Page 72 of Pretty Little Scars

“He’s a good person,” Ava insists.

“Okay,” Harper says. “Name three things about him that set your soul on fire.”

Ava’s nose wrinkles in distaste. “Listen, not every romance sets your soul on fire.”

Does Tucker setmysoul on fire?

I tap my fingertip on my lip, thinking about it. I mean, he setssomethingon fire, that’s for sure.

“I think if you’ve agreed to marry him, he should be someone you can’t see yourself living without. Not that youcan’t, but that you don’twant to.” Jules says.

“Agreed. That.” I point to Jules.

Ava sighs. “You guys, I know he’s not your favorite. Hell, he’s notanyone’sfavorite, but he’s good to me. He’s kind and has a sense of humor. And he has a great job.”

Harper yawns, making Ava glare at her.

“It’s the next step,” Ava says, shrugging one shoulder, and that makes my back go up.

“What does that mean?” I ask her.

“We’ve been together for a while. I’m not getting any younger.”

“You’re thirty,” I remind her.

“I don’t want to break up with him, so I’ll marry him.”

We all exchange looks.

“That’s so ...romantic,” Jules says.

“Maybe romance is overrated,” Ava says, and I can see by the way her shoulders droop and her eyes fall to the bar that she’ssad. She shouldn’t be sad. “I’ve tried to find that, and it’s just not out there. Chad can give me security and companionship.”

“How’s the sex?” I ask her.

“It’s sex.” She lifts a shoulder.

“That’s pretty far fromI want a man who will pull my hair and spank my ass,” Harper reminds her.

“He pulls my hair,” Ava says. “Okay, fine. Did he propose in the way I would have liked? Not really. I mean, I don’t need anything extravagant. If he wanted to ask me in front of my family, I’m totally cool with that. It could be really sweet. But he didn’t even get on one knee, and it was so quick, and well, he could have done better.”

“I was there,” Harper says. “And respectfully, I don’t disagree. He should have done better, Aves.”

“I’m fine,” Ava insists. “Now, let’s talk about Darby and the fact that she’s doing the nasty with Tucker.”

Jules and Harper both gasp and turn to me, wide-eyed.

“Thanks for that,” I mumble to Ava, who just grins back at me, obviously pleased to have a change in the conversation.

“You and Tucker?” Jules asks and then tilts her head to the side. “Actually, I can see it. He’s hot, you’re hot, why not do it?”

“I mean, he’s our brother, so we don’t want to know the specifics,” Harper says, and then grins at me. “But you look happy.”

“I’m confused,” I admit, just as Ivy walks up with two fresh beers and a new martini. “Ivy, you stay for this. I need boy advice.”

“I don’t know that I’m the best person for that, but I’m happy to try.” She salutes me and leans on the bar. “Reporting for duty.”

“He’s my boss, you guys.” I nibble my lip as they all stare at me. “He’s myboss.”