Page 108 of Just This Once

“You know, I don’t think anyone who actually lives here drinks as much from that cabinet as you do,” Keene groused.

I sent him a dirty glance as I returned to the table and slumped down, gulping heavily. Then I relaxed back in my seat, let out a breath, and finally said, “I’m the one who keeps that cabinetstocked, motherfucker. What’re you whining about?”

Keene’s mouth opened with no handy reply. Then he glanced at Damien and asked from the side of his mouth, “Does he really?”

Damien shrugged. “I certainly didn’t buy all the shit up there.”

With a defeated scowl, Keene slumped lower in his chair and shut his trap.

“That’s what I thought,” I crowed.

And a blessed victorious silence fell over the kitchen.

I took a long, satisfied swig, only to glance around and finally dare to say, “Quiet around here. Where is everyone?”

“Oh. Oaklynn’s at work,” Damien answered.

“And donotgo into the living room,” Keene advised. Lowering his voice, he leaned toward me with a commiserating grimace. “It’s turned into Breakup Central in there.”

For some reason, my thoughts went to Hope. Immediately thinking she’d been as torn up about the end of our weekend as I had, I glanced toward the living room, only for Dugger to dash all my hopes and dreams by saying, “Our newroomiehas commandeered the place and done nothing but watch breakup movies nonstop for over a week now.”

I lifted my brows in amusement. “Seriously? And no one’s, like,checkedon her?”

Keene sniffed. “I mean, Foster and Raina stop by every other day to bring her food and new boxes of tissues and shit. Then they clean out all the trash that’s accumulated around her. But…” He shrugged.

I snickered at his obvious misery and then lifted in my seat to yell toward the opening of the living room. “Hey! Have you tried watchingKill Billyet? Classic revenge girl movie!”

“Whoa. What’re you doing?” Keene hissed, slapping my arm when no response came from the living room. “Now it’s going tobe nothing but Uma Thurman for a week straight. So thanks a lot, fucker.”

I merely laughed. My first laugh of the day. “God, you are so sensitive. Is it that time of the month, Duggie?”

“Fuck you.” He scowled. “I’m fucking serious. Langston suggestedHope Floatsto her on Sunday, so we’ve been plagued by Harry Connick Jr. for the last four days straight.”

I probably would’ve scoffed in amusement and called out a few more movies, just to defy him, but the mention of Hope had my blood surging and my attention successfully diverted.

Grateful for the opening to bring her up, I said, “Where are the twins anyway?”

She and Alec couldn’t be far, what with my Lucid Air sitting right outside and Alec having nothing but a bicycle to take her anywhere.

“Making cutesy sibling videos together in Younger’s room?” I guessed.

Keene snorted and rolled his eyes, but Damien was the one who answered, “I think they took a walk on Bridleway to get some Froyo, actually.”

I shrugged out a grunt. “How long is she going to be in town, anyway?”

“Good fucking question,” Keene grumbled. “Aside from a few days this past weekend, she’s been over here every damn night, hogging all of Alec’s free time.”

“Aww,” I told him sympathetically. “Are you missing out on quality memories you could be making with your bestie instead?”

“Screw you,” he muttered moodily before glancing at Damien. “And you too, by the way.”

“Me?” Damien lifted his brows in surprise. “What the hell did I do? I was just sitting here.”

“You made her feel all warm and cozy andwelcomewhen she first arrived. If she decides to stay longer, it’ll be your fault. I mean, what the fuck was wrong with you, anyway, by inviting her tosupper? Jesus, man. It’s like youwantedher to pick on you.”

“Meh.” Damien merely shrugged. “Stupid psychology classes made me understand her more, that’s all. She doesn’t bother me so much these days.”

“Understandher?” Keene lifted unconvinced eyebrows. “What’s to understand? She’s a freaking terror. The end.”

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