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“Uh-huh,” I say, my heart beating a million miles an hour.
“I was thinking we could do dinner and a movie tonight… at my place.”
I hear Lacey laugh and then try to cover it up with a fake cough.
“I actually can’t,” I say. “I have plans tonight.”
When Hayden’s face falls, similar to Brody’s, it solidifies that I have to make a decision tonight. We can’t go on like this for another day. I’m going to decide tonight, and tomorrow, I’ll let them both know. Then I’ll be honest with whoever I pick and tell him about the mess I’ve gotten myself into.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
BRODY
Hayden: You might’ve won that round, but I’ll win the war.
I stare at my phone, trying to figure out what the hell he’s talking about. Shouldn’t he be gloating since he got to Bree first? We agreed that whoever got her to say yes to the date at our place would get to claim the condo as our own since we both can’t bring her there. When she told me she couldn’t hang out tonight, I assumed it was because Hayden got to her first.
Instead of texting him back, I call him.
“Yeah, yeah, I know. Stay away tonight,” he mutters. “I really thought I got there first. You must’ve fucking ran there, asshole.”
“I did run,” I say with a laugh. When we discussed it this morning, we agreed we had to ask her in person. Whoever got there first gets to bring her back to our place and the other person has to find somewhere else to hang out. I don’t think either of us has ever gotten ready for work that fast in our lives. “But I thought you got there first. Bree told me she couldn’t make it tonight.”
“Really? She told me the same thing,” he says.
We both sit on the phone in silence for a few minutes before I say what I’m pretty sure we’re both thinking. “Could she be dating someone else?”
“No way. Every day, she’s either with you or me. When the hell would she have the time to date a third guy?”
“True,” I agree. “Maybe she has plans with Lacey.”
“Maybe. I’m going to ask her out for Sunday since we have that thing tomorrow night.”
“I already did that, and she said she’d let me know,” I say.
“Well, damn.”
“Yeah. Lunch later?”
“Of course,” he says. “Order Thai.”
“We had Thai on Tuesday.”
“Fine,” he groans. “Korean barbecue.”
“All right, see you then.”
CHAPTER TWELVE
AUBREE
“Please, please, I’m begging you.” Lacey clasps her hands together and dramatically gets down on one knee.
“What?” I ask, only half paying attention. I’ve been stuck in my head, trying to figure out who I’m going to pick. Unfortunately, even after twenty-four hours, a new pro/con chart, a bottle of wine, and a long bubble bath, I’m no closer to figuring it out.
“Did you not hear anything I’ve said?”
“I’m sorry. I’m lost in my thoughts.”
She frowns. “Still trying to figure out which guy to choose?”
“Yeah.” I sigh. “I know it makes me sound horrible, but I really like them both.”
“It doesn’t make you sound horrible. You’re human, Bree. And I love that you’re opening your heart up again.”
“And now I have to hurt someone else’s… and my own.” Tears fill my lids, and I try—and fail—to blink them away.
“Oh, Bree,” she says, pulling me over to a table to sit down since the shop is quiet at the moment. “This was supposed to be fun and carefree. An introduction back into the dating world.” She wipes a falling tear. “What the hell happened?”
“I suck at carefree,” I mutter with a pout. “I’m falling for both of them. Like I really like them both.” I sniffle. “And now I have to pick one, and I can’t do it.”
“Oh, sweetie.” She hugs me. “You were just supposed to put yourself out there.”
“Well, I did, with both of them, and I can’t choose. Brody is so sweet and loves to have fun. And I enjoy talking business with him. Remember how he took me to look at all those bakeries? And our date at the drive-in…”
Lacey nods.
“Oh! And I forgot to tell you, the other day when your allergies were acting up, and you couldn’t come in? He came by to see me, and I was so busy, I couldn’t talk, but instead of leaving, he came around behind the counter and helped me.” I choke up at the thought of having to break up with him.
“And then there’s Hayden. He’s such a good listener. Well, really, they both are. But like the other day, while we were out, Miles messaged and asked if I would go fishing with him when he got home. That night, Hayden texted me a list of the perfect piers that aren’t too far away. And he loves wine like I do. We had so much fun at the vineyards.
