Page 109 of Drop Three

Penelope laughs. “Now, what would be the fun in sharing if Bodhi’s not here to witness his destruction?”

“You guys are cruel. The poor guy isn’t even here to advocate for himself,” I joke with them.

“Oh, save it. Just because Bodhi’s in love with you doesn’t mean you get to take his side on this,” Tenley exclaims.

“What!”Penelope.

I shoot Tenley a look, hoping she gets the message I’m sending her:watch your back, bitch—love you, mean it.

Kodi has the nerve to stay silent and cast me a conniving smirk.

Where are my friends when I actually need them?

“Someone better speak up,” Penelope says before turning toward Tenley. “You said Bodhi was in love with Navy.”

Tenley nods, pissing me off even more. “He is.”

“He is not! They have no idea what they’re talking about,” I tell Penelope, pleading with her to believe me.

I don’t know her well enough to tell what her expression means, but it reads like humor.Great.

“Ha! She’s in denial,” Tenley blurts out louder than necessary.

I guess it looks like we’re about to put the tension from Boone to the test.

“I am not!” I turn to Kodi. “Tell her, Kodi. I am not in denial about anything regarding that man.”

I cross my arms like a child, but I don’t care.

“Oh, this is rich,” Penelope gasps before stuffing her face with chips and salsa.

This was supposed to be a fun and friendly lunch, introducing Penelope to the girls and eating some good food.

Now, it’s the opposite.

I have a cold enchilada sitting in front of me, a draft beer turning depressingly warm, and my traitorous friends ganging up on me.

“That man? You can’t even say his name,” Tenley says.

“Navy, you know how much I love you, and I think you are one of the smartest women I know, but I’m gonna side with Tenley on this one,” Kodi stammers out in caution.

Is she serious right now?

“I knew it,” Penelope announces, causing every head to turn her way.

“What?” I ask. “You knew what?”

“I knew he was in love with you.”

Tenley’s laughter all but bounces off the wall. “Oh my god, even she noticed it and she’s been here a whole ten minutes!”

I’m no longer hungry.

Time to give them all a rude awakening.

“Hey, Tenley? Wanna hear a fun fact?” I ask her.

She looks at me to continue. “He already told me he doesn’t see me like that. In fact, he told me so after we hooked up in Fiji, and then he proceeded to humiliate me by saying, I will always be Cal’s little sister to him, and he has never seen me as more, so yeah. There’s that.”

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