Read Online A Good Excuse To Be Bad by Miranda Parker - Free Book Online Page B

you?”
    She folded her arms and pouted. “She’s my sister, too.”
    â€œI know that.” I huffed. “Justus, I need a favor. Whitney has finals in the morning and she needs her sleep. Plus, if something goes down, I definitely don’t want her caught in between. She’s pre-law, if you know what I mean. And to be honest, I need a tagalong that won’t piss Ava off.”
    â€œI see.” Justus sighed. “Why don’t you call the police? They’re better suited for this sort of thing and they can arrive at Ava’s within minutes. Realistically, you’re an hour away. By the time we got there, who knows what could happen.”
    â€œWe?” I sat up straighter. “As in you would be my wing man if... ?”
    â€œNo, you don’t.” Whitney shook her bag. “I’m ready to roll. He can stay here and watch the kids.”
    I shushed her. “You’re staying here and protecting the house.”
    Whitney threw the bag on the bed. “Why don’t you admit that you want a good excuse to be with Justus tonight?”
    â€œHush!” I tried to cover the phone, but it was too late. I cringed. “Justus, are you there?”
    â€œI’m outside your house right now,” he said. His voice was deep and dark like Ms. Ida’s six-layer chocolate cake.
    â€œNow?”
    â€œNope, now I’m at your door.” He hung up.
    The doorbell rang.
    I held the phone in my hand. My mouth fell wide open. “He’s downstairs.”
    â€œWho?” Whitney asked.
    â€œJustus.”
    â€œGirl, stop.”
    â€œI’m not joking, so you better cool it when I let him in the house or one of those hammers in your bag will mysteriously find your backside.”
    I threw on a robe, bopped back downstairs, and opened the door.
    â€œAngel . . .”
    I had never met a man who could say my name and make me feel like a queen at the same time. My jaw dropped. His locks were pulled back into a ponytail. He wore a Polo track suit jacket with matching shorts. He hugged me.
    I exhaled into Justus’s close cuddle. I liked my new friend too much.
    Justus released me. “Are you ready?”
    I nodded and reached for my keys. “I’ll drive.”
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    Justus and I sped down southeast I-85 toward Dekalb County. The Atlanta skyline vanished, returned, and then faded again into the night over hills and around curves and kudzu. The drive reminded me of Ava’s disappearing acts earlier. What was going on with her? I was so afraid for what it might be. In my past, I had seen things, things hidden behind the sanctity of marriage, things that would turn a single woman cold to falling in love. My arms shivered and my legs twitched as I recalled those horrible things. I had to get to my sister fast. I gripped the wheel and floored it.
    Justus sat in the passenger seat. I glanced at him. His jaw was clenched. I looked down past his legs. His feet were dug into my floorboard. My speeding had unnerved him. I shook my head in chastisement, then lifted my foot off the gas and slowed down.
    â€œSorry,” I said. “I’m anxious.”
    He nodded. “No apologies. I understand.”
    I smiled. I really liked the little bit I knew of him. I glanced at him again.
    â€œThank you for coming with me. I know this seems unorthodox, but I didn’t have anyone else to turn to tonight.” I headed eastbound on Spaghetti Junction. “Whitney needs to be home with the kids and my mom is away.”
    â€œWhat about the brunch ladies? Are you friends with any of them?”
    â€œNot like I should be.”
    â€œWhat does that mean?”
    â€œIt’s hard for people who share their secrets with you on a professional level to also want to be friends with you.”
    â€œIs everyone in the group your client?”
    â€œNo, but it’s an excuse. I have many.” I sighed. “I need to do better as a friend