“If it isn’t my favorite Morrow boys,” Lydia coos, poking her head up. “To what do I owe the pleasure?”
Shitshitshit.
“She wasn’t at the main house or the barn, and she’s not answering her phone,” Wesley says, voice taut with irritation. “Have you seen her?”
“It’s so nice to see you too, Wes,” she says, leaning her elbows on the counter. “Tell me, while you’ve been playing stalker, did you ever stop to ask yourself if Sadiewantsto be found?”
“Oooh, burn!” Emmett laughs.
Lydia smiles sweetly. “I’ll tell her you came by.”
“I’m sure you will,” Wesley growls, and I hear what I can only assume are his irritated footsteps stomping away.
I clutch my chest.
Emmett clears his throat. “I don’t know what’s crawled up his ass lately. He needs to get laid. Pretty sure he hasn’t hooked up with anyone all summer. Maybe longer. Celibacy doesnotsuit him.”
Lydia quickly glances down at me, smirking. “Hm. That’sfunny. I wonder what prompted that decision.”
I shake my head and drag my finger across my throat, mouthing,drop it.
She doesn’t.
Lydia has—not so subtly—hinted that she thinks Wesley is secretly into me, and that’s why he’s been extra broody. I think she’s lost her mind.
“You and Sades coming to Lucky’s with everyone tomorrow night?” Emmett asks.
“Absolutely,” Lydia says proudly. “Sadie is on the hunt. I’m on wingwoman duty.”
My soul exits my body and I strongly consider giving up my hiding spot to tackle her to the ground.
“Good for her!” Emmett says, too enthusiastically. “You should convince her to ride the bull again. Guys were feral that night. She wasso hot. Everyone was jealous of Lane. What a fucking shithead for ruining that.”
Heat crawls up my neck.
There’s no way in hell I’m getting back up on that bull, but something blooms in my chest at the thought of being the reason all the guys are turned on.
“Don’t drool on my bar top, Morrow,” Lydia says in a clipped tone. “I didn’t realize you had such a hard-on for her.”
“Hey—I’m not drooling,” Emmett says defensively. “I’m not going to cross that line. I’m just saying what everyone thought. She’s obviously attractive. I’d be lying if I said I hadn’t thought about it. But we’re friends. Plus, even if I wanted to, she’s off-limits.”
My breath stutters.Off-limits.
Is that how Wesley sees me, too?
“So if your dad didn’t have the rule,” Lydia presses, “you’d shoot your shot?”
I silently beg her to stop.
This is torture.Slow, scorching torture.
“What? No.” Emmett groans. “Are you even listening to me? She’s off-limitsandI wouldn’t want to jeopardize our friendship.”
“Hm, interesting. Do you often find yourself befriending people you’d like to penetrate?”
“Fuck, Lyd. Why are you laying into me like this?” Emmett breathes out an exasperated sigh. I picture him running his rough hand down his face in frustration.
She shrugs. “It’s a simple question.”
