Page 56 of Desperate Haste

“What the fuck are you idiots talking about?” I chastise, looking around the table.

“It’s the look.”

“It’s happened.”

“And I’m officially the last man standing,” Conrad finishes.

I feel all the muscles in my face go slack as I realize what they’re talking about.

The look.

The look we’ve seen Hank have because of Bailey and the same look we get anytime Magnolia is within eyesight of Kolbi. The look of a man who is so totally pussy whipped.

And they saw it on me.

Fuck.

“So how are things with Ophelia?” Kolbi asks and I want to slap the pompous look right off his face.

“Yeah, last time her name came up around this table, you were awfully shifty about it. Care to share anything more with the class?”

“I just can’t believe you andOphelia,” Conrad drags her name out and says it as if it tastes bad in his mouth. I’m about to ask him what the fuck his problem is when Bailey’s voice calls out from the living room where she and Magnolia are watching a movie.

“Did I just hear my best friend’s name in there?” she shouts.

“Yes, hermosa?*, you did,” Hank calls back. Suddenly, the sounds of hurried footsteps near the table and she’s standing behind Hank’s chair, staring at me with a wide smile painted across her face.

“Why are we talking about Ophie?” She raises her brows at me and waits expectantly.

“Because your husband brought her up,” I sneer, not willing to give her anything more than what she has already managed to get out of me.

“And why would that be?” she hums back, her Southern drawl getting thicker with each word. “Wouldn’t happen to be because you and her are dating, is it?”

“Who said anything about dating?” I cock my head to one side and look at her inquisitively, which seems to annoy her. “I don’t date, and from what I remember about your friend, she doesn’t either.”

“Well you could both ‘not date’ together, can’t you?” she huffs.

“The dating game normally requires two people to play, blondie. And I’m not one to force someone into a game they don’t want to play.”

“But you want to play?” Kolbi asks, leaning over the table and resting his chin on his hand.

“What are we playing?” Magnolia asks, coming in from the living room as well.Jesus Christ, here we go.

“Malcolm and Ophie are playing the dating game,” Bailey quips, filling her in quickly.

“Ohhhh, I love this idea! Then she can come to game night and hangout with us too,” Magnolia sings.

Kolbi looks up at her and pulls one of her hands over his shoulder. “Flower, you can have any one of your friends over whenever you want. They don’t need to be dating one of us to spend time here.”

“I know, Jack. But it’s kind of like a club, this Wednesday night game time. The girlfriends club, even though Hank and Bailey are married,” she replies.

“They won’t be the only ones here soon,” I hear my best friend murmur and I give him a look, letting him know I heard what he said.

“My head hurts from trying to keep up with all of you.” Conrad sighs and brings his fingers to his temple, massaging it gently.

“We should just focus on the game, for Connie’s sake.” I push my lips together and give him a patronizing look as I shake him on the shoulder with one hand.

“Fuck you,” he sneers, shoving my hand off of him.

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