He groaned as if in pain. “He’s like a big brother, as is Cam. Don’t call them hot.”
“I won’t.” I shook my head. “Besides, Cam is more sexy than hot.”
Cole made a gagging sound.
“And let’s not leave out Adam, and my gosh, definitely not Nate and Marco. Those two are smok—”
His large hand clamped over my mouth and I looked up at him from under my eyelashes, my gaze mischievous.
“Don’t say it.”
I promised him with my eyes that I wouldn’t.
Cautiously Cole removed his hand from over my mouth. I grinned. “I don’t see the problem with me admitting they’re all attractive. It’s not like you didn’t have a huge crush on Olivia.”
“That reminds me. I need to speak to Rae.”
“She’s been very forthcoming.”
“Stay here while I go find her and kill her.”
“She’s here?” I said, looking around the store for her.
“She came in while Joss was talking.” He stilled and I followed his gaze to see Rae in the corner laughing with Ellie and her mum. “I’ll be right back.”
“Cole,” I protested, but he was already striding off.
“Uh-oh, someone’s in trouble.”
I turned at Hannah’s teasing voice. “Rae. Rae’s in trouble.”
Hannah smirked. “Why does that not surprise me?”
“She told me about Cole’s crush on Olivia.”
Delighted, Hannah burst out laughing. “Oh man, I almost forgot about that.” Her eyes were bright with mirth. “She was his first big crush. It was so adorable.”
“Yup.” I giggled. “Which is why Cole’s going to kill Rae.”
“What are we laughing at?” Liv hurried over to us with Jo, her eyes filled with curiosity as she bestowed her freaking amazing smile on us.
My own gaze took in all her voluptuous gorgeousness. She wasn’t beautiful like Jo, or glamorous like Joss, or stunning like Hannah. She was striking and sexy with unusual golden hazel eyes and killer curves. No wonder Cole had had a crush on her. She was a teenage boy’s wet dream.
“Rae told Shannon about Cole’s old crush on you. He’s now killing her with words.”
We all stared across the room where Cole was laughing with Rae.
I snorted. “Well . . . he was . . .”
“I hope it doesn’t bother you . . .” Liv seemed unsure. “It was years ago. He was just a teenager.”
“Of course not.” I waved her concerns away.
“I’m just glad to see you getting along with Hannah.” Jo took a sip of her champagne while Hannah tensed beside me.
I reassured her with a grin. “Oh, you mean because all his ex-girlfriends were crazy people?”
Cole’s sister looked surprised. “Cole told you?”
“Yup. Don’t worry. I’m not blind.” I looked at Hannah now. “I can see you two are like brother and sister.”
Relief glittered in her pretty brown eyes and it occurred to me this was obviously something she had to worry about every time Cole started seeing someone new.
“Anyway,” I continued, “it’s not like Cole and I are anything serious.”
Just like that the mood in our circle changed. And not for the better.
Jo looked visibly confused and upset. “But . . . Cole doesn’t do casual.”
I opened my mouth to explain but found I really didn’t know how.
“Issues.”
I spun around to find Joss standing behind us, apparently listening in.
She waved her wineglass at me. “I can spot someone with issues a mile off.”
“Issues?” Jo and Liv stepped closer, crowding me in. I was starting to feel a little trapped. “What issues?”
“Yes, what issues?” I snapped, forgetting this woman was my current idol.
Joss shrugged. “If it were my guess, I’d say the whole ‘not serious thing’ was your suggestion and it was your suggestion because of a bad breakup.”
Hannah, Jo, and Liv looked from Joss to me, expressions all the same. I was battered by three silent questions, each one the same. Well, is she right?
Yes, I definitely felt trapped.
“Jesus, women.” Cole suddenly appeared, pushing past his sister and Hannah to get to me. “The four of you look like a pack of hyenas crowding baby Simba.”
I wrapped my arm around his waist, thankful for the intrusion despite being likened to a lion cub. As much as I liked Cole’s friends and family, I wasn’t really up for sharing my past with them.
“We’re sorry.” Hannah looked like she really meant it.
Jo, however, wasn’t ready to let it go that easily . . . “What does she mean you’re not serious?”
“Jo.” Cole sighed. “Don—”
“Since when do you do casual?” She crossed her arms over her slim chest, annoyance in her eyes. Eyes that were the exact shape and shade as Cole’s.
I relaxed against her brother, remembering how Rae had told me Jo raised him. She was just being protective.
“Jo—”
“I don’t think—”
“Jo, sheathe the mother-bear claws.”
He said it in such an authoritative tone I wasn’t surprised when she snapped her mouth shut.
Cole’s fingers tightened their hold on my waist. “Shannon is my business, not yours.”
“And you’re my business,” she argued, glowering at me.
“Awkward.”
Everyone stopped talking and looked at me.