I swallowed hard then shutthe door to my room and locked it before calling Harper. She answered on the first ring.
“What the hell?” I asked. “Why did they post this?The Vinenever posts about me.”
“I don’t know, Wren. But you better hope your brother doesn’t see it. Maybe you can—”
I blinked a few times, completely missing the end of her sentence. “Shit. My brother.” I glanced toward the closed door. “He’s here now. Gotta go.”
I hung up the phone and debated throwing on a robe before heading out but decided better of it. River and Bennett were laughing about something, and Liam appeared to be stewing over his coffee. While I wanted to blame it on the fact that he was a coffee snob, I had a feeling his expression had nothing to do with the latte and everything to do with the post onThe Vine.It was the only explanation I had for his impromptu visit, and his hostile behavior this morning.
“Bennett, can you take River outside for a sec to water the plants on the back patio?”
River frowned. “We watered them yesterday.”
“I, uh, I forgot the ones in the corner. Can you please take care of them with Bennett?”
Bennett frowned, his expression matching River’s as he glanced between Liam and me. Finally, he nodded. “Sure. Come on, Riv.” He placed his hand on my son’s shoulder, ushering him outside.
“What’s up with you and Bennett?” Liam asked as soon as the two of them were outside.
“Bennett is staying here, as per your request.”
“Anything else?” he asked.
“Like what?”
“Like…are you sleeping with my best friend?”
My heart raced, but I tried to remain outwardly calm. “Oh please.” I rolled my eyes. “Don’t tell me you actually read that stupid gossip blog.”
“Answer the question,” he ground out.
“No.” I’d leave my answer open to Liam’s interpretation. Was I saying no to his demand that I answer the question or no to sleeping with his best friend?
Was I kissing Bennett? Yes.
Fantasizing about him? For sure.
But sleeping with Bennett? I could honestly answer no.
Now, if Liam had asked if I wanted to, that would’ve been a different story.
Liam regarded me a moment before his shoulders relaxed. Some of the tension leaked out of me until he asked, “Are you seeing anyone else?”
“I’ve been dating, yes.” I really didn’t want to get into this with him.
“Who?” he asked.
“Liam,” I sighed. “If and when I want to introduce you to him, I will.”
He arched a brow. “So, it’s serious.”
“We went out once, and we’re supposed to go on a second date soon.” I rolled my eyes and headed into the kitchen. I wasn’t going to tell him that I was also chatting with Ben regularly, though we still hadn’t met up. “I would hardly call it serious.”
“I don’t like it, Wren.”
“You don’t have to,” I said, turning toward the kitchen. “Because it’s none of your business.”
“Of course, it’s my business,” he sighed while I started wiping down the counter. “You’re my sister, and I will always look out for you.”
