Page 5

He nudged me in the side, seeming to divert my attention elsewhere. “Besides, you secretly love it.”

I hated that it was true. I’d always thought Reid was hot, because anyone with eyes would be blind not to see it. It was a well-known fact Reid didn’t date, even when he attracted women without trying. He was easygoing and had great banter, a person you gravitated to for the feel-good factor alone.

Until recently.

Lately, something about Reid had been off. I couldn’t put my finger on what exactly, but I knew he wouldn’t talk about it. As a friend, the next best thing was to act like I hadn’t noticed.

Banter.

I turned to him, smiling sweetly, letting sarcasm fuel my tone. “Was it buy one get one free at a flea market?”

He barked a laugh. “Always a sweet mouth on you.”

“Don’t you know it,” I said dryly.

I don’t know how we had never become more than just friends, even when he had offered to fuck me in the space of the first five minutes of meeting me five years ago. Then, Reid had been new to town and gravitated to our friend group after meeting Colt. When he realized I was in the friend group, I guess he decided that banter was better than sleeping with a friend.

I rid my head of the thought, leaning against the sill of the window and taking in the room. We needed to celebrate Morgan’s huge achievement. Only months ago, she had been the new girl, and now here she was, painting like a damn pro; not to mention she was one of the most badass witches I knew. I couldn’t be prouder of her.

Reid took a sip of the champagne in his flute. As if reading my mind, he said, “It’s my night off. I say drinks at mine after to celebrate.”

My brows nearly hit the roof. “Yours?” It wasn’t often Reid invited us to his apartment instead of the bar, but I guess he was over hanging out in his place of work.

Emptying the rest of his glass, he looked entirely unimpressed with it. “Yeah, I’ve got a liquor cabinet full of booze and a pool table. Beats schmoozing with the patrons.”

I dipped my head in agreement.

“Yours it is. It looks like Morgan’s about to wrap up the evening here.” I headed over to the rest of the group, avoiding Morgan, who was deep in conversation with a customer. I shimmied up to Skye. “Celebration at Reid’s after. Ssssshhhhhh.” I pressed my fingers to my lips.

Tyler caught my eye, giving me a sly grin after having overheard me. “I’ll bring her over when we’re done here.”

Collecting up a handful of empty champagne flutes, I took them into the back room, with Reid hot on my tail holding a few extras.

Colton scrubbed some dishes in the sink, a dish towel draped over one shoulder. He turned. “I hear there’s a celebration after?” He chuckled quietly, his broad chest jumping with his suppressed laughter. “You weren’t that discrete.”

Damn.

He turned his bulky frame to Reid. “Do you mind if I catch a ride?”

His casual tone didn’t match the look that passed between them. Like unspoken words weaved in front of me in some blind admission. My gaze shot to Reid, then back to Colt, who dragged the dish towel off his shoulder, drying his hands with it.

Reid finally nodded, throwing his thumb toward the exit. “Yeah, I have the wagon, plenty of seats.”

Colt’s cool irises gave nothing away. “Thanks.”

Had I missed something?

There was definitely something off between them.

Maybe a girl had gotten between them?

The thought seemed ridiculous, as the two of them had been tight since they first met, and I hadn’t seen Colt date for… years? I brushed off the thought, making a mental note to ask Skye if she knew what was going on when we got home.

Ten minutes later, we spilled out of Reid’s wagon into the crisp blanket of evening. It wound so tightly around me; I was sure it would snow tonight. We followed Reid to his front step. The crack of the door as he opened it split the silence that was this town’s evening norm.

I never tired of Cutters Cove. It was one of those places you either loved or hated. For me, I’d grown up here and never felt the urge to live anywhere else. I liked its charm in the daytime and sank into its amber depths at night. You couldn’t pry me out of this place if you tried. Even in winter.

When we stepped into Reid’s apartment, the warm glow from a nearby freestanding lamp caught on clean lines, dark timber, and the sleek kitchen tucked off to one side. The familiar scent of worn leather drifted through the space from the couch, the smell transported me straight back to childhood; Mom had always insisted on leather furniture. Walking across the room, I made my way to the large floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the dock below. It was a view I rarely saw: the dock from above.