Page 43 of Bad Boy Done Wrong
“Bah. I didn’t read it either,” Josh said, meeting Zach’s eyes for a moment before shifting to the dining area. “It was all Ethan’s idea. Poor guy lacks experience. Someone should warn Hailey off.”
“Eth’s got two women interested in him,” Zach said casually. “Looks like he’ll get experience real soon.”
Josh narrowed his eyes at Zach. Carrie glanced back to find Zach grinning. Okay, then. She bit back a smile.
Ally changed the subject, probably trying to hold off another Josh-Hailey smackdown. Their frenemy thing had gotten a little out of hand lately. They were a little sharper and snippier than just a casual joking/flirting/bantering back and forth. Her friend Lauren, a natural peacemaker, had tried to smooth things over between the pair, encouraging them each to be the bigger person and outsweet each other, withzeroresults.
Hailey strode over, standing next to Ally, and announced for the benefit of everyone in the bar, “Welp, Ethan has a new girlfriend, Cali Boggs. She’s pretty kick-ass and it seems serious.” She flipped her strawberry blond hair over one shoulder. “Super classy too,” she added before saying in a lower confidential tone, “Good thing I realized Ethan and I had zero chemistry. We’re so much better off as friends.” She didn’t sound upset in the least. In fact, she sounded cheerfully relieved, probably because everything had worked out. Now Ethan was clearly not a sex addict, with a classy girlfriend, and Hailey could go back to what she liked best—helping other people find love. Carrie suspected Hailey had never experienced love herself, but she never wanted to make Hailey feel bad about that, so she kept her mouth shut.
Hailey turned and took in Carrie sitting in Zach’s lap. “Hello. You two look happy.”
“We are,” Carrie said, hoping to avoid any further embarrassing questions.
Zach made a noise that might have been a grunt of agreement, his hand still sprawled low on her belly, the heat and intent revving her up. He knew what he was doing to her since she freely shared how he made her feel physically. She couldn’t help herself. Passion was still such a new thrilling experience that she just blurted everything in her excitement.
Josh smirked at Hailey. “Looks like you’re running out of people to set up, princess.”
Hailey lifted her chin. “What about you?”
Josh shifted, suddenly uncomfortable. “What about me?”
“In my professional opinion—” Hailey paused dramatically “—you’re a die-hard bachelor in need of a woman to soften your harsh.”
Josh crossed his arms, making his biceps bulge. “I’m not harsh. I’m charming.”
“Ha!” Hailey returned. “Ha-ha-ha! That must be why you’re always alone.”
Carrie sucked in a breath. All of their friends went quiet.
Mad, Josh’s sister, piped up from a few seats away. “Harsh.”
Hailey bit her lip. “Josh, I—”
“You don’t know everything,” Josh returned easily, letting her off the hook. “I pick up women all the time.” He gestured Hailey over to the guys sitting at the other end of the bar. “Move along, princess, because I don’t see you with anyone either. Let’s see your pickup moves. If you have any. Looks like you crashed and burned with Eth.”
Carrie glanced over to see Hailey making an unusually snarly face at Josh, who pulled his phone from his pocket and snapped a picture. “That face is going online.”
“What do you mean?” Hailey asked.
“Facebook, Insta, the works,” Josh replied, tapping a few keys and smirking.
Hailey leaped forward, grabbing for the phone across the bar. “Gimme that, you beast!” She always called him old-fashioned names—scoundrel, cad, and beast being the top three—straight from the old-timey romantic comedy movies she loved. Josh called her one thing—princess.
Josh leaned back, out of reach, and held up the phone again, aiming it at her. “Keep it up. Let’s see your pissed-off princess face.”
Hailey growled. Josh snapped another picture and showed it to her.
“I swear I will—” Hailey shut up quickly when Josh held up his phone again.
“Video too,” he said with a smirk. “Keep it up.”
Hailey seethed, her cheeks flushed bright pink. She pulled her phone from her purse and tapped a few buttons. Probably checking for notifications.
Zach whispered in Carrie’s ear, “Josh doesn’t do social media. He stays off the radar.”
Carrie immediately slipped her phone out of her purse and texted Hailey, letting her know. Girl code.
Hailey’s demeanor completely changed as she read the text, from pissed off back to composed. She shot Carrie a grateful look, tucked her phone away, and stood next to Carrie, facing her nemesis across the bar. “Josh, our squabbling has become tiresome. I don’t want a showdown every time I come in here.”
