Page 145 of Let Me Keep You

“Then by all means, get smashed.”

“Not that I need your permission, but Ruby and I are hanging out at the pub later tonight.”

“What about Katie?”

“She couldn’t find a sitter.”

I would’ve offered to hang out with Owen if I didn’t already have plans.

“Okay, well I gotta go. Behave yourself,” I mock, then walk to the car and load everything.

By the time I park in Gemma’s driveway, I’m a ball of nerves. I shouldn’t be this damn anxious, but I am.

Grabbing my stuff, I go to her door and knock. As I inhale a deep breath, she opens it and beams at me.

“Wow,” I exhale and scan my eyes down her blue dress that coincidentally matches my shirt. “You look beautiful.”

Breathtaking, actually.

“Thank you.” She licks her lips and blushes. I love when her cheeks tint that shade of pink. “And you look quite handsome yourself.” Gemma steps back, allowing me to enter. “Did you get a haircut?”

I chuckle as I head to the kitchen. “I did.”

Then I tell her about the guy who recommended the place and fill her in on Everleigh’s shopping scheme as I unload the items.

“I can’t believe you fell for that.” She laughs as she opens the bottle of wine I brought. Gemma pours it into two glasses, then hands one over.

“She’s feistier than I remember,” I defend. “When I left, she was a sweet angel. You and Katie must be to blame.”

“Trust me, she was anything but sweet. She was handing out condoms at a school fundraiser.”

I take a sip of my drink and nearly choke. “Wait, what?”

“Yep. She made a sign too. Our body, our choice, our right. Then threw condoms like confetti.”

“For fuck’s sake.” I let out a breath. “How did I not hear about that?”

“She almost got expelled, but your grandma marched down there and had ‘words.’” She uses air quotes, and I snort.

“That couldn’t have been good.” I chuckle, digging around and grabbing a pot and pan. “Wow. So, she’s always been this way.”

“Ohhh yeah. Between the three of us, she’s the instigator. Katie’s the logical one, always trying to reason with her bad ideas.”

“And what’re you?”

She lowers her eyes. “The gullible one, I suppose.”

I frown. “That’s not true. You’re the sweet one.”

“Sweet and gullible,” she counters.

“Sweet and gorgeous,” I correct, flashing her a wink.

She tilts her head with a smile. “I guess I’ll take it.”

“Good. Now, I’m gonna make you the best meal of your life.” I drizzle the oil, then add the pieces of steak.

“And what masterpiece are you creating tonight, Chef Tyler?”