Page 89 of Love, Luck & Clusterf*ck

“Yes, they’re family pets. Do you want to go pet one?” He tugged on my hand, but I yanked it away. He started laughing. “Kidding, Perry. They’re wild. They come through here a couple times a day.”

“And what if I would’ve said yes? Look at those sharp nail thingies—they look vicious.”

“Only if you try to pet them.” He winked.

“Well, aren’t you freaking hil—”

“Look, there’s Daniel. Let me introduce you.”

“Where?” I looked in that direction, and all I saw was a couple of teenagers throwing around a baseball.

The kid with the lighter hair noticed us and waved. “Hi, Uncle Stephen.”

Stephen waved back, and as we walked over, I said, “A little confused. I thought Daniel was the little one. What’s your younger nephew’s name?”

“I only have the one.”

“But you said he was fourteen months, and that’s why you needed the practice babysitting.”

Daniel tossed the ball at him and he caught it. “No, I just said he was fourteen. I never said months.”

“But—”

“And I could still use the practice.” He grinned, pulling histeenagenephew in for a hug. “I’m getting tickets for the Brewers game next week. You in?”

“For sure. Thanks, Uncle Stephen.”

“No problem.” He patted him on the shoulder, glancing at the other boy. “How’s it going, Ben?”

“Pretty good.”

I was still figuring it out when Stephen said to Daniel, “I’d like you to meet a friend of mine. This is Perry. Perry, Daniel and his friend, Ben.”

I smiled. “Hi. Nice to meet you.”

They both returned my hi, but Daniel would barely look at me. Maybe he wasn’t thrilled about someone new coming to his home. The boys stepped away, and Stephen motioned for them to go farther out so he could throw the ball.

I took that moment to check out the surroundings before it got completely dark. I couldn’t see the backyard, but there was a good acre’s worth of land on the side with some giant towering trees. The bonfire was already blazing with several people kicking back, a few coolers on the ground.

One of the women looked slightly familiar from the side, but when she turned I got a better view and my memory triggered. The initial reaction caused my stomach to tighten.Are you shitting me?It was the same blonde woman from Wengo’s. I wondered if Stephen knew she’d be there. Maybe he’d invited her too. Ugh. She was probably friends with his sister. Would I have to sit there and watch her and Stephen all night? I hugged my midsection. I wasn’t feeling too well.

“Perry? You okay?”

Stephen touched my arm just as I heard Daniel yell, “Mom, Uncle Stephen’s here!” My attention was redirected to the boy as he ran outinto the street and waved his hands. “Ready!”

“Perry?” Stephen said again.

I signaled for him to go ahead and throw the ball, then glanced over to see that woman approaching. All smiles and sweetness. What was going on? There was no way she didn’t recognize me.

“Yay! I’m so glad you made it,” she said, her face lighting up when she looked at Stephen. He smiled back. Ugh. He definitely wasn’t surprised to see her.

She handed him a bottle of beer that I didn’t even see her carrying. She’d probably just pulled it from her snatch. I bet she could fit a whole six-pack up there.

“And you must be Perry.” She turned to me, still latched onto Stephen’s arm. “I’m so happy to finally meet you. I’m Jillian, in case you haven’t figured that out by now.” She laughed. “So, what can I get you to drink? I know you don’t care for beer.”

Uh…. I darted between them. Same blonde hair, same blue eyes, same beautiful smile. Daniel’s mom, Stephen’ssister. What the fuck was wrong with me? How did I not connect that right away? Maybe because she looked so young.Oh shit, oh shit, oh shit.But I’d still let some deranged jealousy that I had no business having cloud my common sense.Oh God. Did I actually compare his sister’s vagina to a beer cooler?I groaned. At least I hadn’t said it out loud.

“Perry?” Stephen touched my shoulder. “I think she just needs some water and a chair.”

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