Page 66 of Entirely Yours
“Hear thatprincess, we can’t be mean to each other.” Ben holds eye contact with Cole for longer than strictly necessary—long enough for Bex’s smile to turn maniacal.
“What’s happening with them now?” I whisper to Jules, vaguely gesturing toward the two grown-ass adults locked in a staring contest.
Jules takes a big bite of pizza, shrugging. “No idea. They’re always like that. Thought maybe it was getting better, but someone probably said something that pissed the other person off. Thus, back to complete loathing.”
“My guess is that it’s some weird form of foreplay,” I muse.
Bex pops out of nowhere, forcing her way between the two of us. “I’ve always thought the same thing. Here, can you hold Molly for a sec. I want to try and get a picture of this.”
Before I have a chance to take the baby, Anders swoops in. “So sorry about her,” he says, reaching for his youngestdaughter. “Bex does not do well on maternity leave. Listens to too many true crime podcasts and watches entirely too much Bravo. Something about the postpartum hormones makes her addicted to the theatrics of it all. After Elodie, she spent six full weeks convinced that I was having an affair with my eighty-year-old vocal coach.” He shudders. “That was a dark time.”
“You two were made for each other,” Jules comments.
Anders’ free hand comes down on Jules’ shoulder. “Thank you, Jules. That means a lot.”
“Are you—are you tearing up?” I ask.
Anders wipes under his eye. “Fatherhood, man. It’s softened me.”
“You were pretty soft before,” Gabe joins.
“Not around me,” Bex teases.
All three of the Bardot brothers grimace as Bex and Anders high five.
Cole plops down next to me, as if she didn’t just spend several minutes staring daggers into Ben. I open my mouth to ask what the hell just happened, but her hand comes up to silence me before I have the chance. “We’ll talk about it later.”
Noted.
After we’ve all had a sufficient amount of pizza, the men continue working on finishing up the shop. Jules does let Hugo, Anders, and Dad help, and even gives Chloe and Elodie a few manageable tasks. Which leaves me alone at the table with Elaine, Bex, and Cole. As soon as everyone else is out of earshot, three sets of eyes turn to me.
“Sooooo…” Bex starts.
I look down to see what I spilled on my shirt. That’s the only explanation my brain can come up with for why they’re all looking at me. Not seeing anything, I ask, “Soooo what?”
Cole heaves an exasperated sigh. “Are you guys fucking yet or what?”
My eyes shoot to Elaine because I cannot believe those words came out of Cole’s mouth in front ofhis mother.
“Not to worry, dear. It’s important to have a healthy sex life and can be even more pleasurable in pregnancy.” Elaine’s smile is placating.
Bex leans back and crosses her arms over her chest. “I’m so glad this conversation is pointed at someone else now.”
“I—we—” I stammer. Words have suddenly become incredibly difficult.
“Aha!” Cole shouts, drawing the attention of the rest of the room. “I knew it.”
“Shhh,” I plead. “He wants me to move in with him.” Hopefully that tidbit of information will keep them from asking any more questions about our sex life.
Cole’s face scrunches up. “You already did that part… This whole relationship has been entirely out of order.”
“No, no. I’msupposedto move back into the apartment once the damage from the pipes has been fixed.”
Bex scoffs. “I bet Jules does not like that idea.”
“He decidedly does not,” I reply. My eyes meet Elaine’s, and I see the silent question there. A question mirrored in the eyes of all three women staring at me.What’s holding you back?They seem to say.
My hands come to rest on my stomach. “It’s… it’s complicated.”
