Page 73 of One Pucking Surprise
Chloe snorts. “Oh, she’s tried, though. Remember how mean she was at the Youth Foundation hockey event? She was glaring at Lainey the whole time like she wanted to start something.”
Janelle shakes her head, her hazel eyes narrowing. “I don’t know how you put up with her. She sounds evil. Good thing I haven’t met her yet.”
“Well, you should be glad,” Chloe says with a laugh.
Janelle raises an eyebrow. “What don’t I know about?”
Chloe gasps, her eyes widening. “Oh my gosh! I forgot. You were gone on that business trip when all this happened! Okay, so, at Zach’s family reunion, Clarissa told Lainey she only dated Drew because Lainey liked him.”
Janelle’s jaw drops. “Are you kidding me?”
“Oh, it gets better,” Chloe continues, clearly enjoying the retelling. “She said she liked the idea of liking Drew the way Lainey did. Then, as soon as she saw Zach, she dumped Drew. And guess what? She told Lainey she can go after Drew now because he’s single again.”
Janelle shakes her head, leaning back in her chair. “But didn’t he RSVP with a plus one?”
“Yes, he did,” Chloe says with a triumphant grin. “So she’s lying. She just wants Lainey to step back from Zach so she can have him all to herself.”
“Wow,” Janelle says, drawing out the word. “Can I just say that she’s a total bitch?”
Midway through sipping my water, I choke and nearly spit it out. Chloe and Janelle burst into laughter, and I can’t help but join in, shaking my head at the ridiculousness of it all.
When the laughter dies down, I set my glass aside and glance between them. “I haven’t even told you about her showing up at the community event.”
Chloe’s eyebrows shoot up. “She did? When?”
“Right after you and Wyatt took Jasper to get food,” I explain. “Zach and I had to sneak out. That’s why we left early.”
Chloe stares at me, disbelief etched on her face. “Are you serious?”
“Unfortunately,yes,” I reply with a sigh.
Janelle shakes her head, her tone incredulous. “My gosh. That woman is definitely obsessed with him. I guess I don’t blame her, though. I mean, look at him.”
Chloe raises an eyebrow, grinning. “Are you affected by his charms too, Janelle?”
“Oh gosh, no,” Janelle says, waving a hand dismissively. “I’m just saying he’s got the looks, the charm, the whole package. Come on, he made Lainey come four times. What guy does that on your first night? Women go crazy over that.”
My cheeks heat as I bury my face in my hands. “Ladies, can we not mention my sex life? It’s complicated enough right now.”
“Sorry, hon,” Janelle says with a smirk. “I’m just saying.”
Chloe chuckles, shaking her head. “I kind of feel bad for Clarissa.”
Janelle narrows her eyes. “Why do you say that?”
“Because she lived her life to fit into Zach’s world,” Chloe explains. “To being the person she thinks he needs.”
Janelle leans back, crossing her arms. “Yeah, I don’t know if that’s love.”
I hold up my hand. “Ladies, can we not talk about Clarissa anymore?”
“Fine,” Chloe says, raising her hands in mock surrender. “Let’s talk about Zach instead. How are you and Zach handling everything?”
I sigh, putting down the ribbon and leaning back in my chair. “It’s been… a lot. The wedding’s been my escape from thinking too much about it.”
Janelle tilts her head. “Is he stepping up, or is he still trying to charm his way out of responsibility?”
“He’s not trying to charm his way out of anything,” I say quickly, though my tone is more defensive than I intended. I fumble with the next jar, the silence stretching between us like a taut wire.
