recognition not working, I hold the phone to my side and return my attention to him. “First of all, don’t include me. I only talk shit with a bottle of alcohol in hand. Second, the sexual tension between the two of you is—”
“Chevelle,” Justice whispers through gritted teeth.
A panty wetter beam is on Michie’s face as he steps back into the bar.
I smile wickedly as the blood rushes beneath Justice’s skin. For someone who once had a perpetual angry face, she can be pretty shy.
I flick my wrist. “I get it. You’re never gonna love again. Michie is a stingy bastard. All the smiling and winking he does, I’m sure he can’t be too stingy where it counts.”
“Chevelle,” she says again. This time her voice pitches in a shy gasp.
“You at a loss for words?” I cock a brow.
“Yes!”
“Save it for a poetry line.” Laughing, I stroll across the street with Justice following. Just as we step onto the curb, our Uber ride drives away.
Cutting my hands through the air, I call out, “Hey, wait!”
Justice screams an obscenity then huffs. “Crap, he probably thought we might not hold our damn cookies.”
“Ye could always try again.” A Scottish voice calls from behind us. “Show ‘em how ye came prepared with wee baggies for yer boke.”
Eyes rolling, I turn around. Approximately five yards down, my sworn enemy for life, Brody MacKenzie, leans against a burnt-orange Cutlass.
Justice glances past the few parallel cars separating the distance from the guy I’ll hate until the end of time and me. She whispers, “You know him?”
“Aye, she’s known me since those cheeks were softer, and those bonny brown eyes not so angry, too.” The burly beast glances me up and down, moving with purpose toward us. “Look at ye, Chevelle, dressed up nicely, wee one. Who is the lass?”
“Thanks,” I mutter. Though we haven’t been on the same page since I was fourteen, I slink an arm around Brody in an apathetic hug. Quietly, I mumble how Justice isn’t interested before sharing her name.
“Piuthar bheag,” he calls me little sister, “all the bonny lasses love me.”
“Not this one,” Justice responds with a sickly-sweet smile.
“Och, give me a few. I’ll teach ye how, sweetheart.”
“Hmmm.” I cut in. The feel-good buzz wears thin. “I doubt it. Why are you here anyway, Brody?”
“Funny thing, I got a message from Cam ‘bout girls’ night out. My brathair had ye catching an Uber.”
“I’m confused. Wouldn’t you want me on the bus that topples off the edge of the Earth? Or abducted and sold into sex trafficking, so that you could have your brother back?”
With an attractive, yet smug smile, Brody pats my cheek. “Och, I forgot about that sense of humor, Chevelle. But nay, ye’re a MacKenzie already. Nae getting rid of ye.”
I’m trying so hard not to roll my eyes when Brody pins Justice with his gaze. “And, Justice, I dinna mind riding yer titties. Och, I mean, giving ye a ride home. I’m a simple guy. Only gas or arse is required.”
“Brody!” I gasp. “I swear, I will knock out your overgrown ass!”
“Oh no, I got this.” Justice steps up to him, stroking her finger over his well-groomed beard. “Here, I thought all those muscles were filled with air so you could look at yourself while picking up bony bitches.”
“Nae.” His intense eyes drag over her slowly. “I love a challenge. All the women in my bed have good meat on their bones. I’ll do the work, bounce ye up and down on my cock, just to hear ye scream my name.”
Justice is already stalking off the curb when Brody’s fingertips graze her shoulder. “Alright, sweetheart, first ride’s free.”
Something transfers between them as she looks back at him. The dirty dog I’ve seen on many occasions disappears. A respectable mask descends, softening his chiseled features and mollifying the lustful rage in his sea-blue eyes. He removes his hand from her shoulder. “My mam would beat my arse for letting ye ride home with a stranger. Ye’re Chevelle’s friend, right?”
“Let’s take the free ride, Justice.” With a soft, firm voice, I assert, “Trust me. Brody won’t try a thing. Leith lit into his ass the last time the two of us had a problem.”
Justice hesitates. I cock my head. A few minutes later, she settles into the backseat with a frown on her face. I’m so wrapped up in aggravation with Brody MacKenzie that I’ve long forgotten my call with Leith when my cell phone broke.