“You know what I say, an orgasm a day keeps divorce away!”
“Oh my god, you’re a nut! Obviously Bobby is doing something right!” I wink at her.
“Girl, that man is insatiable. He’s just everything good about everything good.” She has a dreamy eyed look on her face as she opens some chips and dip, and I pop the cork on a cold bottle I had in my fridge, replacing it with the bottles Britt brought over.
“I’m happy for you. That’s so great.” I pour us a glass and cheers, “To home!”
“What about you? Tell me why you’re really here. In Christmas,” Britt asks.
I slouch at the island. “Nick is a dick,” she giggles. “Like a real-life backstabbing dick,” Britt laughs again. I tell her the story of how Ava Belinsky was defrauding me at work and then stealing my boyfriend while she did it. “I’m pretty sure Nick had a part to play in it. Whether he thought I’d figure it out and leave him or not is a different story, though.”
“Oh girl, that is awful. What an asshole. Nickandyour boss,andthat bitch Ava.What are you going to do?”
“I don’t know, honestly. I always thought coming home would be awful, but I think I need to be here to get my head on straight. Figure out where I’m going. If I want to keep up with PR or jump ship all together.”
It’s what I’m telling myself, anyway.
“You’ll figure it out and, in the meantime, we’re going to go out and get you laid.”
“Oh hell no, no way! A man is the last thing I need right now.”
“Come on! Bobby can introduce you to some nice realtors from his office. We can double date!”
“Britt! Stop pimping me out already! Let me get acclimated to town life again and then maybe we’ll see.”
She squeals and her eyes light up. “Hey! I didn’t say yes!” I protest.
“Yes, is always the answer.” I jump as I hear the male voice spoken from behind me.
“Oh my God, how did you get in here?” My heart is racing as I watch Jackson amble his way through my back door, along with Bobby.
“You should really lock your doors, Noches. Anyone could wander in,” he laughs to himself.
“Britt, didn’t you tell your husband not to feed the strays?” I say as Bobby comes up next to me and gives me a quick kiss on the cheek.
“Welcome home, Chess.”
“Thanks Bobby,” I smile at him and like a magnet, he’s drawn right to Britt's side. I want that type of love, like they can’t be without each other for more than a couple of hours without physically going to find one another again.
Jackson pulls up a stool to the island and helps himself to the chips. “So, what’s happening over here?”
“It’s girls’ night, so maybe you should find something else to do, Jacks-off.”
He eyes me and crunches on a chip. “That name went out in the 10th grade.”
"Did it? I heard that’s still your MO.”
“Only if they like to watch,” and he winks.
“You’re still a pig, I see.”
Britt and Bobby are enjoying the show. “Over twelve years later and nothing has changed,” she says and pushes her brother out of the way of eating all the chips. “Can’t you guys be nice to each other for a change? I mean, you are neighbors now.” Her eyes are twinkling. She’s up to something, I can see it.
Jackson stands and comes closer to me, throwing his arm around me. “Yeah, let’s be neighborly,” he says. I elbow him in the ribs. He makes a little grunt, but I think I hurt myself more than him. Damn, are his abs made of steel?
Don’t think of his abs, Francesca.
I turn to Britt and Bobby. “Speaking of neighbors, did you know YOUR neighbor is the grand mascot of the festival this year?” I smirk.