Say You're Mine: An Enemies to Lovers Romance (Southport Love Stories Book 4), Sarah Brooks [urban books to read .txt] 📗

“Here you go, Sky.” Kyle’s wife, Whitney appeared with a cup of coffee, putting it down on the patio table in front of me. After four days of rain, it had cleared up and we were getting the last bit of warmth before winter took over.

“Thanks, Whit,” I said, taking a sip and letting out a moan of pleasure. Whitney could make a bad-ass cup of coffee.

“What are you guys talking about? I heard something about us wanting Sky happy?” Whitney sat down on the other side of Katie, giving the little girl a loud kiss on the cheek. “How’s my cupcake?” she cooed, ruffling Katie’s hair. Watching them together, you’d never know that Whitney was Katie’s stepmother and not her biological mother. They had an obvious bond. Kyle watched his girls with such love it made my heartache in a good way.

“Sky’s seeing Robert Jenkins again,” Kyle informed her.

Whitney’s eyes grew to the size of saucers. “You are not! Oh my god, Sky, why didn’t you tell me?” she gasped, practically giddy with excitement.

“Because it just happened a few days ago. It’s not like I was going to take out a notice in the paper.” I rolled my eyes.

“I’m glad to see you didn’t take that busy body from the clothes store’s advice. Because she was full of shit,” Whitney went on, then covered her mouth. “Oops, ignore Whitty. That was a bad word.”

“What busy body at the clothes store?” Kyle asked.

Whitney made a face. “Sky and were doing some shopping—”

“Sky was shopping? Did you pay her? Had she been doing drugs?” Kyle teased.

Whitney smacked his arm. “Not the point. We were shopping and this random lady totally interrupted us while we were talking. Saying it sounded like Sky should kick Robert to the curb and he wasn’t worth it and all this nonsense. I mean, who does that? Who butts into a stranger’s conversation offering unsolicited advice like that? It was really weird.”

“It does sound weird,” Kyle agreed.

“She was a nice lady, is all. And I wasn’t saying very nice things about Robert, so she probably felt compelled to intervene so I didn’t go off with a total asshat,” I argued, but even I could hear how odd it sounded.

“Well, anyway, this is good news. You and Rob make a wonderful couple,” Whitney enthused.

“It’s early days yet, Whit. Don’t start planning the china patterns,” I chuckled.

“Oh please, I’m not my sister. Or Lena. I’m the level-headed one, remember?”

“Sure,” I said blandly.

“So, I take it you’re off to meet your new boyfriend?” Kyle sing-song.

“Oooh, boyfriend,” Whitney joined in.

I leaned down to Katie, dropping my voice into a loud whisper. “You’re more mature than your parents, kiddo.”

I checked the time on my phone. It was 4:30. That gave me enough time to get to Sweet Lila’s and grab a booth before the after-work crowd started filtering in.

“Thanks for the catch-up, Web.” I leaned down and kissed the top of Katie’s head. “See ya, munchkin.”

Whitney got to her feet and gave me a warm hug. “I’m so happy to hear about you and Rob. We need to have a girl’s night soon. I want all the details.”

I patted her back. I was always slightly uncomfortable with my friends’ physically demonstrative ways. “You betcha,” I promised.

“Tell Rob we said hi,” Kyle called out as I left.

Bunch of smart asses.

I left the Webber house and drove the five minutes to Sweet Lila’s. It was practically empty when I went inside. I scanned the room, not seeing Robert yet. I had almost twenty minutes before I was expecting him. I walked up to the bar and waved to Brad who was wiping down glasses.

“Hey, Sky, how goes it?” he asked.

“Can I get whatever you have on tap that’s hoppy?” I pulled out my credit card and gave it to him for my tab.

“We got something in the other day I think you’re going to like,” he grinned. I understood why Lena wanted to set me up with him. He was good-looking in a slightly unnerving way. He was a few years younger than me, so I hadn’t known him well in school but the Sawyer boys were well known in Southport. Mostly because Brad was a star on the basketball team and his older brother, Sebastian, was the trouble maker known by local police for starting fights and drinking in public. It was only fitting that two homegrown boys took over the institution that was Sweet Lila’s.

He slid the beer down the bar, and I caught it before it went off the edge. I took a sip and gave him a thumbs up. “Good stuff.”

“Brad, where’s the wine glasses? Oh hi, Sky,” Hannah called out as she came in from the kitchen. Lena’s high school best friend looked slightly frazzled in her normally chaotic way. She looked as if she had just come from the school where she worked as a teacher. There was a smear of red paint on her elbow and her hair had fallen out of the bun at the nape of her neck.

“I told you I would put them away,” Brad said with a note of something I couldn’t quite read in his voice. I noticed the way they moved around each other and got the feeling something was up between the two of them.

“Thanks, Brad. I’m waiting on Rob, so send him my way when he comes in,” I said, wanting to get away from the strange tension between him and Hannah. I had enough of that in my own life.

Hannah looked up; her eyes wide. “Rob Jenkins?”

“Yeah,” I said slowly.

“Are you two seeing each other or something?” She came over and leaned on her elbows in front of me. “Dude, he’s so hot. You are one lucky woman. What I wouldn't do to take a bite out of that tight ass.”

I noticed that Brad’s face became thunderous, and he turned and went back into the kitchen. Hannah didn’t