Page 43 of Beauty Beneath the Sorrow
“I love to be called a good girl,” Piper says in a sweet voice, glancing at Jack.
Mason and Bailey both exchange flirtatious looks as well.
I run a hand through my hair. “This conversation took a turn.”
Piper hooks around me, laughing. “I have a feeling Carter would want you to be his bad girl, though.”
Bailey bubbles with laughter.
“You both are worse than my sister, you know that?” I bury my crimson cheeks in my hands.
Letting me go, Piper moves to Jack. He lovingly places his hand on her lower back while she curls into him. Surprisingly, it makes my heart ache. “It was enough with just Bailey. Now you too?” I roll my eyes at Piper. “You guys and all your loveliness annoy my inner skeptic.” I briefly glance around the room. “Where’s Avery? She’s bringing Dave the Dentist, right?”
Piper rests her head on Jack’s shoulder. “It is fun, though, babe.”
I exhale. “I know.”
Max will be here, too, since his aunt is part of my mom’s team that puts on the event. I put on a playfully smug look. “And for your information, things are going well with Max.”
Bailey scrunches her nose. “Are you sure about that?”
I love my friends, but their ability to read through me is annoying.
“Welcome to our nosey group, Jack,” I say sarcastically. “Oh look, there’s my partner anti-romantic,” I call out, pointing to Avery and her stuffy dentist walking over to us.
“He isn’t for her,” Piper whispers to Bailey and me. We both nod our heads in unison.
Avery has been dating Dave the Dentist for about a year and a half. They met because her dentist was out of town, and she needed an emergency crown. It sounds like a cute story, but he’s stiff, barely laughs, and they have nothing in common. When she talks about him, there’s no twinkle in her eye. She mentioned to us once that they don’t have sex often, and when they do, it’seh.
I cannot fucking imagine settling in the bedroom. That is one of the many reasons why I don’t date long term. I like to sample as many dicks as possible, leaving plenty of room to try new ones.That makes me sound like a whore. Why do women have to feel guilty about that? Buried inside, I know I’m subconsciously trying to find my person—but I’m not convinced he even exists, so I resort back to that same mindset.
“Right? He’s a nice guy, but not for Avery,” I grit out through a smile as the five of us stare at our unhappily in-love friend.
After another round of greetings, Jack suggests that the guys grab us all a drink, leaving me, Bailey, Avery, and Piper alone. We watch as Mason and Jack head to the bar, but Dave the Dentist looks like he’s going to the restroom. Maybe he didn’t want to have a dry conversation with the guys.
“I can’t believe you brought him,” Bailey blurts out as soon as the guys are out of earshot.
Avery clicks her tongue. “What?”
“You’re stringing him along, babe.” I point out.
“I don’t want to talk about it,” Avery dismisses. “And why isn’t anyone talking about that little thing between Lina and Carter,her dad’s best friend,I might add.”
Bailey giggles.
“Oh, we are,” Piper sneers.
“I love it that we’re so involved in each other’s lives, but I also loath it,” I remark.
Avery swings her arms around me, Bailey, and Piper, and the three of us do the same. We stand together, staring out onto the dance floor.
“Tonight is going to be fun, ladies,” Avery says.
Bailey rests her head on my shoulder. “Has anyone run into Corrine yet?”
“My mother is in rare Corrine-show fashion,” I tell them. “Be prepared.”
Chapter Thirteen
