Ella waves from the top of the slide, and I lift my hand to return the gesture. My triceps weep from the movement.
My chest turns heavy at the thought of not getting to spend as much time with the little daredevil flying backward down the slide. Being around my sisters has also been nice, even though we’ve mostly been hanging out at the notary signing papers or reminiscing about Mom and Dad.
Would it be so bad to stay in town a little longer? I’m getting enough work done here, and I have to travel for most of my shoots anyway. Ella will be starting kindergarten next fall, and Iris won’t need me after that.
What am I thinking? After almost running into Miranda’s mom, it’s clear that I can’t stayhere.
Besides, Hayley wouldnotbe impressed if she found out I’ve been kissing her best friend.
Or would she?
I mean, Hayley loves me, and she definitely loves Jade. Maybe once she got used to the idea, she would love that her two favorite people are hanging out together. There’s only one way to find out.
Ella bounds over to the lowest swing and positions the rubber sling across her stomach so she can rear back and make herself “fly.” Her arms shoot out as she swings back and forth. Watching her makes my stomach a bit queasy.
I pull out my phone to dial my youngest sister’s number when her name magically appears on the screen. How fortuitous.
I answer with a smile. “Hey, Buttons. I was about to call you. How’s the Med?”
“Don’t you ‘Hey Buttons’ me, Dylan King.”
Her sharp tone has me snapping to attention.
“Do you know who just messaged me out of the fucking blue?”
“I bet you’re going to tell me.”
“Nate Williams.”
I catch my forehead in my hand. Isn’t that fantastic? Honestly, that guy needs to get a hobby. “Oh, yeah? And what did the fabulous Officer Williams have to say?” I ask even though I already know.
“Only that he caught you and Jade making out at the race yesterday.”
So much for easing her into the idea.Fucking Nate. “I can explain.”
Can I, though? Even I don’t know what this thing is between Jade and me.
“Oh, no. You’re not going to talk your way out of this one,” Hayley says firmly. “I don’t care how bored you are; you’re not to go near her again.”
Bored? I’m not fuckingbored. If anything, I’m busier than I ever was before. It just so happens that, despite being busy, I find myself wanting to carve out time to spend with my neighbor. Like last night. I should’ve been editing, and instead, I went down and helped Jade with her booth.
I’ve taken a lot of shit from my sisters over the years, and most of it I deserved. But I’m a grown-ass man, and Jade is a grown-ass woman, and if we want to get naked and do grown-ass things, there’s nothing my baby sister can do about it.
Hayley’s ragged breaths rattle through the speaker. I settle back on the bench and wait for what’s coming. Because it’s clear from her muttered curse that she’s far from finished.
“Jade is a good person,” Hayley says.
No shit. That’s probably why I’m into her. She’s one of the only people in this town who hasn’t looked at me like I’m a piece of shit stuck to the sidewalk. “And I’m not?”
For some reason, that makes her snort. “Come on. We both know what you do to girls.”
My head shakes as I tilt it to the sky. She makes it sound like I’m a serial killer. Yeah, I don’t have the best track record with women, but I like to think what happened with Miranda is a good reason for not letting anyone get too close. In saying that, things feel different with Jade. Hell, she’s the only person outside my family and my therapist who I’ve talked to about Miranda. And if that’s not significant, I don’t know what is.
“When’s the last time you went on an actual date?” Hayley presses.
“I don’t see what that has to do with—”
“When?”
