Page 79 of From West, With Regret

Selene cocks her head to the side, her brows pinching. “West?”

“Yeah. Maybe it’s because I’ve been around him a lot lately. Maybe it’s because I’ve developed these feelings for him. Right?”

She considers answering me, but I can tell she isn’t positive about her response. “Maybe.” My sister lifts her hand and lovingly tucks my hair behind my ear.

“I need to apologize to you.”

“For what?” she asks.

“For being distant. For not letting you in.”

“Don’t be sorry.” She wraps her arms around me, and she smells just like the shop as she rests her chin on my shoulder. “We’re both guilty.”

“Oh, yeah.” I gape, ripping her away from my arms. “What happened with you last night?”

Selene’s eyes shoot up and over my shoulder. Following what’s caught her attention, I look over my shoulder to see Julianna enter Charleigh’s shop. She’s gorgeous, even in her leggings and off-the-shoulder, oversized T-shirt.

“Hey, girls.” Julianna’s grin stretches from ear to ear. “What’s going on?”

“Selene was just about to tell me what happened last night after I left.” I grin, anticipating my sister’s story.

“Oh.” Julianna moves closer. “You mean after West beat the shit out of that guy, and you two split?”

My face falls. Is Julianna mad that we ruined her night?

“Because that was fucking awesome.” She laughs.

“What?” I ask, giggling.

“The thought of Rome being pissed that West started a fight in the middle of his brand-new club only places the cherry on top of the mountain of icing on this cake.” Her cheeks redden with her enthusiastic grin. “Because trust me, nothing gives me greater pleasure than seeing Rome’s reputation get tarnished.The man needs a good smack on the beautiful ass every now and then.”

Selene snorts, covering her mouth and nose to stifle it. I laugh, catching onto her unintentional joke. Does she realize what she’s saying right now? Probably too many glasses of champagne still floating around in that beautiful brain of hers.

Julianna’s phone rings in her pocket. She ignores it and stares at Selene and me, her attention drifting between us.

“Um.” Selene clears her throat. “Are you going to get that?”

“No,” she clips, still smiling. “What happened to you last night, London? Was West okay after beating that guy up? Some people in the club were saying that guy just came up behind you and started touching you, and that West looked like he was going to kill him.”

The ringing stops.

“Yeah.” I lean against the counter, resting my elbow on the wooden top. “The guy was a total creep. I’m glad West was there. When we got back to his place, his hand didn’t look too bad.”

“His place, huh?” Julianna wags her eyebrows and clicks her tongue with delight.

I nod, heat spreading in my cheeks.

Her phone rings again. She still doesn’t answer. Selene looks at Julianna with piqued curiosity, and I do the same.

“What is going on?” she asks, drawing her words out.

Julianna tugs her phone from her pocket and groans, rolling her eyes. She stuffs it back inside. “Remember how Rome was a complete dick last night at the club?”

Neither Selene nor I answer her.

“Well…” She clears her throat and grins, bouncing on her heels. “I signed him up for an erectile dysfunction support group newsletter last night after he left. I think he figured out it was me.” She scrunches her nose, holding her breath for our reactions.

The three of us burst into laughter.