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He laughs. “Just trying to keep the nigga on his toes.” He gives me another hug, one with plenty of room between us. “Welcome to the family, beautiful. You’re one of us now.”
“Oh, gee. I’m one of the cool kids now?”
He flashes his playboy smile. “Exactly.”
Chapter Thirty-One
After the baby shower is over, Skylar and I stroll down the treelined sidewalk toward the street parking.
“How do you know Novalee again?” I look to Skylar.
She focuses ahead, squinting from the bright sunlight. “We used to work together at a boutique a few years ago, back when she was just Novalee Dumont and not the fashion designer mogul that she is today.”
“I really like her. Fatima too.” I’m surprised at just how nice and down to earth they both are.
“I don’t know Fatima as well as I know Novalee, but she’s hilarious.” A subtle smile touches Skylar’s lips. “And Novalee’s a sweetheart. Money and success haven’t changed her one bit.”
We stop a few cars down from the Bentley, where Hunter and Daryl are having a conversation at the back of the vehicle. “Daryl is feeling you.”
Skylar’s nose wrinkles. “He told you that?”
“Yep.” My lip twitches. “Better not tell Esme, though.”
“She wouldn’t care.” Skylar rolls her eyes. “She’s with Quentin’s brother now.”
My eyes widen in surprise. “Quentin has a brother?”
“He does. Victor. He and Quentin are nothing alike.”
I tilt my head. “How so?”
She shrugs, pushing her glasses up her nose. “You know how Quentin has that Colgate smile that makes you want to trust him immediately.”
“Totally.”
“Victor is sort of a bad boy, covered in tattoos.”
“That’s kind of hot,” I say. Skylar purses her lips at me. “Well, it is,” I mutter. “How do you know he’s covered in tattoos?”
“Because he’s allergic to shirts. I swear, he never wears them in our house. It’s so gross. I’m like, put some clothes on.” She huffs out a nervous chuckle and smooths her hand over her slicked back bun.
“It’s gross?”
“Okay.” She tilts her head from side to side. “Maybe not gross. He’s super cut. But it’s not appropriate. Like no one wants to see that.”
“So he’s cut? Sounds tempting.” I wiggle my brows.
Skylar scoffs. “I’m not tempted by him. I have a boyfriend, and Esme and I have been best friends since we were five years old.”
“Gurl. I’m teasing.” I nudge her shoulder playfully.
Her lip twitches. “I knew that.”
I laugh to myself. “So is it serious with Victor and Esme?”
“I don’t know, but they’re screwing like rabbits.”
I give a teasing smile. “At least someone’s getting it on the regular.”
