I nod at her. “Ms. Tequila.” I giggle, and my cheeks suddenly feel flushed.

Kallie now laughs from beside me. “She has had a touch too much sweet tea.” I shake my head.

“Nah, this is only my third.” I gulp some tea. “It’s good. The burning stops after one, so I don’t think there is anything in this one.”

“Oh, fuck,” Olivia says, and I look at her. She is wearing a pink summer dress with matching wedges. Her hair is loose and curled. “Who is going to tell Beau?”

“Not me,” Kallie says, and I look at them.

“What aren’t we telling Beau?” I ask, suddenly confused, then looking for Beau and spotting him with another fucking debutante.

“How many debutantes can one town have without it being overkill?” I ask and only then realize that I’ve said the words out loud and not just thought them. Kallie and Olivia both laugh now. “Seriously, though, and why are they all single?”

“They are waiting for the top prize,” Olivia says, and I drink some more tea.

“He is a top prize,” I say, mumbling to myself, but Kallie and Olivia share a look. My neck starts to get hot. “I don’t mean he’s the top prize,” I stumble.

“We need to get her some food,” Olivia says, getting up. “And no more sweet tea,” she tells me, and I think I pout. She walks to the barbecue and passes Beau at the same time, and he smiles at her. She must say something to him as he looks over when she points at me. He nods to the debutante and then walks over to the grill to grab some food and then walks over to me.

“He’s hot,” I say again in my head, but it comes out, and Kallie just laughs.

“I would not say anything unless you want him to know everything,” she tells me, getting up. “Also, is it okay if we take Ethan home? I promised him I would try to make chocolate chip pancakes without burning the chocolate.” I nod at her. “I’ll bring him over to you after lunch if that’s okay?”

“Yes,” I say. She gets up and walks toward Beau, saying something to him and laughing. He just glares at me as he walks to me.

“How much tea have you had to drink?” he asks me, almost barking.

“None of your business,” I say, drinking another sip. “Go speak to your debutantes.”

“What?” He sits down in the chair that Kallie was just in. “I got you a burger.”

“Thank you,” I say, taking it from him. “What’s got your panties in a twist?”

“My panties are not in a twist,” he says. Leaning back in the chair, he puts his arm around my chair, holding the beer bottle in his hand.