Love on Beach Avenue (The Sunshine Sisters #1) - Jennifer Probst Page 0,13
with a roar, but instead of running away, Avery’s once-shy, reserved bride let out a matching warrior cry, and they fell into a tangle of fists, hair-pulling, and nail-scratching.
Holy shit.
She’d witnessed wicked arguments before, along with many drunken threats she’d always been able to resolve, but never two women in a real catfight. Knowing she had little time and no help, she went with her instincts and dove in.
“Stop it!” she yelled, wishing she had a hose to spray them with water like she’d seen on television with warring dogs. “You’re both making a scene!” She tried inserting herself into the middle, but a flashing nail caught her on the cheek, and then someone hit her in the head and ripped out the clips holding her hair. Gritting her teeth, she used all her strength and managed to push them away from each other with one mighty shove.
Both staggered back, eyes wide as if just realizing what they’d done on a public sidewalk. Avery moved to keep herself in between them, but her heel wobbled in the crack of the sidewalk.
Ah, hell.
Balance lost, she waved her arms in the air like a crazed chicken, then crashed to the ground. A litany of curse words blasted from her mouth, each one dirtier than the last, as she crawled indelicately to her scraped knees and looked up with a glower.
She registered the matching chagrined expressions on the two women staring down at her, then let her gaze travel past them to the couple framed in the open doorway. Ally took in the scene with a dropped jaw and eyes filled with shock. A man flanked her friend’s side, tall and lean and slightly familiar. His gaze assessed the situation with a flare of mockery and judgment that immediately pissed Avery off.
He turned to Ally. His voice was deep and velvety smooth, but his words cut deep without apology. “Please don’t tell me this is your wedding planner.”
And then she remembered who he was. Carter Ross. Her best friend’s older brother. Dread punched her stomach.
A groan of disgust rose to her lips as she straightened up and regarded the man she’d disliked from the moment they’d met. Carter was rude, arrogant, and always trying to boss them both around. He’d consistently judged her and found her lacking, believing she wasn’t good enough to be friends with Ally. His cool gaze hadn’t changed, even behind those new nerdy black glasses, and it still made her vaguely uncomfortable.
Lips slightly pursed, as if he’d tasted something bad, he shook his head and marched over. “Okay, ladies, fight’s over. Let’s see if we can solve the problem.” Guiding them both firmly under the elbow, he began to direct them inside.
Responding to the magic of his commanding voice, Delilah and Ms. Papadalle quietly climbed the stairs and went through the door. With a furious glare, Avery followed.
Ally took her hand, fussing and asking a million questions, but it was Carter’s gaze that assessed, judged, and gave his final verdict. And once again, she knew he’d found her lacking.
She tried to regain control of the situation, indicating to the women to follow her into the back private room to talk, but he interrupted in his usual domineering manner.
“I don’t know the circumstances of what caused such a public scenario, but I do know one thing.” He paused, his gaze weighing heavily on them. “Your husbands-to-be would be mortified by your behavior. Nothing is worth losing your dignity and kindness. I hope you’ll both apologize to the other and work it out.”
Avery almost closed her eyes in horror. How dare he talk to them like wayward children? She opened her mouth to apologize, but the two future brides ducked their heads in shame and began to babble.
“You’re right, I’m so sorry. I can’t believe I lost my temper over something like this—”
“This wedding has made me insane. I’m doing things I’ve never done before—”
“Acting ridiculous—”
“So childish, please forgive me—”
They began madly exchanging apologies, gripping each other’s hands, and Carter nodded in approval.
WTF? Why were they apologizing to him? She was the one who fell on her ass and tried to help them! And did he always have to be so condescending?
Desperate to get them away from him, Avery interrupted in a loud, chirpy voice. “If you can both head to the room on the right and take a seat, I promise it will all work out. I’ll take care of everything.”
Still murmuring apologies, the women disappeared into the back private