Page 80 of Big Dill

“You and Elise were a good team,” I blurt.

Lord. What am I doing?

Liam leans closer, lowering his voice like he’s about to share classified town gossip. “Can you believe she’s back?”

“I…” I hesitate. “I don’t really know the context.”

He laughs. “Right. You’re not from here.”

No, I’m not. Which somehow makes me feel both relieved and oddly left out. A small, reckless part of me wants to lean in further, tell him to start at the beginning. To give me every detail about Elise, about Brody.

The smarter part of me snaps its fingers in warning. That’s not your story. That’s not your business.

I should listen to her.

Still, my body betrays me again, angling closer. “You seemed…surprised when you found out they broke up.”

Dammit, Jami.

“They were the dream team. Homecoming king and queen,” he says easily. “Brody was the jock, Elise was the cheerleader. Everyone in town thought they’d get married right out of high school.”

For a brief, unexpected moment, I feel a pang of sympathy for the homecoming king and queen who never quite made it to the happily-ever-after float.

“I’m sure his mother and aunts must be disappointed,” he tells me. “Elise was the daughter-in-law Lori always wanted. Or at least that’s what Dad said when I mentioned they were no longer together. Obviously he already knew.”

I clear my throat and pivot hard, changing lanes before I drive straight into a wall. “So, veterinary school. I heard it’s brutal to get into. Where did you go?”

“Prince Edward Island.”

I sit up straighter. “No way. I love PEI. Anne of Green Gables.”

He laughs, shaking his head. “Of course you do.”

I glance past Liam’s shoulder just as Brody and Jaxon come our way, and Liam follows my line of sight. He lifts his drink in a casual sip, eyes narrowing like he’s sizing something up.

“Are you sure you and Brody⁠—”

“Friends,” I cut in quickly, my stupid heart doing a little stutter. Then, just to cover myself, I add, “I heard his breakup with Elise… wasn’t great. Just worried about my brother’s best friend.”

Liam nods, understanding. He wipes condensation from his glass, a glint of enthusiasm in his eyes when he begins, “I get that. Do you like snowmobiling?” he asks, a complete change of subject.

I crinkle my nose. “I’ve never been, actually.”

“It’s fun.” His leg bumps mine as she shifts on his stool. “We have this cottage, and I was thinking about next week⁠—”

“Hey, Liam,” Brody’s voice cuts through as they reach us, Jaxon trailing right behind him. “Great game today.”

Liam laughs, shaking his head. “You only say that because you two annihilated us.”

“Who knew our girl here had that in her?” Brody adds, his eyes flicking to me for a second, but long enough to send heat through me.

Our girl here.

Eek.

Why does the idea of being his girl make my chest do a little happy dance?

“I knew,” Jaxon chimes in, dropping a protective, big-brother hand on my shoulder. “She’s competitive. Like me.”