CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR
The Ranch
“You know you fucked up the plan,” Wyn said as she reached for her mug of tea off the end table.
I blew on my steaming cup of chamomile. “How so?”
“You met a boy. You let the boy move in with you. Instead, it could’ve been you and me, having a four-day slumber party instead of me crashing on this couch.”
Wyn smiled to take the sting out of the truth.
“Sorry,” I said.
“No, you’re not.” She snorted. “You’re happy. And getting some on the regular. I get wanting that more than anything.”
It was just past eight and the house was already quiet. Everyone had retired to their rooms and Brooks had gone to hang out with Archer and told me to text when I was ready to leave.
“All right,” I said. “Let’s have it. Give me more of your opinions.”
“Opinions? On what?”
“You know what.”
She took a small sip of her peppermint tea. “You really want me to tell you the truth?”
“God help me, yes.” I smiled and sent her a pleading look.
“That man is head over heels in love with you,” Wyn said. “He can’t take his eyes off you.”
A shiver of pleasure worked its way down my spine.
“I love how he takes care of you,” she said.
“You mean him buying me a car?”
“That,” she agreed. “But also his simple, quiet gestures. Refilling your water glass, his hand on your thigh. He has to be touching you. I love that for you.”
“But?”
She shook her head. “You’re an adult. It wouldn’t matter what I thought anyway. What any of us thought. Would it?”
“It would matter, but I know I’m right about Brooks. It would hurt me if you thought it was bad, but I’d do it anyway,” I admitted quietly.
She looked like she wanted to say something, but she quickly shut her mouth and stared at her steaming tea.
“What?” I pressed.
“Are you waiting for the other shoe to drop?”
“Other shoe?” I repeated. “No. I don’t think so. Why would I?”
“Because even though you two are like this,” she crossed her fingers, “you still haven’t been together very long. There’s always another shoe.”
“What are youreallysaying?” I asked her.
“I think he’s hiding something from you.”
Her words struck me, and my first instinct was to rebel, to defend Brooks. But as her words sank into my psyche, I turned them over.
