Celine shrugged. “So ask him.”
Claire took a bite out of her licorice. “What if asking makes all this come to an end?”
“First, it won’t. Second, if it does, wouldn’t that be for the best since that would mean he isn’t interested? It would be better for it to end before it really has a chance to start than for it to drag out for several months and end bitterly.”
Miranda nodded. “Celine is right. Claire, you need to talk to him if you have any doubts. It’s the only way you’ll rest easy.”
“Ugh. Why do I always need to have these deep discussions with him? Why can’t we just boink like rabbits and have fun?”
Miranda and Celine burst out laughing.
“Well, you can boink like rabbits once you get the hard part out of the way,” Miranda said. “And where can I find me one of these guys who’s okay with me touring and trusts me not to hook up with someone else?”
Miranda grabbed a piece of licorice and took a bite out of it.
Claire and Celine exchanged a look. Apparently, Celine had been filled in on Miranda’s break-up.
“Well, I mean, there is one,” Celine said.
Claire and Miranda looked at Celine.
“Who?” Miranda asked.
Was she talking about Ben? He had been asking a lot of questions about Miranda and avoided her when she questioned it.
“Are you talking about who I think you’re talking about?”
Celine smiled and gave a small nod.
Miranda looked between them. “Who?”
“Ben,” they said together.
Miranda’s eyes widened. “Ben?”
Claire and Celine watched Miranda as she processed the information. Miranda stared down at her hands as she thought and then leaned back against the headboard again, taking another bite out of the licorice.
“You doing okay, Miranda?” Claire asked.
Miranda nodded. “Yep. Just processing.”
Claire scooted back to the headboard and leaned against it. She knew she needed to have a conversation with Jake. Deep down, she knew he was okay with it and wouldn’t lead her on, but then she thought about their past. Despite him saying it just had to do with them getting busy, she couldn’t help but wonder if subconsciously he had pulled away. And if he had been, would it happen again?
The girls left a few hours later, just before the guys got back. They all went down to a catered dinner in the hotel ballroom. All the crew was invited, and it was a relief to see everyone getting a much-needed break.
When they went back to their rooms, Claire was thankful Ben didn’t insist on coming into her room. She and Jake had closed their adjoining doors just in case Ben came in. She knew he would still notice the door and likely question why Jake had that room and not him, but it would be much worse if the doors had been opened and Ben knew she and Jake were basically sharing one large hotel room.
Claire and Jake entered their own rooms and immediately opened the adjoining doors. They both got ready for bed and then crawled into Claire’s bed together to sleep. Her conversation with the girls weighed heavily on her mind, butshe couldn’t talk herself into bringing it up. Not now. Not when things were going well.
Instead, she buried her face in Jake’s chest and let him wrap her in his warm embrace. The two of them fell into a deep sleep, getting the best sleep they had gotten in a while.
17
The next week had gone well, with Jake sneaking into Claire’s bunk or hotel room most nights. He had never slept so well as he did when she was wrapped in his arms. The group had a small break near Napa Valley, so they made their way to some wineries to tour. The fresh air was just what they needed.
“How much I wish I could have wine right now,” Claire said as she rubbed her growing belly.
The two of them had gotten separated from the others. Most of the guys wanted to relax in a tasting room, but since Claire couldn’t drink, Jake suggested they walk around. Seeing as the place was nearly deserted, they weren’t worried about crowd control, so the security guards gave them free rein for the most part. They still followed behind, but at a more leisurely pace.
