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“Fine. Let’s get moving, but I want real breakfast. We’re going to Dorothy’s Diner. I want French toast and bacon. Lots and lots of bacon.”
“Done.” She waves for me to follow her.
Sliding my feet into my flip-flops, I grab my purse, keys, and phone, and we head out the door. “I’ll drive,” I tell her.
“How’s your car doing? Any more issues?”
“Nope. Declan fixed me right up.”
She smiles at that. I can see the pride she has for her cousins, who are more like brothers to her.
“How was riding home with Brooks last weekend?” She waits until we’re in the car and on the road to drop this question on me, and to be honest, I’m grateful. I have to keep my eyes on the road, which means I don’t have to look her in the eye.
“Fine. I’m glad it kept you and Deacon from having to drive to my side of town.”
“You should let him know you’re interested.”
“Ramsey. No. We are not doing this today.”
“But you picked him, Palmer.”
“Not this again. We were hanging out. I was trying to distract you from what was about to happen. You told me I had to pick. My eyes landed on Brooks, and he’s who I chose.”
“Liar.”
“Fine. You’re right. I picked him. You said I had to choose, and if I had my pick, it would be Brooks. That’s not reality, Ramsey. I know that you and my brother are in this perfect bubble of love, but that’s not me, and that’s not me with Brooks. He’s not interested.”
“You don’t know that.”
“Don’t make me turn this car around,” I say in what I hope is my best impression of my mom's voice.
Ramsey bursts out laughing. “I bet your mom, and I can guarantee Aunt Carol said that a million times over the years.”
“Together, I’d say you’re right.”
“I won’t keep pestering you about it. You have to understand you convinced me to go out of my comfort zone and do that photo shoot. You knew that Deacon and I were good for each other before we did. You helped us find one another, and now look where we are. He’s my future, and I want you to have yours. I have this feeling in my soul, much like yours, that Brooks is that person for you. He’s your forever, Palmer.”
My heart squeezes in my chest. She has no idea how her words are affecting me. She doesn’t realize that I’m trying like hell not to fall for him. She doesn’t know that we got intimate last weekend and that I’ve packed my phone with me like it’s a third limb since that night, hoping to hear from him.
We agreed not to tell anyone at my insistence. This exact scenario is why. If Ramsey had any idea of what happened between Brooks and me, she’d be all over both of us to give this a real shot, and as much as I’d love that, I know that’s not where we’re headed.
“I believe that if it’s supposed to happen, it will. Can we just leave it at that?”
“Fine.” I know my best friend, and I know she wants to say more, but her ringing cell phone cuts her off and saves me more of her speech. “Hey, babe. You’re on speaker,” she answers.
“Are you with Palmer?” my brother asks.
“Yep. We’re doing her grocery shopping, and then I don’t know what we’re getting into.”
“Let’s have people over to swim. It’s hot as hell.”
“It is hot today. Palmer?”
“Sure.” I shrug as I hit my signal to turn into the lot of the grocery store. “I’m always up for a swim. What are we doing for food?”
Deacon answers, “Let’s just do burgers and hot dogs. Some sides, maybe.”
“Do we have the meat in the freezer, or do I need to grab it while we’re here?” Ramsey asks my brother.
