CHAPTER 14
Joanie
I sat next to Billie on Violet’s couch and held the newest member of the Dolls. Violet and her men had created the most beautiful little girl ever. I stared down at Delilah with eyes full of tears I refused to let fall. “She’s perfect.”
Justin snorted from where he held Violet on the couch opposite of ours. “You only say that because you haven’t been screamed awake every night. She makes most of my missions feel like glamping.”
Delilah stared at me with her giant eyes which were just as green as her mom’s. She gripped my finger in her tiny fist and gurgled. I was pretty sure she was already complaining about her Dads being wimps.
“Guess what I heard today.” Mason strolled into the living room with a smirk on his face. He sank into the couch on the other side of Violet and carefully arranged her legs over his lap. “It’s a juicy little tidbit.”
Violet brightened up instantly. She’d been home for a couple of weeks after having Delilah and it seemed like she was missing the gossip. “What?”
“Well, it seems like your bestie has been up to no good.” He met my gaze and wagged his eyebrows. “So, Joanie. Are the rumors true?”
I shook my head without even taking the time to decide if I was going to lie or not. “I don’t know what rumors you’re talking about, but they can’t be true if the gossip is juicy. I’ve just been doing the same old thing.”
“Bullshit.” Ben walked in with Forrest and came straight to me to take his daughter. He nodded to Forrest and smiled. “Why don’t you go find a snack?”
Forrest was only seven but he was a lanky kid already. He nodded and hurried towards the kitchen, excited to find whatever new creation the guys had put together for him.
Ben settled on the couch next to me and held Delilah to his chest. “I heard the same rumor and I beg to differ, J. You’ve been up to no good.”
Violet leaned forward. “Joanie? You wouldn’t lie to me, would you?”
Billie giggled from next to me and then winced when I glared at her. “What? I can laugh. Nothing wrong with laughing.”
I growled but the sound reminded me of Bear and that made me blush. I took a deep breath and then shook my head again. “There’s nothing to tell.”
“I heard that our bestie here was dragged to her office by one of the new guys in town. The sounds that came from that office left little to the imagination, if I’m to believe what I was told.” Mason chuckled at the dark glare I sent his way.
Billie jabbed me in the side. “One of the new guys? He’s not talking about Chase, Joanie. Chase has been here for a while. You slept with one of the new guys, too? You lucky bitch.”
Ben covered Delilah’s ears. “Hey, hey. There’s a baby here, folks.”
Violet rolled her eyes. “She can’t understand this, Ben. If you get in the way of me hearing this, you’re going to understand the meaning of the word pain, though.”
I jabbed Billie back. “No! I didn’t sleep with anyone.”
“You little liar! I already know you slept with Chase. You admitted it!”
Violet gasped. “You slept with Chase?!”
“And the new ginger Viking in town.” Mason shrugged when we all looked at him. “That’s how he’s being described. Big, redheaded, tough looking… He does have that Viking quality to him.”
“The Scottish daddy?! You slept with him?” Billie groaned. “I’m so sick of this town. First Violet lands three hotties and now you? I need to hang out with other unlucky in lust and love losers like myself.”
“Billie thinks we’re hotties. Cool.” Justin grinned. “It’s just good to hear after cleaning up several rounds of explosive shit.”
Violet cut her eyes at him but then refocused on me. “You slept with Chase. And a Viking daddy?”
“You should see him, Vi. He’s huge and so hot it hurts to look at him for too long. And he has two little girls. Twins.” Billie fanned herself. “I heard he bought the house next to Joanie, too.”
I glared at her. “Jesus, Billie. Do you know his shoe size, too?”
“Not yet. Give me a few more hours, though.” She winked at me and then looked back at Violet. “I knew about Chase. He wrecked our bestie. CoCo heard Joanie screaming from the road in front of Joanie’s house. I had no clue about this office session with Daddy, though.”
“Don’t call him that.” I crossed my arms over my chest and shook my head. “I hate it here.”
