“Is this a kinky sex thing, Maggie? I heard that about you, but I didn’t want to say anything.” Tate leaned forward. “Not that it should stop you from telling us if it is.”
Maggie shook her head. “No, you pervs! A long time ago I was in here and carrying nachos and Shane bumped into me and spilled them all over me and he was a total dick about it. But it wasn’t six months after that that Kyle and I ended up together.”
“Us pervs? Girl, you dated one brother before you ended up with the other one. Floozy!” Cassie, who also happened to be Shane’s wife, snorted.
“I’m not the only one!” Maggie pointed at Liv. “She did it too.”
“You’re such a tattletale.” Liv just waggled her brows.
Tate, now married to Matt, who Liv dated years before, clapped her hands over her ears. “Lalalalalala.”
“Hush you. All fecund and round with the man’s baby. Again.”
Things had been a little rocky at first between Tate and Liv. Tate had been intimidated by Liv who was ridiculously gorgeous. But after a brief back-and-forth, Liv had just kept pushing herself into Tate’s life until she gave in. The two had been good friends ever since, and as Liv absolutely adored Marc and Matt pretty much worshipped Tate, there wasn’t anything to worry over.
Lily patted Tate’s hand and stole one of her wings while she was at it. “I had a friend in Macon express dismay that someone might date two brothers, and I said, girl, have you ever lived in a small town?”
The table dissolved into laughter again.
Beth held up her glass. “The first toast tonight goes to Lily. Who will be marrying our dumbhead brother Nathan in just a few weeks and then it’ll be too late, she’ll be a Murphy. She keeps Nathan in line and smiling and so sex addled he mainly stays out of my business so thank you, Lily, and welcome to our messed-up family!”
Glasses raised as everyone toasted the woman of the evening.
“Here’s to Lily, who knows just how crazy we all are and who stays anyway!”
“And to Lily, who has awesome shoes in my size!”
Barbecued chicken came out right as a few other people arrived. Penny and Dee, two friends who’d moved to Atlanta but always came back for the fun stuff, and Jill with the other two Murphy wives.
“Just in time, I see.” Jill, the youngest Murphy sibling, grabbed a glass and the pitcher as she sat. “Sorry, it was a hellish day at work. I have a client who thinks he’s god. He’s really just a pain in my butt.”
“It’s all right, there’s plenty of food, drink and penis paraphernalia for all.” Anne handed down hats and blinky pins. “There are penis sweet tarts too. The purple ones taste like tears and loneliness so avoid those.”
Jill curled her lip and held up a purple sugar penis. “If a real penis was purple, it might also taste like tears and loneliness.”
Beth nodded. “Especially if it was that small. Still, let’s not find out.”
Jill raised her brows. “Good to know Joe’s wedding tackle isn’t tiny and purple.”
“I’ll give you five dollars to ask him about it.” Anne snickered.
Tate clapped. “I’ll give you ten to ask William about it. It’s fun to watch that vein on his temple throb when he’s forced to confront the fact that his baby sister and his best friend are doing dirty sexytimes.”
Jill made herself a plate. “The thing I love most about you, Tate, is how you look so sweet on the outside. All maternal with that pretty pale hair and you are just such a troublemaker. I admire that.”
“I can guarantee you those boys are not having anywhere near as much fun as we are.” Liv sat back in her chair. “Hey, do these dick lollipops have gum in them?”
“I’m not sure where I stand on dick lollipops with stuff in the middle.”
“You’re all going to ruin our sweet baby Jill.” Beth put an arm around her sister.
“Please. Have you met Jill?” Anne waved it away.
“I know, Anne needs to tell us what the hell is going on with Royal.”
Anne heaved a sigh and Beth felt bad for her.
“I think it’s truly over. We’re way better off as friends and I’m not just saying that. He wants marriage. White picket fences and babies. I don’t. I don’t want that life and I care about him. He should be happy and he can’t be with me. And I don’t want to feel guilty all the time about not giving him what he needs. I think we’re both in love with each other, but it’s not deep enough. Not to weather this. I’d never ask him to keep hanging on, waiting around to see if maybe I’ll change my mind. He deserves to be in love with someone who wants that as much as he does.”
“That’s too bad. I like Royal. I like you two together.” Tate handed the platter of tacos down to their end of the table.
“I like him too. I’ve liked him since we were kids. I think we can be better friends. I do know for sure that I can’t commit to him like he deserves.”
Beth understood it. Anne had a rough time getting past the idea that marriage was what their parents had. It didn’t matter that her married siblings didn’t have marriages that looked anything like what they’d grown up with. She didn’t want to mess up her life, or anyone else’s, the way their parents did to one another and to their kids. Some childhood scars ran deep and never healed.
It wasn’t like Beth wanted to say Anne’d change her mind. Who knew if Anne ever would, and it was insulting when women told other women they’d change their mind about major life stuff like marriage and kids. She respected each and every one of her siblings and their right to make whatever choices they needed to be happy.
“Now that I’ve calmed down all the hilarity with my spinster news, how about we open some presents?” Anne winked at Beth, who tipped her chin back at her sister. Anne knew Beth would always have her back, no matter what.
