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“Yeah.” Matt took a sip of his bee
r. “Which is why I wanted to chat with you tonight. Just the two of us.”
That sounded serious. Natalie’s stomach knotted as she tried to figure out what her big brother had to say. But before he could get much out, the familiar ding of the door caught just enough of Natalie’s attention for her to realize it was Easton.
Small town.
More than that, though, she was happy to see him. Not annoyed. Not nervous. Just happy. She thought of how he’d hugged her last night and wondered if she could get another one of those tonight, depending on the way this cryptic conversation of her brother’s was about to go.
“Hey, there’s my best man,” Matt called. East headed over.
“Hope I’m not interrupting?” he asked before taking a seat next to Matt. Not next to her. Not that she could blame him. It was just a bar stool, right? And they were a secret. Or maybe they weren’t even that.
“Nope. I just have to chat with Nat real quick, but it’s nothing you can’t hear. You’re family.”
Something in East’s gaze sparked at that word, and a flash of pain crossed his face. Then he gave a tight smile.
“So, Sis, I know Mom has this whole thing about you having a date tomorrow night. And you’re right, I know how she can be, so I wanted to check in with you and see how you’re doing on that?”
Natalie blinked a few times. “Are you asking how that makes me feel, or asking if I have a date?”
Matt blushed, and he looked embarrassed. “Both, I guess. You know I care about you. But, uh, do you have a date? A prospect at least? I just want Mom off your back because she can be tough to handle.”
“And you know that’s an understatement,” she said and took a sip of her beer.
“So…” Matt pushed, and East glanced at Natalie as if awaiting her answer as well.
There was something in his eyes that she couldn’t deny. Not tonight. She might have denied it last night when he’d hugged her like he cared. Or the few nights ago when he’d made love to her like he’d cared, and spoken to her like he’d cared.
Maybe because he does care.
Once again, East was looking at her and she felt seen. And in that moment, it was clear.
“There is someone I like that I’d go to the wedding with,” she said, looking directly at East. His mouth dropped a little, and she nodded in reassurance.
Yep, I’m looking at you, tough guy.
She returned her gaze to Matt. “But it’s complicated.”
“You like him?” Matt asked. As if it were that simple.
“Yes.”
“Then just go with him. At this point, Natalie, I don’t want to deal with Mom when I’m trying to get married. You like the guy, take him, call it good.”
“Again, not that simple, Matt.”
“Why?”
“Because I don’t know if he wants to go with me.”
“Then he’s an idiot,” East said, and her eyes snapped to his.
“You think so?” she asked.
He nodded. “Absolutely.”
She smiled, but Matt was still on his line of questioning, and no matter how they went about this, it was still a delicate matter. She couldn’t blurt out everything now, but the way East was looking at her, she knew he was on her team, and somehow, this would work. They’d make it work.
