time.”
“Except when it comes to men,” Amelia corrected in a dry tone. “Then your rate drops to something like four percent.”
Everleigh dropped Sydney’s arm to whirl on Amelia, heat flaring in her blue eyes. “That’s an unnecessary clarification. Just because you think I have horrible taste in men doesn’t mean every single guy I’m with doesn’t share something special and wonderful with me.”
Amelia held her ground, both verbally and literally, despite Everleigh jabbing an emphatic finger in her face. “We’re not talking about orgasms—which you’ve told me are not automatic, by the way, with your vast array of scuzzy men. We’re talking about how you have a propensity to choose the worst human beings to hook up with. Cheaters and losers and selfish jerks. And it hurts me, as your best friend, to see you soaking up all that bad behavior. You deserve more. You deserve better.”
“Well, according to your brother, I don’t deserve anyone for the next year. None of us do. So it’s a moot point.”
This was…fascinating. She was learning so much about her new friends. Sydney swiveled her head to look at one, then the other. “You all agreed not to date? For an entire year?”
Amelia’s eyelids flared wide. “Agreed? Heck, no. Alex laid down one of his innumerable pronouncements. Stemming from his immense panic about us getting up and running in time. He equates dating to a time-sucking distraction.”
“But if he thinks I’m going a year without flirting—and following up on said flirting—then the man has lost all of his marbles.” Everleigh did a whole-body shudder that sent her hair dancing over her shoulders. “It’s been three weeks since Randall broke up with me. I’m already twitchy.”
Amelia’s green eyes narrowed. “In your case, a break might be warranted. What do people in Hallmark movies say right before they fall for the hero? I need to date myself for a while. Maybe you should take a break and figure out a better system for picking men. And take the time to figure out why you’re okay with being treated horribly. Because it needs to stop, Ever. I mean it.”
After hanging her head, she replied, “I know. Deep down, I know that you’re right. I just enjoy the fun of it all so much.”
Sydney could’ve watched this all day. This look behind the curtain was better than a movie.
Female friendships were something that had never evolved for her. In college, the emphasis on sororities and parties had seemed like a waste of time. After that, she traveled too much, and her industry’s makeup skewed heavily male.
And men just…did not talk like this.
“Regardless, we’re done with Nora,” Amelia vowed.
Oh. Right. Back to her own mini-drama—which wasn’t nearly as interesting as the one she’d just watch unfold.
Sydney held up both hands, palms out. “You can’t be making blacklists in a town this small over a single incident. One that wasn’t even about you. You have to play nice with all the businesspeople. Maintain a basic level of cordiality. And for non-businesspeople, too. Word of mouth is everything.”
“And the words that came out of Nora’s mouth weren’t fair to you. As well as the lack of basic courtesy in helping you—and you with no coat—pick up the mess.” Everleigh gathered the trash bag and started refilling it.
Sydney appreciated that. But the more she thought about it, the more she was baffled by their interaction. “In fact, I can’t believe you two stepped in at all. Why would you do that? Why make an enemy?”
With a soft, warm smile, Everleigh responded, “I think of it as making a friend. Of you.”
“Besides,” Amelia chimed in, snickering, “you’re practically family.”
“No. Do not blame this on my stupid plan of the fake engagement.”
“Stupid, huh? Does that mean you didn’t have fun the other night on your date with Alex? Because I saw his washcloth in the bathroom the next morning. Sure looked like he’d wiped off lipstick from his face. And the shade was all wrong to be his own,” she deadpanned.
Sydney bent to scoop up one set of coffee grounds. She wasn’t ready to admit that they’d compounded their stupidity by making out.
Repeatedly.
Including after their jaunt to the high school two days earlier.
She’d meant to just brush a peck on his cheek as they left. Alex had turned his head at exactly the wrong time…or exactly the right time, depending on how you looked at it…and they’d fallen onto each other again.
Somehow.
“You are…you’re…ah…his sister,” Sydney stammered. “I can’t talk to you about kissing your