“So it’s time for some presents!” Beth stood. “Well, first it’s time for cake. Then presents. Anne, can you guys clear off a spot on the table? I’m just going to go find Pete to have him bring the cake in.”
Which was easy enough. She wove her way through the crowd and found him near the bar. “Hey, Pete, can we get the cake when you get the chance?”
“You sure can. Everything else all right?”
“Food is excellent. Beer is tasty. I appreciate the help tonight.”
“It’s always a pleasure to have a bunch of pretty women in here. Not like that’s a chore.” He winked. As he was nearing eighty, it wasn’t like his flirting was serious. “When will we be hosting your bachelorette party?”
She laughed. “I’m enjoying the living-in-sin part right now. We’ll get there though.”
Pete came around, and they walked back to the kitchen to get the cake from the walk-in.
“How’s Joe’s daddy?”
Joe’s father had been struggling with mental illness for some time, and over the last few months had finally found a medication combo that was working. Rather than respond or act in a way that continued to stigmatize the issue, Beth wanted to treat it like any other health issue. It was, of course, up to Joe’s father, and she was careful about what she shared. But when she did talk about it, she did in a very straightforward way. Joe seemed to prefer it and that’s what mattered most to her.
“He’s better. Working on it.”
“You tell him I said hello. My Missy said she ran into Joe’s momma the other day at the library, and I’ve been meaning to ask after him. But it’s hard. I don’t know what to say.”
She nodded. “I understand.” Joe’s father could be at turns grateful and resentful when people asked after him. But she knew he appreciated that people thought about him, and it really helped his wife, who was trying her damndest to understand his illness and do what was right and best.
Pete looked down at the cake and blushed. “Well lookie here. Who’d have thought they’d make a cake like this?”
She waggled her brows. “There’s a novelty cake shop in Riverton.”
“Novelty huh?” He l
aughed as she took the cake from his arms. “I’ll have to take a pass on the part where you cut into it.” He winced and they headed separate ways.
“I understand. Thanks, Pete.”
She came back in and when everyone looked up and saw what she had, snickers and guffaws broke out.
“Oh my lands! Girl, you have pricks on the brain.” Lily laughed.
The cake was actually a bunch of small cakes. Little jumping penises. Some had tennis shoes on the balls. Some were floppy. Some had little caps. Sure, she could have gone with something serious, but Lily had a lot of serious trying to keep her brother in line and hoping her mother would come home from sober living in time for the wedding. A little dick humor was just the thing.
And seeing Lily blush and giggle as she blew out all those candles and sliced up all the little dick cakes, Beth was very glad she’d done it.
Chapter Three
“I think I’m going to have to eat an entire packet of Tums after all these wings.” Nathan patted his belly.
“Wait until you get in your late thirties. Just looking at something deep fried gives you heartburn.”
“Bummer. I’m gonna hate being as old as you, William. Then again, you’ll always be older than me. So there’s that.”
William reached over and socked Nathan’s arm. “Asshole.”
Their waitress had kept the beer and the food coming as they all hung out, told lies and insulted each other. In other words, a pretty fun night out with his friends.
Joe seemed to find it hilarious that Nathan’s ex-fiancé—more like a psycho who announced in the newspaper that they were engaged without talking to Nathan first—kept staring over at their table.
“Steffie can’t take her eyes off you.” Joe laughed and laughed.
“Quiet or I’ll send some beers over to Dolly’s table, and then you’ll have to deal with my sister. I heard her threaten you about, what did she say…”
“Big-haired, mammoth-hootered skanks I believe was the phrase she used. My romantic, fragile flower.”
“I believe she said hoochie instead of skank. My sister does have a way with words.” William snorted. “Also, she’s scary. Oh sure, she’s wise cracking and has a big heart, they all do. But she would take any of those women down if they ever really tried to get in between you.”
“I know. It’s hot. Not that I’d want her to get into it with anyone. But I can imagine it all I want and if you say anything I’ll deny it. Anyway, Jacob and Trey are single. They can run interference.”
Jacob, the youngest Murphy brother shook his head and put his hands up. “No thank you. I’m single but I don’t have a death wish. I’m not jumping in front of that crazytrain if it barrels over here.”
“I might forgive the way Trey put his hands on Beth if he took one for the team.” Joe raised a brow, still thinking about the big old slap in the face with the reality that his woman could and would move on if he didn’t get his shit straight.
“You should thank me for that. If she’d asked some dude who didn’t care about her as much as I do, he might have really made a move.”
“He’s got a point.” Jacob raised a beer.
Joe muttered something but no one got punched so it was all right.
“When are you asking Beth to marry you?”
“You’re mean when your crazy ex is staring at you with those googly eyes of hers.”
Nathan cracked up. He had a damned good life. Surrounded by his friends and family, celebrating the fact that he would be marrying the love of his life in a few weeks. Growing up in that shitty little trailer, he wasn’t always sure he’d make it to the next week, much less end up a schoolteacher and marrying a woman like Lily.
