Dear Heart, I Hate You

She tilted her head, her eyes meeting mine in the mirror. “Aw, you finally found a man who knows how to fuck properly. I’m so proud of you. And happy for you.”

I bit my lip to keep from smiling. “You’re so inappropriate.”

“I know, but I’m right. Hand me my dress. You look gorgeous, by the way.” She started to slip out of her clothes but paused to call out, “Don’t come back here, Cal. I’m getting naked, and I wouldn’t want you to fall in love with me while Jules is standing right here.”

I smacked her shoulder. “You’re an idiot. Seriously.”

“Stop trying to seduce me with your fake eyes and hot body, Tami,” he yelled from the other room, and I giggled.

“I knew you wanted me,” she yelled back, and I wanted to do a crazy victory dance at the easy way the two of them got along.

I touched up my lipstick in the mirror before giving Tami a once-over in her gorgeous red dress. “You look amazing.”

“I’d look better with my pink contacts, but someone won’t let me wear them.” She rolled her eyes.

“Listen, devil woman, I’m doing you a favor. Don’t you want to make friends?”

She pouted. “Not really.”

Laughing, I said, “Let’s go.”

We walked arm and arm into the living room where Cal was sitting on her leather sofa, finishing off his beer. He set

it down on a coaster when we appeared, his eyes widening.

“Jesus, you two. I get to walk in there with both of you on my arm?”

“Charmer.” Tami winked. “Are you driving or should we call a car?”

“I don’t plan on drinking much and they have valet. I can just drive. It will be easier,” I offered.

Normally we’d call for a car, but usually I’d be drinking way more and didn’t feel like dealing with the parking situation. This was different.

“Cal, take a picture of me and Jules, please?” Tami handed him her phone as we posed. “Thank you.”

“Will you take one of us?” I asked her, and she snatched my cell from my hand.

“Anyone ever told you two that you look perfect together? It’s gross, actually,” she said.

I stuck out my tongue, and she chose that moment to take the picture. When I started to complain, she held up her hand.

“I’ll take more. Hold your horses.”

“Oh, Cal loves horses. Don’t you, Cal,” I said, meaning the tops he collected from his bourbon.

He grinned at me before leaning down and kissing me thoroughly, ruining the lipstick I’d just redone.

“Told you not to keep putting it on,” he said when he ended the kiss.

Breathless, I blinked up at him. I’d almost forgotten that Tami was there, taking pictures.

“Hello,” she said, snapping her fingers at us. “Can I have one where you’re both looking at me, please?”

Cal wrapped his arm around my waist and pulled me close. I leaned my head toward his shoulder, my arm around his back as I smiled.

“Perfect,” she said before handing me my phone. “You owe me. You’re going to die with how many I took.”

I quickly swiped through them as excitement tore through me. She really had taken a bunch of candid shots, which was awesome, and I turned the phone off so I could look at them later. I mouthed thank you to her as we headed for her door.