Page 46 of Darlin'

Roman Empire

"How's your shoulder?"I ask Beau as he takes a bite of a mushroom and swiss burger. "Does it hurt?"

"Nuh-uh," Marlow says with a mouth full of fries, waving her index finger over my garden salad. "You're not changing the topic yet." She swallows, chugging half her Coke. "So, he actually pushed you into the pool?" She snorts, wiggling her brows. "Did he have to give you mouth-to-mouth?"

Beau chokes on his food, wiping his chin. "Please tell me he didn’t.” His crystal blue eyes glow with desperation as he adds, "Savannah, you're not?—"

"Oh my God, no! Ew." I cringe, dropping my fork. "Definitely not. I can't believe you'd even think that."

Marlow rolls her eyes. "The lady doth protest too much."

"The ladyisa lady," I retort. "And the man in question is, by all standards, definitely a tramp."

Marlow tilts her head and bats her lashes. "Sure, whatever you say, Savvy, but I see the way you guys lookat each other in the bar, okay? There's a little something-something between you."

I scoff. "Yeah, pure irritation."

"I don't know," Marlow sings in an annoyingly observant tone. "There's a thin line between irritation and infatuation." She glances over at my brother, who's still recoiling from the idea. "Right, baby?"

"How would I know?" Beau grumbles, picking at his fries. "I liked you the second you walked through them doors."

"Awe..." Marlow pouts, snuggling up against Beau's uninjured shoulder. "Baby..." She plants a quick kiss on his cheek. "I love you."

"Yeah, I love you too," Beau says softly, peering over at me. "Is Marlow right, Sav? Is there something going on, 'cause I swear to God Almighty, I'll cut the son of a bitch."

My eyes widen. "You'llcuthim? Is that how you deal with problems nowadays? My God, Beau."

"You're my sister, Sav," Beau states. "And I won't have anybody taking advantage of you."

"Taking advantage?" I ask, suddenly offended. "You think I'dletsomeone take advantage of me? Maybe you forgot because you've been gone for so long,Beauregard, but no one takes advantage of me. Ever."

"Plus"—Marlow chuckles—"I'm sure our Savvy here would give it to JP freely."

"Marlow!" I snap, shooting her a hardened glare. "Stop it! There ain't nothing going on with Jesse and me, okay? So just drop it." I release a frustrated breath. "Before you go and start a shit storm."

“A shit storm? With who?" Marlow perks up a brow. "Andy? You're worried about Andy?" She snorts. "That bitch is all bark and no bite, trust me. You don't need to worry about her."

"I'm not!" I insist, shaking my head. "I just don't want rumors to start, okay? It's bad enough I'm shacking up with Jesse. I don't need everybody thinking I'm banging him too."

Marlow snorts. "Dude, everyonealreadythinks you're banging."

"What?" Beau hisses. "Who's everybody?"

"Everybody's everybody." Marlow shrugs as I sink into my seat. Oh no...please let her be wrong. "Babe, you missed a lot this past week."

"Clearly," Beau grunts, aggressively shoving fries into his mouth. "That's just great. Now I'm going to have a word with the boys."

"Please don't," I beg, humiliated. "Marlow's just making up stories, okay? Please don't say anything." I reach over and take my brother's hand. "I'm serious, Beau. Don't."

"Fine," he says with a strained tone. "But if I find out that?—"

"You won't," I insist, nodding far too vigorously. "You don't have to worry about anything?—"

"Ahh...a family reunion." Marlow, Beau, and I whip our heads toward the familiar and daunting voice. Miguel grins down at us as he stands at the edge of our table. "How nice." He glances over at Beau, who keeps a neutral expression. "I heard about Nevada. Everything good?"

"Nothing we can't handle," Beau states flatly.

"Hope so," Miguel muses, turning hisattention to me. "So, Savannah, now that your brother is home, how long will you be staying in Hawkridge? A week?"

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