“When you’re in love, everything is complicated,” Suzy said, smiling and rubbing her belly. “Joey has made my life complicated since the moment I met him.”
“You didn’t fall in love with him right away.” I remembered how he’d had to chase Suzy and make her admit her feelings.
“I don’t remember not loving him. Sometimes you can only lie to yourself for so long.”
“I don’t believe in love at first sight,” I lied, but didn’t even convince myself with that statement.
“Girl, sometimes there’s a spark you can’t ignore.” Suzy rubbed my shoulder. She was always so touchy-feely.
I hung my head, as the girls seemed too ecstatic about my time with James. “Ladies”—I cleared my throat—“I don’t do relationships, and certainly not with a man like James. I fucked him once and that’s it.”
“What do you mean a man like James?” Mia asked with raised eyebrows.
“Mia, you keep wiggling those things up and down and you’re going to get a cramp.” I laughed, slapping the floor.
She scowled. “Shut the fuck up and spill it, woman. Your deflection doesn’t work on me.”
“Fine. You two are nosy bitches.”
“That’s the pot calling the kettle black.” Suzy giggled.
“You both know how Mike and Joey are, right?” I whispered.
They looked at each other with dopy smiles, and nodded.
“I don’t like how they are, and James makes them seem like kittens compared to him.”
Mia’s mouth opened into an O shape, and Suzy’s smiled grew wider. Half of my sisterhood understood my dilemma.
“What’s wrong with how your brothers are?” Suzy asked, looking over her shoulder at Joey.
“Um, hello. Bachelorette party ring a bell?” I asked, shaking my head. “They’re bossy, demanding, and cocky as hell.”
“Yeah,” Suzy whispered, turning back to me with that lovesick-puppy look. “I’ve grown to love it.”
“I can’t believe I’m going to say this, Suzy, but that man has seriously scrambled your brains.” I rested my face in my hands, hiding my eyes and wondering what happened to my girls.
“I get it,” Mia said, touching my shoulder. “I get it more than anyone here. Mike made me crazy at first. I had been on my own too long to put up with his bossy bullshit, Izzy.”
“Add Joey and Mike together and they don’t equal James.”
“Fuck me,” Mia whispered.
“Exactly.” I sighed. “He’s too much for me, ladies.”
“I felt the sizzle and pop between you two, Izzy,” Suzy said.
“Suzy, it was electric, but that doesn’t mean I want the man as a part of my life.”
“You’re scared ’cause he has you nailed,” Suzy replied.
“He nailed me all right,” I said, trying to hold back a laugh. “And it was fucking amazing.”
“I don’t see you with someone like Flash. You need someone who won’t put up with your brother’s bullshit. James is that man. Don’t you think so, Mia?” Suzy asked, looking toward Mia.
“That’s hard to say, but she definitely needs someone who will tell these boys to go to hell. No wimpy guy will survive in this family. No way in hell.”
“He drove me home Saturday.” I don’t know why I felt the need to share that fact with them, but maybe they needed to understand the caliber of man I was dealing with here.
“And?” Suzy asked, moving closer to me.
“Let’s go outside or for a walk. I can’t tell you where the others will hear.” I sat up, quickly moving to my feet. I held out my arms, helping Suzy and her growing belly off the floor. “We’re going to sit outside and enjoy the fresh air,” I told the guys, not caring if they were okay with it or not.
They grunted and waved goodbye as the three of us wandered onto the lanai and sat around the table. I faced the living room so I could keep an eye out for anyone heading our way.
“Mia, reach back and close the door all the way,” I said, motioning toward the glass siding door with my chin.
“This must be juicy,” Suzy shrieked, rubbing her hands together.
I loved her. She was sweet and pure, and she always wanted to think the best of everybody. Usually, she was misguided, but thankfully, she was my biggest cheerleader. Someone like her needed a man like Joey to protect her. It wasn’t that she was weak; Suzy was just naïve and way too kind for her own good.
“First off, I did not have sex with James this weekend.”
“Darn it,” Suzy whispered, snapping her fingers as Mia laughed.