Willow:Shit. I didn’t realize you were in this chat! >
Aubrey:hahahaha totally needed this laugh after my morning with Lily.
Me:Don’t you talk bad about my princess. Tell her Aunty Soph will be there soon.
“Who are you texting already?” Wyatt asks, coming into the kitchen.
“Your family. Willow sent a photo of a naked Gunnar to a group chat with your mom.” I laugh.
“One. Why are you looking at naked photos of my brother? Two. What do you say about me in the group chat?” He raises his brow.
“It was just a shirtless photo, he wasn’t naked. Well, he probably was under the sheet. And I don’t say anything because we haven’t gone official with anyone yet. Remember?” I snap the cap on his coffee and hand it to him.
“Do you want them to know we’re official?” He watches me closely.
“Um. Yes and no? I feel like they already know. But I kind of want to wait until this whole mess is over and I can be honest with your family first.” I slip into his arms, resting my head on his chest. “Does that make sense? Does it hurt your feelings?”
“Absolutely not. I get it. We do whatever you want, on your timeline. As long as I have you with me.” He drops a kiss on the top of my head then tugs me outside.
The ever dutiful Ripp sits in the driveway in his truck. When he sees us, he raises his coffee cup at us in greeting.
“You coming to get pancakes?” I yell to him.
“Sure am. Wouldn’t miss it.” He winks.
Ripp follows behind us to the inn, and as soon as we pull in, I’m excited for the day. The whole family is buzzing around the property.
“Sophia! You’re here, finally!” Aubrey runs over to the truck to greet me.
“What do you mean finally? I’m on time.”
Aubrey rolls her eyes. “Let’s go. I have your to-go box of pancakes. Hazel is opening just for us, and we’re all ready to go.”
I turn to face Wyatt. “I guess I’m going now.”
He laughs. “You can’t fight the Keaton women. Just accept it.”
Climbing out of the car, he walks around to my side, but Aubrey is already halfway to the inn when she turns to find out where I am. Wyatt is far too close for it to be a friendly gesture when she turns, and I can’t do anything to stop it.
She just witnessed him pull me in by the waist and lean down to whisper… well, some very naughty things in my ear. She also witnessed the giggle I let slip at his words. And now I know she’ll be getting me alone as soon as she can.
I give him a quick peck on his cheek before I run off to find which vehicle the girls are taking for our trek.
An arm loops through mine from behind. “Girl. You know I saw that,” Aubrey whispers.
“Saw what?”
“Don’t play dumb with me. Are you still hooking up with Wyatt?” She stops us before we approach Anna’s Suburban.
“Where are my pancakes? I can’t talk before sugar.”
She rolls her eyes, but hands over the takeout container.
“Thank you.”
Taking off, I run to jump into the car… in the way back. So I don’t have to talk to Aubrey who gets car sick.
I just want new clothes. Not gossip and judgement.
