Maybe it’s the exhaustion, or the way he completely understood my rambling, but I think about it for less time than I ever have before with him. “Yeah. I think I do.”
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
TREVOR
Iclose Willa’s car door and tap the roof, waiting until she drives around the corner before heading back inside to say goodbye to Hunter and Ashlie. I’d leave my own birthday party if it meant spending more time with her. And after our conversation in the backyard, I have absolutely no interest in talking to anyone else for the rest of the night. Asking if she wanted company was a risky move, but I’m glad I took it. Her answer almost shot me to the moon.
Pitchy singing and loud laughter greet me as soon as I open the door to the Halloween party. Hunter’s in the corner of the darkened room, drink in hand, likely taking a breather from Ashlie’s requests. When I got here, she sent us upstairs to move a table, then immediately to the garage for folding chairs, and back upstairs for table linens. The karaoke machine might have been his last straw. He’s fed up.
“Bruh, you good?” He bumps my knuckles in greeting when I lean on the wall next to him. “I was about to grab the ‘do not disturb’ sign for the back door. Looked pretty cozy out there.”
“Yeah. Willa invited me over, so I’m gonna head out.”
A smirk slides across his face. “I mean, I guess she’s already knocked-up. Can’t get into any more trouble.”
“Nah, it’s not like that.” My face flushes because no matter how much it’s notlike that, I wish it were. “We’re just getting to know each other.”
“For now. Keep showing up for her, and she’ll cave. Just watch, you’ll be singing a different tune by the New Year’s Eve party.”
Chuckling, I shake my head.Don’t jinx it.
“You wanna bet?” Hunter’s eyes narrow, his smirk growing.
“You and your bets can stay the hell away from me, bro.” I send a smile to Ashlie, who has wedged her way onto Hunter’s lap. He stiffens, but a kiss from her relaxes his shoulders.
“Hey, Trev. You heading out?”
“Yeah. Gonna go check on Willa.”
Hunter snorts and takes a sip of his drink. “New Year’s, if not before.”
“What’s happening on New Year’s?” Ashlie asks.
“Oh, just Willa and Trev doing the ‘do.’”
Ashlie throws her head back and cackles. “Oh yeah, that’s happening. One hundred percent. You’re good to her. She’s gonna crack.”
“Look”—Hunter snorts, pointing at my face—“he can’t stop smiling!”
“Aww.” Ashlie puts a hand on my arm.
Heat creeps up my neck as I shake my head and glance down at the floor. “It’s not like that.”
She tilts her head, scrutinizing me with a raised brow. “You wanna bet?”
“Why don’t you two bet with each other and leave me out of it?” I say through my laugh. Their eyes spark, and when they turn and shake on it, I can’t believe I ever missed how perfect they are for each other. When we were tangled in a weird secret bet love triangle a few years back, I had no idea they were anything more than friends. Once it all came out, there was no denying they’re meant to be. Bowing out wasn’t hard at all, especially since I was already stifling a small crush on Willa by then. Watching themjoke with each other about my sex life, I can’t imagine them any way except together.
Ashlie slips Hunter another kiss and rejoins the karaoke crowd. “Looks like she’s calmed down,” I say.
“Thankfully. If she asks me to do one more thing for this damn party, I’m out the door right behind you.”
Laughing, I clap his shoulder. “Thanks for the invite. I should get going.”
“Alright, bruh.” He nods, and I turn for the door. “Oh, hey, Trev?” I look over my shoulder, and his puckish grin prepares me for more bullshit. “Maybe use protection this time…”
Turning my back on him, I raise my middle finger in the air as his snickers follow me to the door.
“So,let me get this straight. You tease me for my ’90s music, meanwhile you’re sitting here watching teen movies from the early aughts?” I settle into Willa’s couch, juggling bottles of water as she follows behind with a tray full of snacks. She’s dressed in the same oversized TAILA shirt from a few weeks ago, with shorts this time.
