Riley squirms in her seat, and her eyes sparkle. “Okay then. We’ll see you there.”
“Do you want me to drop you off at the shops?” Brandon asks Sadie, and it doesn’t escape my notice—or likely anyone else's—that he doesn’t quite look at her either.
Focusing on the table, intently studying her breakfast, Sadie nods.
I glance at Cole and Jerome, embarrassed that they’re here to witness the awkward exchange. Cole’s eyes are on Sadie, and concern is written all over his handsome face. Jerome catches me looking, and he gives me an understanding smile.
Thanks to Tammy and her lovely interview, there’s not one person here who doesn’t know of the catastrophe that is my relationship with Brandon and my baking partner.
The drive into town is quiet. We don’t bother with small talk—what’s the point, after all? It’s going to be uncomfortable no matter how we try to mask it.
“I’ll pick you up in a couple hours,” Brandon promises Sadie when he drops her off in the parking lot of the upscale outlet stores. “Call if you want to go back sooner.”
She waves her hand like she doesn’t want to be any trouble. “Quinn and Sarah talked about shopping today too. I’ll see if I can meet up with them.”
Brandon nods, his lips pressed into a thin line. “Okay.”
He looks like he wants to say more, but she heads toward the entrance of the closest store. We don’t talk until he pulls up in front of the hotel he’s staying at.
Instead of getting out, Brandon unfastens his belt and angles his body toward me. He studies me, and his forehead knits slightly.
“What?” I finally ask.
“I told her.”
It takes me several moments to realize what he means, and then I sit back, pressing my shoulders against the cold passenger door window. “You said we should wait.”
He rubs his hands over his face and slumps forward. “I know, but I couldn’t keep this up. The whole thing has become ridiculous.”
“What did she say?”
“Not much.” He still hasn’t looked my way.
Why won’t he look at me?
I study him for several moments, and my stomach knots. I have an epiphany, and it’s not pleasant.
“You like her,” I whisper. It comes out as an accusation.
Brandon drags his gaze over slowly, and he finally meets my eyes. “Yeah.”
I press the heel of my hand to my chest. I thought he was going to tell me we could finally be together, but that’s not the direction we’re headed at all.I’mthe one he’s letting down gently.
I refuse to cry, so I blink quickly and turn to look out the windshield.
“Harper…”
Shaking my head, I close my eyes. “You kissed me, Brandon. You said…”
It doesn’t matter what he said.
“I love you, Harper,” he says quietly. “I’ve always loved you. But for some reason, we’ve never gotten together. I don’t know if our timing was off, or if it just wasn’t meant to be, but it’s never happened. I gave up. And at some point, I guess I let Sadie in.”
I want to press my hands to my ears, block out the words. Instead, I nod as if I understand, as if my heart isn’t breaking all over again.
“I’m so sorry,” he murmurs.
“Will you take me back to the lodge?” I ask. My voice wavers, but only slightly.
