Chapter One
Olivia Barnes-Fleetwood glanced around the ballroomand wished she was anywhere else.
And then hated herself for the thought.
She was in a beautiful city.Fort Worth glittered beneaththem.This hotel was luxurious.Her family and friends were all around her.Thedress she was wearing could have come off a runway in Paris.She had the bestjob.She had every privilege.Every reason to be on top of the world.
Yet she sat here while everyone else was having a marveloustime.
“Hey, you look way less happy than a maid of honor should,”a familiar voice said.Bobby Farley.He looked handsome in his suit, his hairslicked back.He usually dressed like he was a cast member ofThe Big BangTheory, but then he could be.He was about to graduate from MIT with adoctorate in physics.
And he was about to graduate into his truth by telling hisparents what he’d known since he was a kid.
“I guess I never thought my little brother would get marriedbefore me.”She would hand it to her parents.They knew how to throw a party.Well, her mom did.Dad would have thrown a backyard barbecue, and Papa wouldhave brought the beer.For all their success, her dads were still down toearth, which was probably why her papa was standing to the side pulling at hisbowtie like it was strangling him.
And then her mom stepped in and smiled and took his hand tolead him to the dance floor, and Sam Fleetwood didn’t look like he cared aboutthe fact that she had forced him into a tux.
She wanted that.Wanted it so badly she couldn’t stand it,and she had to consider the idea that it wasn’t in the cards for her.Herparents loved each other.They were each other’s best friends.Together foryears, they still kissed and held hands and had real passion between them,along with all the softer things that came with a long-term marriage.They tookcare of each other.
Josh and Nicole and Grim were going to do that, too.Theywere going to start a family in their house on the ranch their parents hadbought them.She had moved into the guest house, and it was nice to have herown space.
She hadn’t had a real date in over a year.
Bobby grabbed another two glasses of champagne, offering herone like the complete gentleman he was.“Well, I never thought Josh would marryanyone.I remember way too many times he would come to Bliss and hit on everyavailable woman in sight.Some who weren’t so available.”
Olivia couldn’t help a snort that came with the memory.“Yes, he even did that when he was five.That boy has always liked the ladies.”
Her heart ached as she said it.
His hand came out to cover hers.“I can hold off if you needtime.Honestly, I’m not sure I need to tell my parents anything at all.Theydon’t talk to me much anymore.Or Will.It’s like we betrayed them by leavingColorado.I think the only reason my mom called Will was because she got theinvite to the wedding.”
“Do you think she’ll actually go to Massachusetts?”Bobbyhad a twin brother, and they were still close.They had gone to collegetogether and chosen MIT for their PhDs, and now they were both acceptingpositions in California.They were starting their lives.
For the longest time everyone thought they would go theBliss route when it came to a relationship.Even their parents had wrappedtheir very closed minds around the thought of having a single daughter-in-law.After all, there were throuples everywhere.
And for some of that time, Olivia acted as their temporarygirlfriend.When she would go to Bliss she would hang out with Bobby and Willand look like the perfect long-distance threesome.It worked for all of them.It kept Bobby and Will’s parents off their backs about settling down.It kepther momma from setting her up with every half-eligible man in their circle.
But she had to face the truth now.There was some part ofher that had wanted it all to be real.Will had offered, but the truth wasshe’d always loved Bobby.
And she wasn’t Bobby’s type.
How was it she still ached after all this time?She lovedthis man, but it wasn’t romantic anymore.It was comfortable.It was friendshipthat felt like it could have been so much more if not for that one trick offate.
She gave him what she hoped was a bright smile.“No.Youneed to come out to your parents once and for all.If they reject you, you knowyou always have a home with me.”
He huffed and sat back.“Maybe not once your parents knowyou’ve been my cover for ten years with my parents.”
Now she was sure her smile was bright.In her parents’minds, she and Bobby had been off and on for years because of the distance andthem settling into their careers.She’d dated plenty since it wasn’t likeBobby’s parents heard gossip from Texas.Bobby had to be far more careful.“Oh,my dads cannot have a say in that.Though they might ask if you’ve tried beingbi.I think they’ve been comfortable because they thought once your PhD is donewe would get serious and settle down.They would definitely have preferred youto some of the losers I’ve dated.”
He held her hand, tangling their fingers together.“Well,they’ll know something’s up when they get their wedding invite next week.Iasked Will to delay sending them out so I could be your date to this function.”
She squeezed his hand.“Thank you.If you weren’t here, mymom and sister would be trying to introduce me to every single man in theballroom.I overheard Mom and Lexi talking about how they thought TravisTaggart would be a good match for me if he could find a friend to share mewith.Seriously?He’s almost ten years younger than me and already has a kid.”
Bobby shrugged.“I mean technically you would be getting twomen.Only one of them is in diapers.”
She rolled her eyes.“You are terrible.”
He sobered.“Sometimes I worry I am.”