“Hush you. I’m gonna marry the prettiest woman in town, and we’re gonna have pretty, dark-haired babies who love their daddy best. My sister may treat your damned dog like a person and act like a loon, but she’s a good woman and you’d be lucky to have her as your wife.”
Joe nodded. “She’s the best. But we’re moving at our own pace. There will be a wedding, but we’ll get there when we’re ready. You think Beth would put up with anything less than exactly what she wanted?”
Everyone laughed at the very idea.
“Exactly. I surely do love that woman and she will be my missus when the time comes. Right now, we’re enjoying living in sin and being an aunt and uncle who are able to give y’all’s kids back at the end of the day.”
“A toast then, to Nathan and Lily.” William raised his glass. “You’re a lucky guy she’s willing to overlook your tragic appearance and marry you. I hope your babies take after her.”
“Hear, hear!” Nathan raised his glass as well. “And a toast to the lovely, feisty women of Petal, who make us pancakes, tolerate our bullshit and fill our lives with nice smells, boobs and a warm body to snuggle with in the morning.”
More raised glasses. “Hell yes!”
“Hey, where’s Royal?” Matt looked around as if he’d just realized their friend wasn’t with them.
Joe shrugged. “He and Anne broke off. For real this time. He’s spending a week in Los Angeles with his brother.”
William sighed. “I think it’s for the best. Annie doesn’t want to get married. I don’t know that she ever will. He wants to settle down. She can’t give it to him, and so it’s the fairest thing she can do to finally break things off for real. She’s too good a person to string him along. They’ll be friends, I think. They have been since they were bitty kids. But it’s going to take a while for him to truly let go and move on.”
“I get it. You can be with someone you like but they’re just not the one. There’s no need to settle. Liv moved on and found Marc. I found Tate. The right person is out there. I hope they both find that.”
“Yeah, me too.”
“We need a round of shots, I think.” Kyle hailed their server.
Nathan wanted his sister to be happy. As happy as he was. But each of them found happiness on their own terms, and he had every confidence Anne would too.
But that night he was celebrating his own happily ever after with Lily, and all was right with his world. Crazy, googly-eyed ex-whatevers notwithstanding.
“To the right one.” Nathan held his shot glass up.
Many shots and pitchers of beer later, Joe looked up to catch sight of Beth, a smile curving her lips, walking in his direction.
He stood and moved to her, pulling her into a hug. “Hello there, darlin’. What are you doing here?”
“We figured you boys might like a ride home. We’ve got us some designated drivers and stuff. Then we can go home.” Her brow rose. “You know, in case there was something you’d like to do there. With me.”
“Hell yes.”
He turned to make his goodnights but saw pretty much the same situation playing out with their friends kissing up on their women and plans being made to rush off home and get some.
“Before we all head off into the night, I want to thank Beth for organizing my party and for all the penis gear.” Lily bowed, holding on to her penis fedora so it wouldn’t fall off.
“I’m sure I don’t want to know what penis gear is. I’m not going to wear anything weird. Just know that.” Joe kissed Beth’s ear and she laughed. That’s when he noticed the blinking penis pin on her lapel and the plastic penis charms on her bracelet. And the hat.
He sighed, grinning. “You’re trouble, Beth Murphy.”
“I totally am. You gonna take me to school?”
“Well, everyone, goodnight now.” He grabbed her hand as Nathan was thanking everyone for his night out. They waved at the door and headed home to their apartment and their dog and their bed.
Nathan and Lily watched their hasty retreat. “They’re next, you know that, right?”
Lily nodded. “Oh yes. She’s so in love with him she can barely see straight. And yet, I think this is the steadiest I’ve ever seen her. She knows what she wants with such total surety.”
“Yes, that??
?s a good way to put it. He’s been good for her, but I really think she was just exactly what he needed too.” He pulled her close. “I know how that feels. There was a time I thought I’d lost the best thing I’d ever had. And now look at me, standing with my arms around my best thing. Who happens to be wearing a hat with tiny penis balloons on it.”
“Your sister knows how to decorate a party. You should have seen the cake.”
“I’m a little scared, actually.”
Lily laughed. “Come on. Chris is gone until tomorrow and we have the house all to ourselves. I think we should take advantage of that.”
“You’re on.”
About the Author
To learn more about Lauren Dane, please visit www.laurendane.com. Send an email to Lauren at
[email protected] or find her at Twitter @LaurenDane.
Look for these titles by Lauren Dane
Now Available:
Chase Brothers
Giving Chase
Taking Chase
Chased
Making Chase
Petal, Georgia
Once and Again
Lost in You
Cascadia Wolves
Wolf Unbound
Standoff
Fated
Trinity
de La Vega Cats
Trinity
Revelation
Beneath the Skin
Reading Between the Lines
Holiday Seduction
To Do List
Sweet Charity
Always
Coming Soon:
Cascadia Wolves
Unconditional
He’s faced down every demon…except one fast-talking Southern girl.
Lost in You
© 2013 Lauren Dane
Petal, Georgia, Book 2
It hasn’t been easy for Joe Harris to live down his not-so-honorable past, but the military made him a better man. He’s determined to make up for past mistakes, starting with coming home to care for his ailing father.