered. With more time to spare, I thought about Nick and Farah. They both wanted to be teachers. Poor kids from shitty families, they had a lot in common. Nick wanted Farah first, but now he was left with me.
I planned to visit Winnie, yet found myself in front of Cooper’s slice of suburbia. Walking to the door, I figured Nick would like a house like this one. His dreams were so much like Farah’s that I wondered if they still included her as his perfect woman.
Tawny answered the door wearing a tank top and jeans. Even in the late summer heat, she refused to wear shorts because of her chicken legs. I’d seen them and she was just being paranoid. She claimed I was the same way about my old boobs.
“I need to talk to Farah,” I said and Tawny waved me in. “How’s your man?”
“The hunky bastard wore me out this morning.”
“Thanks for sharing.”
“I just wanted to explain why I’m tired and limping.”
Grinning at her, I walked to the kitchen where Farah made herself a sandwich. Her dark hair was up in a messy ponytail and a long tee covered her bump.
“Hey, Bailey. You look pretty. Are you going on a date?”
“Yeah, with Nick.”
“Nick is sweet,” Farah said, giving me a smile.
“You want him,” I hissed. “You whore.”
My sister-in-law just rolled her eyes and walked to the recliner. “I think you and Nick will be cute together.”
“Oh, now that you’ve discarded him.”
“I thought you said I wanted him?”
Tawny joined me. “Chill, Bay. Why are you so tense?”
When Tawny tugged me to the couch, I let her soothe me, even though I was more depressed than angry.
“Would you want to be Cooper’s second choice?” I asked Farah then turned to Tawny. “Or Judd’s?”
The sisters glanced at each other and their smug expressions faded.
“Yeah, second choice sucks,” I said when they remained silent. “Nick wanted Fat Lips over here, but lost her to Cooper the Pooper. Now, he’s stuck with me. A love story for the ages.”
“I don’t think Nick was even into me,” Farah offered after a moment of silence. “Like he was nice, but he never acted like he wanted to date me. I think I was more into him than he was into me.”
“What now?” Cooper the Pooper asked, entering the room and ruining our girl moment. “Who were you into?”
Farah just rubbed her bump and smiled at me. Cooper’s gaze lowered to where his baby roasted in his woman’s oven. Feeling sufficiently triumphant, he smiled.
“What are we talking about?”
“I thought you were studying?” I muttered.
“I needed a break. The law is stupid. Anarchy is the way to go.”
Cooper joined Farah on the recliner even though she had to sit on his lap to make them both fit. I hated them for being happy. Okay, hated might have been a strong word, but I was seething with jealousy at them enjoying what I didn’t have.
“I was telling Bailey that Nick wasn’t really into me.”
“Bullshit. He tried to kick my ass, so he could have you,” Cooper said, being the voice of asshole like usual.
“I think he just didn’t want to back down to you,” Tawny suggested. “I’ve seen him fight a few times and he won’t back down. Even when he’s about to get crushed, he keeps going. Typical man who would rather die than walk away.”
“Typical man?” Cooper asked. “Problems with Judd?”
“No,” Tawny said, smirking. “My man isn’t typical.”
“Whatever,” I grunted, interrupting all the bragging. “What about me ending up as Nick’s second choice?”
Farah leaned her head against Cooper’s shoulder then smiled at me. “I don’t know about Nick’s love life, but I know he never asked me out. Never tried to kiss me or anything like that. He was just friendly. I hardly believe you’re his second choice.”