Standing up in a pair of tight skinny jeans and a black cami, she swings her purse over a slender shoulder and lifts her head with a big smile. “We’re going out tonight.”
“Where?”
“A bar. Jay’s. I ran into an old high school friend, Melody. She works there, says it’s the new hangout in the Bayou. You never know, maybe Zeke will be there. Oh, hey,” her eyes widen, “did Emmie tell you that she ran into Jax Declan at the market?”
“No. She didn’t,” I say, rolling my eyes as I recall why we’re here.
“Yeah, and she didn’t see a ring on his finger. So we found one unmarried Declan brother, just two more to go,” she says with a few quick finger gestures.
“Rayna, this idea of yours to come back to your hometown and break these Declan brothers, you do know it’s insane, right?”
She shakes her head, laughing as she walks over to me. “Yes,” she pinches my cheek, “but it’ll be fun.”
“I don’t know about that,” I blow out, reshaping my furrowed cheek.
“Oh, come on.” She tilts her head. “That’s what you said when I tried to talk you into zip lining and look what happened?”
“Okay. It was fun but-”
“Fun?” She arches a thin dark eyebrow, setting her hands on her hips. “I believe the exact words that came out of your Mary Poppins’ mouth were fan-fucking-tastic and super coolage. And, honestly, who says super coolage anyway?”
“Seventh graders.” I defend the phrase that I heard Sheldon Miller say two years ago in class. I was ecstatic that he was actually interested in The Scarlett Letter. It’s a struggle to get the kids involved, let alone excited, about English literature.
“Exactly.” Rayna gives me one of her polished smart-ass smirks. “I got you to zip line, ride a horse—bareback, I might add—and I taught you how to be a wedding crasher. Now, it’s time for me to get you laid and not by just any guy but by the best damn fuck, I might add, in the Bayou.” She pats me on the shoulder. “Zeke Declan is going to make you scream out words like fan-fucking-tastic and super coolage. And for that, my friend, like all the other things that I have convinced you to do, you will thank me.”
“Well, excuse me for reserving the right to be skeptical. After all, you also talked me into going skinny dipping, and we ended up having our clothes stolen.”
“Oh-ho, that was funny,” she says, her sleek cat-like eyes dancing. She’s crazy. She’s the kind of friend who gets you to do things you’d never do all on your own. And that’s the reason why I keep her around. I need her for it. “And don’t forget,” she grins, “I also introduced you to Brazilian waxing, going to the gym, and how to count calories. You’ve lost weight, and you look great. That scary-hairy girl between your legs is well groomed and feeling pretty, isn’t she? Your body is ready. It’s the twenty-first century, Lurlene. You’re twenty-five years old, smart, educated, successful, and a hot-blooded woman. Honey, it’s time to stop looking for Mr. Right.”
“I know that.” I clench my hands. Rayna always pushes me and my buttons. That’s just how she is, but you learn to love that about her. Besides, she’s right. I need to have sex. I’m over waiting for that nonexistent Mr. Right. “But just so you know,” I wave a finger at her, “white water rafting, Rayna, that wasn’t fun. Like this little challenge of breaking these damn brothers, that was insane.”
“Whatever it is or was, insane or crazy, you’re going to do this.” She grins. “Otherwise, you wouldn’t have come. I know you, Lurlene. There’s a wild bitch inside you. So forget about being the good little English teacher this summer and let your hair down. You are going to conquer the notorious Zeke Declan. You are going to bring him to his knees, you’re going to break him, and you’re going to have a fan-fucking-tastic time doing it. I promise.”
“And how might I ask can you be so sure?”
“Because I know Zeke Declan and you are exactly the type of girl he wants,” she leans in toward me, “but never takes. And like you, he loves a challenge too. With your persuasion, he won’t be able to resist. There’s no past, no history, no prejudgment. He doesn’t know anything about you. So this summer, you can be whomever you want. You can set that wild bitch free and break every single one of Zeke Declan’s rules.”
“Nobody likes you right now,” I say, aware the girl knows me all too well.
“Maybe not, but by the end of the summer, somebody is going to be thanking me,” she says with a wink and quick kiss on my cheek. “Now, I’m off to get us some wheels. Go upstairs, Lurlene. Emmie is waiting for you.”