Page 6 of The Jellybean Dilemma

I stared at myself in the mirror for several moments wondering just who the person looking back was. With a deep breath, I bolstered myself before returning to the living room where three wide sets of eyes stared at me.

Avery was the first to smile. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen you so casually dressed. Is that why Greg asked me what size you are?”

He did that? I nodded, crossing an arm over my waist.

A knock at the door took the attention off me, and Derek hurried to open it. Avery’s best friend, Gina, peered in with a grin.

“Hey,” she called with a cheery wave. The moment she noticed Liam, her face fell.

His expression twisted into a scowl. “They let just anyone in here.”

Avery sighed. “Play nice, you two.”

Gina walked in, shedding her coat then giving Avery a quick hug. I always marveled at how different they were. Avery was nearly six feet tall, while Gina was a couple of inches shorter than me. She was petite where Avery was curvy. Avery was fair, with strawberry-blonde hair that hung low on her back, and bright green eyes, always lit with her easy smile. Gina’s olive skin complimented her dark hair and eyes. Her smiles were more difficult to come by, but you could always trust her to tell the hard truth.

Liam stood up, stretching wide and showing off a glimpse of taut abs. I noticed Gina snuck a peak before quickly turning away. Which surprised me. Liam looked nothing like her lanky, long-haired boyfriend, Josh.

“Well,” Liam said. “I think I’ve stayed long enough.” He glanced once more at Gina, who just stuck her nose in the air. Turning to Derek, Liam grinned. “If these girls get to be too much for you, let me know and we’ll grab lunch.”

Derek nodded. “I just might do that.”

“Bye, Rhonda. Good luck with Greg.” He smirked before he disappeared.

“Greg?” Gina asked.

I shook my head. “First, I want to know what’s up with you and Liam. What happened to your truce? You guys were fine at Christmas.”

Derek folded his arms. “Yeah, Gina, why don’t you tell Rhonda what happened?”

Avery’s lips twitched before she covered her mouth with her hand.

“I still maintain that I did just what was asked of me.” Gina sniffed.

He lifted an eyebrow.

She sighed, her shoulders dropping slightly. “Liam was having problems with his girl.”

I frowned. “The one he brought to Christmas?”

Gina nodded. “Yep. So, Derek invited them to have donuts and coffee with us. It was my turn to pick up the donuts.” She shrugged before saying, “I simply brought everyone’s favorite, but Liam has avoided me ever since.”

“You bought him the biggest, pinkest donut I’ve ever seen!” Derek shook his head.

“It’s not my fault no one specified what color frosting he wanted.” One corner of her mouth tipped in a mischievous smirk.

I tried to picture Liam with his big, meaty hands closed around a pink, sprinkled donut and laughter burst out of me. “Gina, that’s awful!”

“It was hilarious,” Avery said, chuckling. When Derek didn’t join in, she went over to nudge him. “Come on, Captain. You have to admit it was pretty funny watching him eat that donut.”

Derek’s mouth contorted until a bark of laughter escaped. Gina grinned in triumph, and he immediately looked guilty. “Never tell him I said anything.”

When the amusement died off, Gina turned to me. “So, you and Greg?”

Spotlight’s back on me. With a sigh, I began filling them in. “Greg’s sister—”

“Wait,” Avery interrupted. “Greg has a sister?”

“Evidently.” I shrugged. He’d always been tight-lipped about his personal life, and it made me feel a little better that it wasn’t just with me.

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