Page 23 of Moonstruck Kiss

My heart starts racing.

“Hi, Elsa,” Dimple says. “Oh, hi, Brax. Good that you’re here. I might as well say what I have to say to your parents in front of you.”

“Really? What is it?” My glee at seeing her is now being shrouded by a sense of foreboding.

Joey turns to my mum. “I heard about the issues you’re having at the lodge.”

Oh, here we go. I refrain from rolling my eyes. I should have known that the woman of my dreams—let me rephrase that now: The womaninmy dreams—is just like any other Mooner.

“I really don’t think you should sell the lodge,” Joey continues. “I’m sure there’s a solution to your problems.”

“You don’t know that,” I interject. How dare this woman tell my parents what to do when she probably has no idea of the extent of the problem?

She gives me a quick smile but continues to talk to my mother.

“That land has to stay with Mooners. We don’t want developers to come here and build monstrosities that would ruin the vibe of our town.”

“We don’t want that either,” says Mum.

“So let’s make sure that doesn’t happen,” Joey says, clasping my mother’s hand.

As if she has any solution!

I’m really angry now. I’ve had enough of this town downplaying my parents’ issues. They have no bloody idea!

They see my parents and Liss as Mooners now, huh? Bull-fucking-shit. They don’t care about my family. I bet they’re just buttering them up so they won’t sell to the “evil” developers these Mooners are trying to protect their town from.

Fuck. To think I’ve been so infatuated with this woman…

“Excuse me,” I say to Joey rather brusquely. “Can I speak to you in private, please?”

“Brax,” Mum says in a warning tone.

“No worries,” Joey answers. “How about we go outside?”

I motion for her to lead the way, and I follow.

I stop in my tracks as what I said to Joey next rushes to my head.

Fuck, did I really say that?

I was so angry that I was just ranting to Joey about how inappropriate they were all being that I wasn’t even thinking of what was coming out of my mouth. I guess I could have said it, because why am I suddenly remembering those words?

Damn.

To think that Joey’s family spearheaded the financial help my parents needed. Yes, that help came after our argument, but she obviously knew what she was doing when she butted into the conversation.

And just a few minutes ago, Mooners helped me and Ollie escape some unwanted attention. Would I call that meddling or simply Mooners typically helping out their “own”?

I shake my head as shame drops on me like a bucket of cold water. I think I now know why Joey’s still mad despite my apology. I never apologised for certain hurtful words that I still can’t believe I said.

And I bet she hasn’t told anyone about them. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have heard the end of it—from my family and beyond.

Wow.

How do I even start apologising? And thanking her for keeping quiet about my ignorant, hurtful outburst?

How do I make her like me?

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