Page 92 of Love, Luck & Clusterf*ck

“Oh hi, Alex. Nice to see you again.”

I was just waiting for him to be a dick to me and kiss her hand or some shit like that, but he let her pass by without incident. She sat beside me and immediately snatched the pretzels and dip.

“This stuff is amazing, Jillian.”

“Thanks. Better keep it away from Stephen, though. He’ll empty the whole bowl himself.”

I scooped up a hunk of Jillian’s famous beer dip with a pretzel and shoveled it into my mouth. “Don’t worry,” I whispered. “I’ll sharewith you.”

“You’d better or you’ll be sitting somewhere else.”

I laughed. “You do know this is made with beer, right?” A lot of beer. There was no mistaking the taste.

“I know, but I won’t hold it against it.”

I took some more dip, my gaze lingering a little too long on her legs. They looked incredible in her short shorts.Damn, another cold shower tonight.

“So, what’d my sister give you in there? You seem to be much better now.”

“Just a bottle of water.”

“Then I was right.” I smiled. “That’s what you needed.”

“Oh don’t look so smug. Everyone needs water. And I stood the whole time, didn’t use a chair once. I guess you don’t know everything, buddy.”

“Yeah, what’s with this guy, huh?” Alex thumbed in my direction, then leaned over me. “Not knowing the things he should. You wouldn’t believe the stories even if I told you.”

“Really? Why don’t you try me?”

She leaned over me too, and I was stuck between fucking loving it and wanting to move her to the opposite side of the fire. What the hell? Their faces were almost touching.Ididn’t even get that close to her.

“Nah. I don’t think your buddy would like that too much.”

“All right,” I said, pushing him back. “You’re fucking right on top of me here.”

He grinned. “Sorry about that. Perry, you’d better back up too and give him some room.”

She laughed, and while they didn’t get that close again, they were bullshitting back and forth like the best of friends. Yeah, I should’ve been happy that they didn’t hate each other, but I wasn’t. I also should’ve been happy that she was fitting in so well, but I just wantedher to myself.

Right or wrong, I wanted her, period, and the fact that I couldn’t have her was messing with me big-time. I couldn’t even do something as simple as taking her hand.

Alex was right. I was screwed.

I tried talking with Val and Tony a while, but I was distracted. My mind kept wandering to the woman beside me. I wanted to be friendly with her, but I sure as fuck didn’t want to be in the same league as Alex or any of the other people whom she was ‘just friends’ with.

“Knock knock.”

Are you kidding me?

“Who’s there?” Perry said.

“Someone at your door looking to borrow pretzels.” Alex turned over the empty bag.

“Sorry. I’m all out too.”

“Mike picked some more up when he was out,” Jillian said. “I’ll go get them.”

“Oh shit. That’s right. You asked me, didn’t you?”

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