Fumbled (The Girls of Beachmont #1) Read Online Free PDF

people,” I said with a shudder.
    “Apps?”
    “Yeah, like dating
websites.” My mouth puckered. “I don’t think so. What happened to meeting some
nice guy by chance where it isn’t so orchestrated? I want that old-fashioned
lightning bolt, ya know?”
    “It’s not as hard as you
think—just stop being so picky.” She smirked.
    “I’m not picky!” I
defended. “Just because I prefer a guy who has a job, opens doors, treats his
momma right, and you know—worships the ground I walk on doesn’t mean I’m
picky. Not all of us find the one right away.”
    “Trevor’s a pretty good
judge of character,” she gushed about her husband. “Maybe he could set you up.”
    “No, thank you,” I
laughed. “No more setups.”
    “No more ? When have you gone out on a blind date?”
    The back door opened and
Cleo ran through, jumping into her mom’s arms.
    “It was just one, but
enough for me to swear off going on one ever again.”
    “What are we swearing
off this week?” Dad asked. “Beef? Corporate America? Wine? Just, for the love
of God, don’t say beer! Tell me where to sign and how long we’re boycotting.”
    Mom wrapped an arm
around Dad’s waist and rubbed his small beer belly. “I think it’s beer.”
    “This isn’t from beer,”
he bellowed. “This is from stress-eating because of all the estrogen in this
house.”
    “Considering that I’m
the only bit of estrogen left in this house on a daily basis, care to
elaborate?” she challenged.
    Dad’s eyes shot up and
he looked over at Grace and me for help, but I took a step back to avoid the
fallout. Grace started laughing and I joined in.
    “I didn’t mean anything.
You know I was kidding,” he backpedaled. “Did I tell you how pretty you look
today?
    “Pretty enough to take
to the mall?” she asked, making me laugh a little harder.
    Dad hung his head in
defeat and started to walk out of the room. “I’ll go get my shoes,” he muttered
with his head hung low.
    “What are you two
laughing about?” Mom asked, pointing between the two of us with a smirk on her
face.
    “You totally played
him,” I answered. “Well done, Mom.”
    “Hey, you don’t stay
married to a man for almost thirty years without learning a trick or two.” She
smiled.
    Mom and Dad had the
easiest relationship I’d ever seen. I’m sure it was tougher than they made it
look, but they never had to pretend how much they loved each other. When they
thought no one was looking, they’d blow kisses or grab each other’s butts or
some otherwise randomly embarrassing gesture. It was cute. Grace and I were
always in awe.
    “Mimi. Hungwee,” Cleo
said as Grace set her down. “Canny?”
    “No, you can’t have
candy, Cleo,” Grace warned. “You already had a piece.”
    “Pweese?” she asked, her
little lip poking out sadly.
    “No, ma’am,” Grace said
sternly.
    “But Mom,” Mom said to
Grace, “she said pweese .”
    My sister glared at our
mother before breaking. She could never say no to Cleo, and add Mom to the mix
and it was game over. Someday that would bite her in the ass, but not yet.
    “Fine,” she conceded.
“Just one, Cleo. I mean it.”
    “Yah, ma’am,” Cleo
answered, skipping off holding our mom’s hand.
    “You realize you were played, right? Cleo played both
of you,” I muttered under my breath.
    “Yeah. I know,” she
answered in monotone.
    I glanced at my watch
and decided it was time to go. My date with the recorded television show and a
bottle of wine would not wait. Okay, so it could wait, but I wanted climb into
my yoga pants and oversized T-shirt and make myself comfortable for the rest of
the night.
    “Hey guys,” I called
out. “I’m gonna head home. Lots to do.”
    “Already?” Mom asked,
wrapping me into a hug. “I barely got to see you.”
    “I know, and I’m sorry I
missed dinner. But I’ll be here next week. I promise.”
    “Okay, well be careful,”
she said, hugging me once more and kissing my cheek.
    “I