Free Cousins (Cousins #2) by Lisa Lang Blakeney

bags. I just have my carry-on. We can go."
    "Cool, let's go then. I've got an Uber car waiting."
    I take one last glance over at Roman. For a moment I wish it were he and I traveling in the car home together. Laughing. Flirting. But he's doing both of those things with someone else. A complete stranger. At least I think she's a stranger. Knowing that asshole, she may be someone he may have slept with in the past. I'm sure the list is a mile long.
    Ugh, I can't stand him.
    "Let's go." I march to the exit door.
    During the car ride home Sloan starts rattling off information like I've been away for a month instead of forty-eight hours. She shares celebrity gossip, college friend gossip, work gossip and something about her cable guy. I just didn't hear it all. My mind has been completely zoned out and on you know who.
    "So?" Sloan asks while nudging my shoulder with hers.
    "What?" I ask.
    "I read your letter. Are you ready to talk about it?"
    "Oh that."
    "So you fooled around with the Dark Knight huh?"
    "Yes." I mutter quietly.
    "Don't be embarrassed about it with me. I mean he is your cousin, but not really, so I sort of get it."
    "You do?" I ask.
    "I mean I'm not saying it's the smartest move on your part, but he's super hot, so I get why you may have had a little slip."
    "Yes … a little slip."
    Sloan starts grinning. "A big slip?"
    "Maybe." I shrug my shoulders.
    "How big? Did you fuck him?" Her eyes grow wide like saucers as she asks loudly enough for the entire city to hear.  
    "Yes." I whisper when I notice the Uber guy's eyes on me.
    "More than once?"
    "Yes."
    "Dare I ask because you really have no frame of reference, but was it good."
    "Very." I smile.
    "So that's why things were so awkward back there. You guys didn't want to share a car because you were a little embarrassed about all the frolicking you've been doing?"
    I sigh. "I guess that's part of it."
    "Did Joseph send him to keep an eye on you or something? Why was he even there?"
    I dodge giving the real answer by side tracking her with half the truth.
    "Ethan was there."
    "WHAT!"
    "My phone was acting funky, or I would have called you, but I was at the bar having a drink and there he was. He simply walked up to me like it was just another day. Like we had just spoken to each other yesterday."
    "WHAT!"
    "Yep."
    "So what did he say?"
    "Well not much. I didn't really give him an opportunity to talk that much. He wasn't in Arizona though or rehab. I'm not sure he's even got a drug problem, Sloan. I don't know what's real and what isn't with him."
    "That asshole. I thought he was cool."
    "I know."
    "So how did you end things? I mean like what did you say? I know he was the love of your life, Bitsy."
    That's overstating things a bit.
    "Well Roman kind of forced the issue."
    "Roman was at the bar with you?"
    "No he came by my room."
    "Oh so Ethan was in your room?"
    "Yep."
    "You know I'm looking at your face right now, and I feel like I'm missing something."
    "What? I told you the biggest secret I've got."
    "Not just that. I feel like you've been holding out on me. Like you're keeping stuff from me."
    "Can't a girl keep a few things to herself?"
    "Yeah, I guess, but I just don't want to be the last to know. You know how I am."
    "I get it. Oh, I didn't get a chance to tell you that Jagger emailed me too."
    "Oh?" She says excitedly. "To invite you to the shindig no doubt."
    "Uh huh."
    "Are you going? I mean it seems like your dance card is super full." She chuckles.
    "Ha, ha, very funny."
    "I mean ex-boyfriends and cousins–"
    The Uber guy looks up at us again through the rear view mirror and grins.
    "Would you shut your trap!" I fuss. Then we both start laughing hysterically.  
    "I mean what's your secret? Do I need to shave my legs or something?"
    I start bopping her on her head with my handbag. "Enough crazy girl. I've made my decision. Ethan doesn't exist. Roman was a mistake. And Jagger … well he's a possibility."
    Sloan smiles in approval.  
    "Well then to