Page 141 of Bottle Shock
“I know,” she says. “And I get it now.”
“Good.” I pull her into a hug because we don’t fight. Not like that.“Next time, maybe don’t show up guns blazing.”
She laughs into my shoulder. “Okay, I promise.”
We start to pull apart, but she stops and pokes me—dead center of the chest.
Hard.
“But if you ever hurt her,” she says, quiet enough that only I hear it, “I will personally end you. Slowly. And I will make it look like an accident.”
I roll my eyes at Elyse just as Scottie slips into my space, her arms winding around my waist, her head settling against mychest like it’s perfectly normal for us to show affection in front of my family.
For a beat, I forget how to function.
My body stutters.
My heart hammers.
Then my brain catches up and I wrap my arms around her, holding her the way I’ve wanted to all day.
“Stop threatening him,” Scottie says to Elyse without looking up. “Leave my man alone.”
And there it is.
We’re doing this. No more hiding. No more secrets.
Fucking finally.
My siblings explode—hooting, cheering, teasing. I’m pretty sure both Scottie and I turn the exact same shade of red.
But I pull her closer anyway, unable to hide how stupidly happy I am right now.
My mom approaches us, wearing a knowing grin. “How about we keep Lily for a sleepover?” She winks. “That way you two can have a free evening. I would imagine there’s lots of discuss.”
She’s not even trying to be subtle.
We share a look, Scottie’s eyes more dazed than usual.
Five minutes into this thing we still haven’t labeled and my family is already overwhelming her.
“I think we’ll take you up on that offer.”
CHAPTER 39
Scottie
HIGHLAND BABY COWS
Believe it or not, that’s not even the worst fight me and Elyse have ever had. After close to three decades of friendship, we’ve been through some shit. But at the end of the day I love her, and she’s the closest thing I’ve ever had to a sister.
We fought it out.
Talked it out.
Cried it out.
And all is right with the universe.
