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“What about you?” Kennedy asks me.
“Me? I’m single as a Pringle. No babies in my future.”
“You should let us set you up with someone,” Palmer suggests. “I’m good at it.” She points to Ramsey and grins.
“The issue is that I’ve lived in Willow River my entire life. I either grew up with them, I’ve already dated them, or I have no desire to date the men in this town.”
“Well, there’s that,” Ramsey agrees.
“And there’s the fact that you and Sterling are so close,” Kennedy says.
I shrug. “He’s my best friend. He has been since we were kids. If any potential man in my life can’t handle that, they can hit the road.”
“I get that,” Jade says cautiously. “But what happens when one of you finds someone that takes more time than what you’ve given a relationship in the past? What happens then?”
“Sterling will always be a part of my life. He’s family.”
“We get that,” Piper agrees with me. “But you have to admit that if and when either of you decides to settle down, your current relationship will change.”
“Sure, I mean, we won’t get to hang out as much. He’ll have a wife to make him dinner after a long week at work. That doesn’t mean I can’t do that for both of them.” Suddenly my mind is filled with thoughts of what life might look like with my best friend married and me sitting on the sidelines. I admit it’s not something I’ve ever had to do where Sterling is concerned.
“Or, the two of you can just get married.” Palmer gives me a pointed look.
“He’s my best friend.”
“Deacon is my best friend,” Ramsey tells me.
“Brooks is mine,” Palmer states.
“Heath is mine,” Piper adds.
Kennedy raises her hand. “Declan for me.” She grins.
“Redundant, but Orrin is mine.” Jade winks.
“I’m sure that when I meet him, my husband will be mine as well.”
“Or maybe you’ve already met him?” Kennedy asks.
“Baby and wedding fever has got you ladies romancing everything around you,” I say, grabbing my iced tea and finishing it off. I’m uneasy with their insistence that Sterling and I could be more. That ship, or shall we say idea, sailed a long time ago.
“Let us set you up.” Palmer gives me a look, daring me to say no.
“Fine. Whoever it is, I’m meeting them wherever we’re going, and I don’t want some strange man at my house. Sterling has reminded me enough times to know I need to be careful about who I trust.”
“Oh, Sterling did, did he?” Piper grins.
“He’s my best friend,” I repeat. I let my eyes scan each of theirs, and I can see it plain as day. They’re not buying it. “You’d think that his family, our friends, would understand our relationship. I shouldn’t have to defend it to you.” I’m a little hurt, to be honest. I’ve spent my entire life arguing with people about my friendship with Sterling Kincaid. The last people I thought I’d have to do that with is the group of ladies that surround me. Kennedy is the newest, but she and I have spent a lot of time together. We’ve been over this.
“We’re not trying to upset you,” Ramsey says gently. “That’s not our intention at all. However, we see things differently. We’re not exactly outsiders, but we do see the two of you together. It just seems like there might be something there.”
“I mean, he’s hot.” Palmer smiles. “And yes, I’ll tell my husband that. All his brothers are easy on the eyes.”
“I’m not blind,” I tell her.
“Oh, so you think he’s hot too?” Jade asks.
“They all are.” The confession rolls off my tongue with ease. Willow River is a small town, and all the ladies, hell, and even the men in this town know the Kincaid brothers. They give all-new meaning to tall, dark, and handsome. Not to mention they’re great guys, hard workers, and know how to treat a lady. Carol and Raymond made sure of that. Any woman would be lucky to call one of them hers.
