Page 114 of The Triple Threat

“Well, it’s a little bit caveman and not the most romantic of compliments,” Ellie sighed. “But even for Bronte, it’s a little harsh to dump you on your ass for praising her assets.”

“Exactly.” I threw my hands into the air. “She’s definitely hormonal, like I said.”

Ellie’s eyes hardened as she widened her stance. “You did not?”

“Yeah, she was being bitchy, so I said I didn’t realize it was that time of the month.”

Hunter winced. “Shit man, that was totally the wrong thing to say.”

“No wonder she dumped you.” Ellie glared at me before turning to Hunter. “Let’s go. I can’t deal with his stupidity any longer, plus Dad took Mom away for the weekend, so we have the house to ourselves, remember.”

My best friend grinned like he was the fox who’d stolen the fattest chicken from the coop. “Okay, let’s go.”

“So, you’re not going to help me?” I asked as they both turned and practically ran for Hunter’s truck.

“Sorry, but your sister needs my full attention.” He took Ellie’s hand and brought it to his mouth, kissing the back of it.

“You disgust me,” I called. “You know that, right?”

Hunter flipped me over his shoulder without even looking back.

“Hey, Ellie,” I shouted.

“What?” she sighed, pulling up short and turning toward me.

“What’s Hunt’s cute little nickname for you?”

She shrugged her shoulders and answered. “Cutie pie, why?” at the same time as Hunter shouted, “Don’t tell him.”

“Why’d you tell him?” Hunter asked as he dragged her away.

“He asked,” Ellie replied, sounding a little frustrated.

“Yeah, well now he’s going to give me shit about it.”

“But I am your cutie pie.”

I rolled my eyes as my sister stretched up on her toes and kissed the life out of my best friend.

“Please, just go,” I called to them. “Leave me to my damn misery.”

Laughing and tangled in each other, they stumbled to the truck. When it finally rumbled away down the quiet street where the Jacksons lived, I turned back to the door. It felt impenetrable like the drawbridge of some damn castle and there was no way I was going to get through to the damsel.

However, I was never one to give up, and fisting my hand banged on it again.

…. To be continued