With A Twist(60)

One could even say that maybe what we have is stronger than most people just starting out, because we survived a dangerous situation together… helped each other along the way. We had to count on each other… we had to trust. All important foundations for any relationship.

I look around… they all stare at me with open faces, warm smiles. They’re nice people… that’s what Wyatt said. They’ll like me because Wyatt likes me. I have nothing to prove.

Taking a deep breath, I let it out and say, “So… it’s really great to meet Wyatt’s friends. He’s told me a lot about you.”





The band is playing Van Morrison’s Brown-Eyed Girl and while I don’t really know all the lyrics, I follow along as best as I can.

With my new buds… Alyssa, Gabby, Savannah, and Casey.

It’s getting late, I’m pretty buzzed, and all the tables on the deck have been pushed back to make an area for people to dance. My new buds and me stand in a circle with our arms all thrown around each other’s shoulders, bouncing in place to the music and singing at the top of our lungs. Well, I’m singing about every fourth word that I might know, but the other girls have mastered this song. It must be a popular one around here.

Casey’s arm around my neck tightens and she pulls me in closer, giving me a resounding kiss on my cheek. I think she’s a little bit more than buzzed.

“I’m so glad you’re here,” she shouts above the music. “Wyatt looks so happy.”

My chest constricts, and I shoot a glance over at him. He’s sitting on the deck railing… Brody perched beside him. Hunter and Gavin are standing, and they are all deep in discussion. But maybe he feels the weight of my stare because his eyes slide over to mine and his lips curve up in a smile.

I smile back because yeah… he does look happy. Turning back to Casey, I yell, “He makes me happy too.”

“Are you drunk enough yet to tell us the details of how you two hooked up?” Alyssa yells, just before releasing her grip around Gabby’s shoulders and doing a nice spin move.

I smile, lower my gaze, and shake my head. When I look back up, the girls have all stopped bopping to the music and look at me expectantly.

“Come on,” Savannah implores. “We’re all in committed relationships… we’ve forgotten what it’s like to be in the game.”

“Speak for yourself,” Casey scoffs.

“Except for Casey,” Savannah acknowledges. “She swears she’s never falling in love. But come on… tell us something.”

“Yeah… just one tiny hint,” Gabby begs with hopeful eyes.

I look around at their expectant faces… silly, buzzed grins shining at me. I’ve known them for going on about three hours, and yet… they all seem trustworthy… nonjudgmental.

Sneaking a glance back at Wyatt, I see he’s not watching me and seems immersed in something that Gavin’s saying. But still… I can’t be shouting this stuff over the music.

I lean in to the girls conspiratorially. They lean in toward me eagerly. “Let’s all go to the bathroom. This requires a quieter atmosphere.”

They all grin and nod, then we are pushing our way through the crowd to head back into the bar.

When we get to the ladies’ restroom, there is only one woman in there washing her hands. Everyone waits patiently for her to finish and once she’s gone, Gabby locks the door behind her.

Turning toward me, she says, “Okay… dish.”

“Well, you already know I met him on our undercover operation,” I say with a silly grin. “What you don’t know is that I was posing as a stripper in the club where Wyatt was working as the General Manager.”

Four sets of jaws drop open… four sets of eyes blink at me in astonishment.

For a brief moment, I think maybe I made a mistake in revealing that. Maybe this wasn’t something I should have shared. Maybe they are all four looking down at me right now, silently digesting that Wyatt’s new flame knows how to work a stripper pole.

My mind whirls, trying to figure a way to sugarcoat this, when Alyssa slaps her hand on her thigh and says, “That is so freaking cool.”

Casey gives a dreamy sigh. “I’d love to know how to strip… you know, do it right for a man. Get him all hot and bothered.”

“Best story ever,” Savannah exclaims.

I look over at Gabby, and she has a knowing smile on her face.

She knew already!

Which means Wyatt must have told Hunter, and as I’ve figured out… he shares everything with Gabby. But apparently, that little gem didn’t go any further as the other girls were clearly not privy to this.