Page 63 of My Fiancé's Brother 2

“What can we bring?”

“Nothing.”

“Beer? Booze? Hamburger buns?” Jackson pushed.

She nodded and smiled. “Beer is always welcome. And everyone loves potato chips.”

“We’re on it.”

Her eyes looked over at me, less warm, less friendly. “Great. We’ll see you both there.”

CHAPTER 22

The get together wasdown the street from our house. I changed into boyfriend jeans and a pair of flats. We left Chloe at home and walked there. Jackson carried the beer, and I brought the chips. Nerves impeded my ability to breathe.

I could hear the crowd before we walked around the corner of the house to the backyard. At least 45 people mingled in the yard. Kids ran wild, two dogs barked, and there was a sea of faces.

A man that I recognized as the back catcher manned the BBQ grill. He grinned at Jackson. “Coolers are over there.”

Jackson and I walked over to the coolers, and I stood by while he unloaded the beer into the ice-filled chests.

Lauren came rushing out. “Hey, Jackson.”

“Where do you want the chips?”

“Just put them in the kitchen.”

He glanced over at me.

“I can do it.”

“Go knock em dead,” he winked.

I followedher across the porch and into the kitchen. The conversation went completely dead as seven sets of female eyes turned and took me in. Cheeks on fire, I clutched my purse and the bags of chips.

“You can just set that on the table.” Lauren’s voice wasn’t exactly friendly.

Silence followed me as I walked across the room and put the chips on the corner of the table.

I put my best smile on my face and turned back to the group that stood there staring at me.

Lauren stepped forward and introduced me quickly. Misty. Terra. Olivia. Brenda. Angela. Charlotte. Poppy. Yes, that was her actual name. Poppy.

“Pleased to meet you,” I said with a smile that felt pressed on.

Their smiles felt as forced as my own.

Charlotte, a tall woman with curly dark hair, spoke, “So, you’re from New York?”

“I am. Where are you from?”

She ignored my question. “So, how did you meet Jackson?”

I hadn't mentally prepared myself for this line of questioning. I didn’t think stating that I was initially engaged to his brother would go over well. “Well…um…I met him through a mutual acquaintance.”

They stared at me.

I felt compelled to continue. “And my car broke down, and he fixed it.”

---