Page 93 of Can’t Say No

The pleading tone in his voice is adorable.

I pop back out of the bathroom, leggings abandoned, but his stolen T-shirt and my panties back in place.

“If that’s okay with you, I was thinking it makes the most sense. Logistically.”

Connor pins me with a dangerous stare. “Fuck logic. I’m talking about love, baby.”

I’m about to jump into his arms again when the doorbell rings.

“Just a minute!” Connor hollers towards the entryway, looking a little more than exasperated that someone’s here disturbing our reunion.

From my hiding spot in the bathroom, I see a very confused Caroline walk through the front door, Wells trailing behind carrying my hastily dropped duffel bags.

Pantless but covered in Connor’s T-shirt, I emerge, feeling my cheeks pink with embarrassment.

“Hi, guys.” I give a little wave as I stop to hide behind Connor’s wide body. “I’m back.”

Wells’ eyes go wide. “Well shit. I’m assuming these are yours.” He drops my bags unceremoniously to the floor, then attempts to hightail it out, catching Caroline by the sleeve.

Caroline shrugs him off and rushes to me. “I knew you’d come back,” she shrieks. “Can’t stay away from my charm for too long.”

“Pretty sure she came back for Connor, but okay, Caroline.” Wells mumbles under his breath.

Caroline's eyes dance between me and Connor, taking in my lack of pants, and Connor’s lack of a shirt, and she laughs, a wicked smile spreading across her face.

“Oh, she definitely came for Connor, all right.”

“And that’s my cue to leave.” Wells stumbles back to the door as Caroline cracks up. He lifts his eyes enough to look at Connor. “We were just dropping in to check on you, but it looks like all is right in the world again.”

Looping her arm in mine, Caroline drags me to the kitchen. “I’m not leaving. Tell me everything.”

Those two sentences are so simple, yet they land somewhere deep in my chest. As if I needed any more proof that Ridgecrest is my home, Caroline’s somewhat aggressive, but loving, friendship solidifies it.

We giggle and scheme and catch up while Connor makes us coffee. She loves my idea and wants to help, a stark contrast to Matty, who only cared about my ideas if there was something in it for him.

“I’m calling Wells to come back over. I’ll invite Vic too.” Caroline declares from our nest on the couch. “Is that okay, Connor? A little friend-group reunion party?”

“Oooohh, yes please. I need this. A little party.”

Connor makes a face at me, “You need a party, huh? Well, in that case, who am I to stand in your way?”

The house fills with all of our best friends and coworkers. There’s pizza and beer and sparkling water, football on one TV and karaoke on another, and so much life bursting at the seams.

And when the festivities finally wind down and I crawl into bed with Connor, I finally let myself believe that I just might be able to have it all.

37

CONNOR

“Absolutely not.”

My dad sits straight as a board, a deep scowl etched into his face, eyes glued to my laptop screen displaying Delaney’s presentation.

Her nails dig into my wrist as her grip on me tightens, and I know she’s using every ounce of self-control to not jump down my dad’s throat.

I called him this morning to ask him to come out to the orchard. Told him Delaney was back in town and that she had an idea. He feigned enthusiasm over the phone a little better than the outright rejection sitting in front of us.

“What are your initial concerns, Reggie?” Lanie’s voice is measured and steady, but her death grip is going to scar.