Brady, Cap, and I all grimace at the same moment.
“Right, I knew it was a mistake to say it, she just makes me so nuts.” His eyes dart to mine in the mirror. “So yeah, if you can get her to chill out, please. Be my guest. But I don’t think paintball is a good idea. That’s all I’m saying about that.”
“No one wants to hear your shit, man. Lori will take care of it.” Brady waves me off.
“Yeah. I’ll catch a shower and see if I can’t persuade her to have fun.” I get up and nod at the guys. “Thanks, Cap.”
He waves and I hurry to the golf cart waiting for me. If I had my phone, I’d text Carson and Rich to come help me deal with her, but no phone means a solo attempt at mellowing Sami.
As I park at my place, I catch a glimpse of the red hair in the window on her side of the cottage. I turn off the cart and slowly step toward the flash of red flinging in the air. A sound and a beat make their way out of the living room where I see something I don’t expect.
Jenny is dancing to a song I’ve never heard before. It’s fast paced and old-school sounding. She’s singing her guts out, dancing in a Montreal Canadians tee shirt and some tight white butt-hugging underwear. Her arms are in the air and she’s got killer moves.
A grin spreads across my lips as she spins around, shaking her ass. It’s perfect, like she’s done serious presses all her life. She’s muscular and fit as fuck. She’s singing into her TV remote and then she’s strumming a fake guitar. The drums hit and she’s playing them in the air in a way that makes me think she’s played before.
This is the sister of a famous musician.
Her head is back, she’s singing into the ceiling as she drums for her life, and shaking her ass.
“What you got there?” Carson shouts, seeing me in the bushes. He pulls his golf cart up next to mine and jumps out. “Oh sweet God, look at that ass! I love this song.”
Somehow, God being against me as far as this chick is concerned, she hears him over the loud music, and turns. Her mouth drops, as it always does when she sees me, and her eyes narrow.
I have nothing.
I’m sweaty from working out, smiling like an idiot, standing in the bushes, peeping in her fucking window, watching her air band in her underwear.
She lifts her middle finger at us.
Carson claps, offering applause. “You’re awesome!” he shouts.
She smiles and offers a curtsey to him but loses her smile as she glares at me and stalks away from the window.
“What song is this?” I ask.
“‘Need Never Get Old’ by Nathaniel Rateliff and the Night Sweats. Saw them live last year. We did some speed first, it was magic,” Carson says in his weird way of being excited without sounding it. “Why is she always glaring at you? I thought you guys patched things up last night,” Carson jokes and goes back to his golf cart.
“We did but obviously that was before she caught me peeking in her windows like a pervert. She probably assumes you’re strictly gay since you’re with Rich. You get a pass and I get the stink eye.” I sigh. “But I have other fish to fry. I have to talk to Sami and get her to mellow out and go to the spa.”
“I’m not coming, don’t ask.”
“Matt’s ready to kill something.”
“Told you he was coming to the end of his patience. Paintball will be good for him. Blow off some steam.” Carson wrinkles his nose at my sweaty shirt. “You need a shower. We’ll meet you at the paintball place at one.”
“Fine.” I walk to my front door as he drives away.
The music continues to play on Jenny’s side. I wish I had my phone so I could Shazam the song. I’ve never heard of the band, but I leave my bathroom door open so I can hear it faintly through the walls. She’s rocking it out in there, which is surprising since she comes across as one of those uppity spin-class girls who leaves with the bike seat lodged in their arse.
I struggle to focus my mind back on Sami and how to solve that. I don’t know what I’m supposed to do to fix this. Do I kick the door down and force her to get a pedicure?
Unfortunately, I don’t have an answer by the time I arrive at the house so I decide to wing it. Matt and Brady aren’t back yet, likely giving me time to work some magic or Xanax on her.
Inside, I find Sami in the living room pacing in short shorts and a tee shirt. She has no makeup on yet and her hair is in a messy bun. “What are you doing? You don’t look ready for the spa,” I say as I enter, a bit afraid.
“Have you seen Matt?” Sami snarls, no greeting. “Did he tell you the butterflies that are supposed to be at the photoshoot aren’t going to make it until brunch on Sunday?”
“Firstly, Matt’s busy running off his blue balls,” I joke, sort of. “And the butterfly thing doesn’t sound like that big of a deal. Your brunch dress is stunning. It’ll look awesome with the insect show.”
Her lips twist into a grin but she’s fighting it. “Shut up, Lori.” She cracks an actual smile but there’s exhaustion in her eyes.
“Why aren’t you ready for the spa? The schedule says it’s spa day. Is it really the insects?” I ask with a lot of doubt in my tone and sit on the sofa as Nat strolls in eating a plate of nachos. She sits next to me and lets me steal a chip.
“Lori, you don’t understand, I want everything—”
“Yah, yah. You want everything to be perfect. But at this point it seems like you’re being
