Whitley looked pissed and started to make her way out to the dance floor.
I grabbed her arm and said, “Whitley, calm the hell down and just think about this, okay? You’re married to him and about to have his baby. He’s known Wesley for…how long? She is his best friend’s sister. I’m sure it is all innocent.”
“Oh, hell no! What is she doing here?”
Shit! Shit! Shit! I was hoping we could have one event where Olivia wouldn’t try to come between Layton and Whitley. I let out a breath as I turned around, and immediately, I saw her…talking to Reed.
“Anna,” I whispered. The panicked feeling hit me so hard that I had to hold on to Whitley to keep my balance. “What’s she doing here?”
“That’s what I just asked. I’m going to have to talk with Kevin about who he invites to these things. Everyone in the damn county is here!” Whitley shook her head and turned toward the truck.
“Wait, where in the hell do you think you’re going?” I asked.
She stopped and turned around with a smile. “I’m going to put on my bikini. I might be pregnant, but my ass still looks good in a two-piece.”
I let out a giggle and directed her to Reed’s truck. “Please. Bitch, have you already forgotten? When I pack, I come prepared. I have two itty-bitty bikinis in Reed’s truck.”
Whitley gave me that evil, crooked little smile of hers as we made our way over to Reed’s truck.
Fifteen minutes later, we were walking out from behind a group of trees where we had changed, and we were strutting our New York City–girl asses, dressed in bikini tops, short-ass shorts, and our cowboy boots.
As we walked up, Layton was leaning against a table, talking to Wesley.
“Houston, we may have us a serious problem,” I said.
“And Houston knows just how to fix it,” Whitley said as she walked toward Layton.
The moment he laid his eyes on her, anyone could see how in love with her he was. Whitley walked right up to him and pushed her body into his, and then she kissed the living shit out of him.
Oh yeah, I taught her that shit. I let out a giggle as I watched Layton practically melt in Whitley’s arms.
One quick look at Wesley, and my suspicions were confirmed. She was glaring at Whitley.
Time to have some fun.
I walked toward Wesley and bumped her on the arm. “Hey, future sister-in-law.”
She quickly looked at me and plastered on a fake-ass smile. “Hey, Courtney. Congratulations again. Anyone can see how much you and Reed love each other.”
I smiled and said, “Thank you, Wesley.” I peeked over at Layton and Whitley, who were still pawing each other all up. “I’ve never before seen a couple so madly in love like Layton and Whit. They light up a room with their love.”
I slowly looked back at Wesley. I was pretty sure she had steam coming from her ears.
“To be honest, I never really thought Layton was the settling-down-and-marrying kind with his player ways,” she said.
Interest piqued. “Player ways?” I asked.
She started to make her way over to where everyone was playing horseshoes. “Between you and me, of course, Layton was always a bit of a player. I mean, he never cheated on Olivia, but after they broke up, he must have hooked up with a dozen girls, each one hoping to capture his heart.”
“Really? Were you one of them?” I asked.
“Excuse me?” she asked, trying to seem offended.
“Were you one of those hookups?”
“God, no! I mean, I’ve always liked Layton, but no, we’ve never been anything more than friends.”
I glanced up and saw Anna walking toward Reed. I’d totally forgotten about Anna talking to Reed earlier.
“I just wish Layton would have seen me as more than just his best friend’s sister.”
I snapped my head back at Wesley. What in the hell is she talking about?
She was staring at Layton again. I needed to be sure to share this with Whit. Wesley clearly had a thing for Layton, and the fact that he was married and getting ready to have a baby didn’t seem to matter to her.
“Wesley, you do realize that he is married to the love of his life. He’s about to be a father. My advice to you is to move on. Layton doesn’t want anyone but Whitley.”
She looked at me and gave me a weak smile. “Of course I know that.” She looked around and waved to someone. “Excuse me, Courtney. I see someone I haven’t seen in a while. We really need to go out to lunch and get to know each other more.”
I nodded and smiled as I watched her turn and walk up to some built guy who picked her up and spun her around. I shook my head and looked back at Reed. Anna was still standing there, talking to him. He glanced over and smiled at me. The look in his eyes caused me to suck in a breath of air.
I can’t believe he is finally mine. I slowly smiled and started to make my way over to him.
I walked up, and Anna finally looked to see who Reed was staring at. Her smile instantly fell.
She looked me up and down and smirked. “Courtney, don’t you look…like you’re ready to go for a swim?”
I smiled and looked up at Reed. “Oh, I’m ready for something, but I don’t think it’s swimming.”
Reed laughed as he pulled me closer to him.
Anna cleared her throat and said, “Well, I see now is not a good time to talk, Reed. Maybe later. Lunch or something?”
Oh. No. She. Didn’t.
Reed pulled me tighter against him, and I instantly felt calmer.
“I think now is as good of a time as any, Anna. I don’t keep secrets from Courtney, so what you have to say, you can say in front of her.”
Anna shot me a dirty look and stood up straighter. “Fine. I just didn’t like the way we ended things. I mean, I think we both overreacted. I thought maybe this thing you have going on with Courtney would have played out by now, but I see it hasn’t.”
“You bitch,” I blurted out. I tried to make my way over to her, but Reed was holding me back.
She rolled her eyes at me and let out a small laugh. “Nice, Courtney. Really classy. Are we in high school?”
I balled up my fists. I was ready to knock the shit out of her. “What? You just—”
Reed pulled me back and stepped in front of me. “Anna, I broke up with you because I love Courtney. I’ve loved her from the moment I first saw her, and I’ll love her until I take my last breath. I don’t appreciate you talking to my fiancée like that, so please, I think it would be best if you just left.”