Page 16 of Loving My Enemy

“How is that relevant?”

She shrugged and paused at the kitchen table where I’d set up a taco bar along with dip, queso, salsa, chips, and beans and rice. “Just curious. With the way things have been between you two, I’ll bet it was really hot. That’s how things were with me and Preston. We fought and fought until one day we ended up naked.”

“Um, okay.” I didn’t know what to say to that so I grabbed the bottle she set on the counter. “Freezer?”

Nina nodded just as the bell rang again. “I’ll get it. You do … that.”

It sounded like the other women had arrived, so I took five deep breaths and let them out slowly to calm my racing heart. I slapped a smile on my face and went out to greet my guests. “Hi, girls. Thanks for coming.” The rest of what I planned to say died on my lips at the sight of Nina, Penny, Max, and Bo loaded up with chips, dips, and more alcohol. “I guess you came to party. Follow me.”

We settled around the table. “This way, all the food and booze are handy,” Nina declared and dropped into one of the jewel-toned chairs I’d chosen to give the kitchen some color. The rest of us followed suit. As the first shot of tequila turned into the second, I found myself starting to relax.

“I approve of this taco bar,” Penny said around a mouthful. “But don’t expect this when it’s my turn to host.”

Bo made a pitcher of margaritas. “These are to help slow down how fast we all get plastered. I’d like to finish at least four tacos before that happens, as well as a boatload of the queso dip.”

We ate and talked, laughed and drank, and then we repeated it again and again. For a couple hours.

“Now that we’re all a little bit tipsy, let’s talk about the fact that Antonio kissed Elka today.”

As expected, they all gasped and every pair of eyes in the kitchen turned to me.

“Yes, he did. No, it didn’t mean anything.” Realizing how pathetic that sounded, I rushed to correct myself. “What I mean is, he probably did it to shut me up because we were arguing. Besides, I’m not interested.”

Max nodded and flashed a sincere smile. “Of course. I mean, who would be interested in a gorgeous but gruff man with a mile-wide protective streak?” She shrugged and pushed thickred locks off her shoulders. “Then again, he never dates anyone in town, so thisisan interesting development.”

I shook my head, not wanting it to be any kind of development. “I’ve had a lifetime of feeling like I’m not good enough and I don’t intend to start my new life by falling for a guy who thinks I’m garbage.” That was more than I meant to say, and instantly I felt my cheeks flame. I knew my face was a bright shade of humiliation, with a hint of overshare-pink. “Sorry.”

“Don’t be,” Nina said with a smile that felt sincere and a little mischievous. “Now is the time to share. To unburden yourself in the presence of friends and booze.”

That sounded nice. Except we weren’t friends. “You don’t even know me.”

“We know enough to know you’re a good person. But we could be true friends if you wanted to share.”

“Only if you want to,” Bo added firmly, a determined look aimed right at Nina.

“Duh,” Nina replied with a roll of her eyes, which then slid to me. “Whatever you’re comfortable sharing.”

“But talking helps,” Penny added with a kind smile that helped me relax a little bit more.

If TV and movies were anything to go by, there was a certain level of catharsis in talking about your problems. It had helped with Austin, at least much as I let myself confide in him. Or anyone. So I grabbed the bottle of tequila and poured myself a shot before sliding the bottle to Max. I knocked it back, took a big sip of margarita, and then I spilled my guts. “I grew up sheltered—very sheltered—because my parents wanted me to be healthy.”

Max and Penny, both mothers, shared a sympathetic look I understood all too well. Parents would do anything, no matter who else got hurt, to save a dying child.

“Understandable,” Penny whispered and knocked back her own shot.

“Not just healthy though. Pristine. I couldn’t go outside or have any friends. The few I managed to make while I was in school, I couldn’t hang out with them. Kids are filthy and full of germs.” Just hearing my mother’s voice say those words drove me to another gulp of margarita.

Nina frowned and leaned in. “Were you sick as a baby?”

Here it was—the moment of truth. I could just say yes and let my parents seem like heroes doing the right thing for their child and never make any real connections with people. Or I could be honest and deal with the pity.New life, new me.“No. My older brother Austin was. There was so much wrong with him and the only way to keep him alive was to ensure he had healthy parts that were as close to a genetic match as possible.”

“No,” Bo whispered and covered her mouth, eyes wide with shock and dismay.

“Yep. They had me to be all the spare parts he could ever need.” Tears began to well in my eyes but I had to push through. “I don’t hate Austin though. Not at all. He made life as fun as it could be for me, but my parents didn’t care if I was happy, just that I was healthy. When he died and I no longer held a purpose in their lives, I left.” I closed my eyes to ward off all the pity I knew I would see in theirs. I couldn’t handle it.

Nina spoke first. “Those assholes!”

“How could they?” Max said, echoing Nina’s sentiments.

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