"We could feel the sexual tension from the trampoline," Colbie announces.
Bodie gives me a look that reveals she wants to laugh at me, but won't for pity reasons. My irritation grows under her gaze. Sawyer sighs dramatically at Colbie's comment. All three women stare at me, and I swear they sigh in unison.
Keeping my mouth shut, I stand and storm inside. I leave my plate in the sink, finish my beer, and grab a second one before walking upstairs and sulking in my room for a while.
Sawyer has every right to be pissed. I'd be pissed if she dumped me. I know all that shit. Now I want to build something new with her, yet every day we're right back to the day after I left her. She hates me, and maybe she always will.
Chapter 21
Sawyer
A Bad Goodbye
Once Jace storms off, the twins stand shoulder to shoulder and judge me. I'm focused on Bodie. What's her goal with all the pep talks she gives Jace? Is she seducing him with her helpfulness?
"Why you got to be so mean?" Colbie asks me. "He's a man, and they're not smart like us card carrying vaginas. I think the penis distracts them too much, yet they still managed to invent airplanes and TV. Give the guy a break."
"I didn't say anything mean. He's the one who was talking tits and porn. I just mentioned I had fucked a bunch of guys when we were apart."
Bodie grins. "You're a charmer. No one can ever take that from you."
"He wants to be friends, and I'm rude to friends. He oughta know that after all these years."
"Did he fuck a bunch of girls? Is that why you lied about your long list of weenies?"
"I didn't lie."
The twins look at each other and share an eyebrow lift. I hate when they talk about me when I'm sitting right there. Once they finish, they smile at me.
"You had a Fleetwood Mac moment. We all do."
"Explain."
"Tell me sweet little lies," they sing.
"I'm not lying."
"You have eyes for only one man. No way would you let an army of random guys plow your field."
"Fuck off, bitches. You don't know me."
"Prove it," Colbie says. "Tonight, I want you to flirt your ass off."
"Not that she has much to work with."
"True, her ass is on the flatter side, but I was talking figuratively anyway."
"Good point."
Standing up, I mutter, "You're obnoxious yeast infections."
"We don't have feelings, so stop trying to hurt them," Bodie says, taking me by the shoulders. "Flirt tonight. Tomorrow, you can give Stanley a real chance. If you do that, I'll believe you're over Jace."
"What do I care if you believe me?"
"I'm a mean girl," she says, shrugging. "Everyone cares what I think. That's how the jungle works, doll face."
Leaving them to talk in their head, I walk into the house. I'm nearly to the stairs when a flash of Jace and Bodie together in bed forces me to turn around and return to where Bodie is waiting.
"I might not want him back, but you better stay away from him."
"Or what?"
"Or I'll kick your ass."
Colbie laughs before spinning around. Bodie though gives me her death stare.
"One, you couldn't kick my ass if your life depended on it. You're a bitch, but I'm a frigging monster. Two, I'm deeply offended by this entire conversation."
"Deeply," Colbie says, still spinning.
"We're friends," Bodie continues, "and only evil sluts mess with their friends' men. Even their ex-men. To not trust me with Jace means you think I'm an evil slut. I might be evil at times, but never a slut."
"Never," Colbie murmurs.
We both frown at the spinning Colbie, and I ask, "Is she drunk?"
"Little bit. Now go away, so I can cry at my hurt feelings."
I hold Bodie's gaze, but she only smiles. Despite her monster reputation, I will kick her ass if she makes a move on Jace. I might not know my way back into his arms, but I'm willing to do anything to keep another woman out of them.
Chapter 22
Jace
The Big Time
My sulking lasts until I hear chimes in the hallway. Mama Phuong stares at me when I open the door. She's a tiny Vietnamese woman who looks ridiculous with her thick black hair in two pom-poms on her head. Assuming the twins beautified the older woman, I wait for her to explain the chimes.
"You get dressed and go downstairs. The ladies of the house are nearly finished glamorizing their armory."
"Did they make you say that?"
Mama Phuong smiles before disappearing down the hall. I shut the door and dress in the tuxedo. The guy in the mirror looks both like a douche and a badass. The rough kid in me is horribly embarrassed to be wearing this outfit, yet the vain man in me wants to strut.
I arrive at the front hall to find only Bodie's Doberman waiting.
"Are you coming with us?" I ask the dog.
Like most Dobermans, he possesses the black eyes of a shark. We hold a staring contest, and I win when he looks up the stairs at his approaching owner.