Kitchen chairs are on this list of need-to-get items. For now, folding lawn chairs do the job.
I move my gaze to Ivy. My other best friend, who can’t tell a lie even if she tried.
“Ivy?”
She tucks a strand of blonde hair behind her ear before she lowers herself to the chair across from me. “We wanted to check on you. After the…” She glances at Dakota.
“Heated conversation in my yard yesterday.” Dakota lifts a brow. “With a certain bull rider.”
Groaning, I drop my head back.
“I’m assuming you told Ivy.” I force my head back up. “And does the entire family know by now?”
“No.” Ivy grins. “But I’m sure by lunchtime your altercation with my cousin will be front-page news.”
“It was not an altercation.” I fidget with my hands before picking up a slice of bacon. “It was…”
“Tense,” Dakota finishes. “I’ve never seen you that mad, Laik. What happened?”
“Nothing,” I say quickly.
Dakota rolls her eyes. “Try again. I snuck around the side of the house and heard bits and pieces.”
“You would Kota.” Ivy snorts.
“Oh, come on. Like you wouldn’t.”
Ivy places a hand on the small bump at her stomach. “No, because I respect people’s privacy.”
“Says the woman who was walking around naked in her ex-boyfriend’s brother’s house.” Dakota snickers.
“That was a misunderstanding,” Ivy defends.
“And clearly worked out,” I point out since my best friend is currently carrying my soon-to-be niece or nephew.
“Don’t deflect,” Kota snaps. “Spill.”
I huff out a breath. They won’t leave till I give themsomething.Just not everything. That opens up another can of worms I’m not ready to wrangle.
“Parker is paying me ten thousand dollars to be his personal PT trainer for the next six weeks.”
There, I said it.
Ivy blinks. “I’m sorry. What?”
Dakota grins, a sneaky smile blooming across her face.
I shoot a glare her way. “What is that look for?”
“Oh, nothing,” she coos. “I know you won’t tell us now….”
She knows me too well.
“But I can’t wait to hear how bad he screwed up to grovel like this,” she muses.
Steeling my spine, I lift my chin. “There’s nothing to grovel for. I have zero ties to Parker Stillwater.”
Even as I say the words, I taste the bitter lie on my tongue.
