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“Want to hear a spoiler alert?” She leans closer to whisper, “Grace is just as smitten with you.”
Drake grips my shoulder. “She’s worth changing the game, man.”
A game I’m not equipped to play. Misery strikes hard and I nearly stagger under the force. My gaze bounces to the table where I first saw her. The empty chair taunts me. She should be here. Always. It’s a bitter reminder of why she isn’t.
“Grace can do better than me,” I mutter absently.
My sister pats the hand she’s still covering. “Why don’t you let her make that decision?”
She might compromise, but that doesn’t sit well with me. In truth, I want to be with Grace in whatever capacity will make her smile at me again. That’s equal parts thrilling and terrifying. It’s a line I’ve been straddling since we met. I just need to try. For her.
Joy huffs at my lengthy silence. “Do you like her?”
“Obviously.”
“Do you love her?” She wiggles her brows.
My chest tightens. I avert my eyes in fear that the truth bleeds through. “No.”
She squints at me. “Liar.”
“Even if I did, which I don’t, you wouldn’t be the first to know.”
“Hmmm, that’s fair.” The twinkle in her eye is too smug.
“You’re a pain in my ass. All of you,” I add.
“Admit you’d be lost without us.”
“Dammit, I would be.” I groan and immediately prepare to get reprimanded.
Instead, my sister is gawking at me. Her arm that isn’t clutching Belle blindly swats at Cole. “Holy shiitake mushrooms. We’re finally getting through to him.”
“Let’s not count our chickens before they hatch,” Cole murmurs from the corner of his mouth.
“It’s not that simple. I’m permanently stuck in my no-strings era, and she knows it.” Not to mention stubbornness is my most toxic trait. “Grace isn’t going to believe I’ve suddenly had a change of heart.”
Harper pouts. “Why not?”
“Because that’s our thing. She’s searching for her happily ever after. I’m not the type to even consider the risk.”
“But you could ride off into the sunset.” Drake pretends to snap a fake pair of reins.
I sigh. “With her? Maybe.”
Joy and Harper squeal, their combined excitement sharp enough to shatter glass. My sister is the first to recover from her victory. “I’m super proud of you, brother.”
“I said maybe.”
Harper bats my response away like a pest. “That’s just a delayed yes.”
“Grace is probably gonna think I’m full of crap.”
“Ask her on a date and find out.” She says that like it’s so obvious.
“Or offer to eat her pussy,” Jake suggests from the shadows.
“That’ll do the trick and grant you more sexual favors,” Harper agrees. Her voice holds a wistful edge that suggests she’s speaking from experiences that will traumatize me.