“You hate it here? Hello? Have you not been listening to me? I haven’t slept with anyone in months and when I did, it was with a guy named Johnny who didn’t believe the clit is a real thing. He literally told me it was a made-up thing to make men feel inferior.” Billie pouted. “He thought of clits as a conspiracy theory, guys. Feel sorry for me.”
“Later! First, I need to hear how the hell all this happened so fast.” Violet shook her head. “Details, woman.”
I groaned and leaned forward to press my forehead to my knees. My boobs ached from being squished, but my brain hurt more from the decisions I’d made. “I don’t know what to say! I just… One second, I was basically a born-again virgin and the next I’m getting screwed over my desk by a man who makes me want to take up playing the bagpipes! And Chase… We were fighting and then we weren’t! Their friend Smith has a really cute dog, too. I think I’m sick or something. Is this menopause? How am I so horny out of the blue?”
Justin stood up and shuddered. “Well, this was more than I needed to hear. Guys? Should we join Forrest in the kitchen?”
Ben rushed to leave the room, but Mason didn’t budge. He smirked at me and shrugged. “I’m comfortable in my manhood. A little menopause talk isn’t going to scare me off. I’m into the gossip, J.”
Violet slapped his leg. “Go.”
He frowned but did as she said. I didn’t bother telling her he was lingering just outside of the living room. If my mistakes gave him some entertainment, that was fine by me.
“Okay. First of all, you’re at least two decades from menopause, Joanie. Second of all, what kind of dog?” Violet glanced at the floor in front of her where their two dogs were sleeping. “We could do a puppy play date.”
Billie growled. “No. I refuse to be shut out because I don’t have a sexy fuck buddy with a dog. No playdates.”
I nodded. “I agree. No playdates.”
“I disagree. Lots of playdates.” Violet studied me. “Are you planning on joining me in having multiple boyfriends?”
I hurt my neck from shaking my head so hard. Holding it, I grimaced. “Don’t do that to me, Violet. No way in hell am I planning on having multiple boyfriends. Not with these men anyway.”
Billie sensed my hesitation and grew serious. “What’s wrong?”
I took a deep breath and blew it out slowly. “I feel guilty.”
“About sleeping around?” Violet gestured to herself. “You were my biggest supporter when I was sleeping with three different men, J.”
“No…” I stood up and paced away from them. When I turned back, nothing about my feelings had changed, though. “I feel guilty for sleeping with the Viking. He’s Chase’s friend. I don’t owe Chase anything. I know that. I told him that it was a one-night thing. We’re not dating or anything like that. The two of us would end up on Snapped so fast if we tried to date. I think I just feel some bizarre sense of loyalty to him because we’ve been fighting for a year now.”
Billie raised her eyebrows. “And now you’re fighting with someone else and it feels like cheating?”
I groaned. “I guess. I don’t know. It’s stupid.”
“Talk to Chase.” Violet laughed at the look of horror on my face. “I’m serious, Joanie. If I’ve learned anything from being with my three idiots, it’s that communication is everything. Talk to him and see if you sleeping with his friend upset him.”
Just the idea made me feel like throwing up. “Nope. I’m not doing that.”
“Why not?” Billie grabbed my hand and pulled me back down to the couch. “You’re never one for backing away from things. I’ve watched you leave grown men stuttering to apologize before. You’re a badass, Joanie.”
“It’s feelings!” I buried my face in my hands. “I hate talking about feelings. The idea of talking to Chase about my feelings makes me want to pull my hair out one strand at a time.”
Violet laughed. “I distinctly remember you telling me that I needed to talk to the guys when I was avoiding them. Take your own advice and talk to Chase. Then call me and tell me everything.”
I rubbed my temples and looked between the two of them. “Maybe I should take a vacation. If I didn’t think Chase would have the diner franchised by the time I got back, I think I would.”
Mason cleared his throat as he stepped back into the room. “Now can we hear all about how you ended up on a table in the diner?”
I groaned. “Don’t say it like that.”
Violet growled. “I’m sick of missing everything. Someone better start talking.”