Riptides (Lengths) by Steph Campbell, Liz Reinhardt Read Free Book Online

way you and Maren do. She knows that. It’s just that it’s real stressful right now.”
    Cohen seems to calm down. He rubs the back of his neck.
    “Listen to Enzo,” Lydia says in that matter-of-fact big sister voice that sets us all on edge. Especially because she’s usually right. “Maren needs you to go inside and calm her down. Do what it takes.” She raises an eyebrow when he stares on her. “Well? Go. Now. Don’t let this spiral out of control even more.” She shoos him to the house and Cece and I grin at her. “What?”
    “Sometimes you being the bossiest person alive is actually a really good thing. That’s all,” I say and wink at Cece.
    “Agreed.” Cece glances down at her watch. “Shit. I left taco shells in the oven. I have to go check on them.”
    She runs back to the house and Lydia and I watch the scene below. Adam, Deo, Grandpa, and Ryan all hang their heads, but the girls look like they’re done with their tirade.
    “Times like these must make you happy you’re single,” Lydia observes.
    “Who says I am?” I take another pull of the warmed dredges of my beer and watch Lydia grab two fresh cold ones. She hands one to me.
    “Spill?” She cracks hers open and gulps it down. It makes me laugh, since she’s usually sipping all dainty on some snooty glass of wine that costs what I make in a month.
    “You guys will meet her soon,” I promise, liking that I have a little bit of a mystery tucked away for all of them.
    “Ugh. Sunday dinner? Enzo, remember what happened when Cohen brought Maren to Sunday dinner for introductions? Nana kept pinching her and telling her what nice birthing hips she had.”
    We both chuckle at the memory. “Nah. Not Sunday dinner. The wedding.”
    Lydia’s eyebrows crash down over her eyes. “The wedding? You’re going to introduce us all to your new girl at the wedding? You realize that this craziness is only going to get more intense the closer we get to the big day. You sure your girl can handle it?”
    “Oh, I’m sure.” I can’t help the stupid grin that spreads over my whole face. “This girl——she isn’t like anyone I’ve ever been with before. There’s something about her that…you’ll see. You’ll like her.”
    Lydia’s purposefully bland face lets me know that she doubts it. “Really? You thought I’d like the exotic dancer too.”
    “Hey. You and Cece are always going on and on about women’s lib and all that, and here you are, judging my ex based on her profession.” I tsk my tongue and drink long and hard enough to get a nice cool buzz going.
    “Wrong. I’m just identifying her based on her profession because, frankly, that was the most interesting thing about her. She was barely literate and had zero opinions that made any sense. Talking to her was painful . And, trust me, I’m not blaming her profession for that. A good chunk of my graduating class put themselves through law school stripping, and they weren’t idiots.” Lydia glanced down into her beer with this contemplative look. “I’m glad you want us all to meet her. I’m excited for you.”
    “You pulling my leg?” I ask, but Lydia shakes her head.
    “No. I’m serious. You deserve someone you’re proud of. Someone who loves you the way you deserve to be loved. Don’t ever stick around with anyone who puts you on the backburner, okay?” It’s weird as hell hearing my fearless sister get all soft and gooey, and I don’t like it. For many reasons.
    But the reason that sticks out most is balding with the beginning of a potbelly and a way of snapping at Lydia that never sat well with me. I guess I always just assumed she could handle herself——handle anything. That’s who she is. Now I wonder how much is a put-on for all of us.
    “You need me to go toe-to-toe with your old-ass boyfriend? Don’t think I won’t fight him because he’s elderly. I have no morals when it comes to defending my family’s honor.” 
    I half-expect her to snap at me and