Page 52 of Sex, Lies, and Margarita Mixes

The second I see Mari Lynn relaxing in a float in the pool at her and Knox’s condo, I do what any emotionally stable, recently re-married—but not really, nothing official happened—woman would do. I take off running, kick off my wedges, and cannonball into her serenity.

She’s mid-sip on something fruity and smug, complete with a paper umbrella, when I shout, “Miss me, bitch?” and leap into the pool like a deranged dolphin with boundary issues.

She screams with fright, throws her drink into the air, and immediately starts crying-laughing as she slaps off the water that just doused her and mutters, “Oh my God, I knew you’d show up chaotic.”

I float on the surface and adjust my bikini top because my tit is now trying to say hello to everyone. Dark hair is plastered to my head, water is dripping down my face and I grin like I just survived the Hunger Games: Couples Retreat Edition.

“Hope you’ve got tequila and Knox is cooking something delicious.” I wink at her. “I brought trauma, titty sweat, and one hell of a I’ve-had-so-much-sex-with-my-fine-ass-husband-this-past-week I need calories appetite.”

Mari Lynn laughs and rushes to the edge of the pool, jumping out. I hold my arm up and she helps me get out, too. I only flash a little bit of too much cheek as I climb out and we soggily hug.

“You look radiant and emotionally unstable.” She chuckles.

“You should see my husband’s tongue. That bitch is almost as big as his bicep. It’s been busy.” We both laugh.

Knox appears on the small patio of their condo, holding a pitcher of margaritas and a look of genuine fear.

He sees Chase—quiet, shirtless, walking up behind me with our bags—and grins. “You almost threw a chair at him?” he asks.

I retort, “No, not at him. At my ex. The piece of shit I wasted time with before Chase came along crashed our couples retreat. Chase was ready to throw down. He held my earrings.”

Knox just nods, sets the pitcher down, and takes a bag from Chase before slapping him on the shoulder. “Hey man. Good to see you.”

Mari Lynn pours three shots, and we take them, before I’m fully dry.

We’re lounging in the sun, half-dressed, and half-feral.

Chase and Knox sit a few feet away, talking about food like they’re not surrounded by our very loud emotional fallout.

They’re used to it.

“So,” Mari says, sliding her sunglasses down and waggling her brows at me over the top. “Tell me everything.”

I inhale like I’m about to deliver a TED Talk.

“First of all, I almost divorced him about fifteen times. He made me scream while I was laid back on the island in the middle of the kitchen and Trent walked in on it. Oh, and Miguel walked in while I was blowing Chase, also in the kitchen. He dropped his shit all over the floor and retreated. Then, Chase made me banana bread with chocolate chips because I needed comfort food. I saw Eden when his head was between my thighs—also in the kitchen—the kitchen apparently makes us really fucking hot for each other—Oh, I accidentally called him ‘home.’ I almost threw a chair at Holden’s face. We rode a wave naked before a shark copped a feel of my ass and tried to eat Chase’s dick. We flashed an entire beach. And I might be emotionally repaired.”

She blinks and laughs as she says, “Oh, Roxy girl, I have missed you.”

Reaching into my bag, I pull out the Ring Pop ring and slip it on before showing her my hand.

Her mouth drops open. “Bitch, he re-proposed?!”

I grin. “Nah, just re-claimed.”

From the corner of my eye, I see Chase look over. Mari Lynn follows my gaze and smiles, softly. “He loves you so much it’s annoying.”

“I know. I weaponize it.” I retort.

We chuckle and clink glasses.

Tequila. Sunshine. Second chances.

And just like that, the chaos becomes comfort, and I realize home is wherever I’m loved loudest.

CHASE

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