“Uh-huh.”
“I’m just surprised that you’re moving in with Rhyland. That’s all.”
I roll my eyes at her. Mom listens as I recall our conversation last night at Tilley’s.
“Hmm,” she says.
“Seriously, what?” I huff.
She waves me off. “It’s nothing. I’m happy for you, dear. It’s just I’m not the one who used to write his name in a heart or Mrs. Rhyland Cole or Mrs. Payton Colein my diary all my childhood.”
Andthisis why I’m moving out.
My cheeks heat that she remembers that, not that I really think I kept that a secret as a kid. The only person who was probably oblivious to my crush was the man himself.
“Just don’t come running to me so that I can tell you I told you so.” Mom gets up and heads to the fridge before grabbing ingredients to make her breakfast. “Actually, please do so that I can tell you I told you so.”
“Told you so for what?”
“Oh, nothing, nothing at all,” she says, but I don’t believe it for a second.
“Mom, seriously, whatever you’re thinking, just stop. Rhyland and I are just friends, and he’s looking out for Gabby and me. That’s all.” Not that I would probably ever say no to the man. Great, now various fantasies are floating through my head about living together and playing house.
Cooking meals together.
Snuggling on the couch, watching movies under a blanket.
Watching Gabby and any other future children grow. Maybe even keep a height chart in the kitchen, like my parents did with the three of us.
Waking up in his arms.
Fuck!Maybe this is all a bad idea. I feel like I’m getting in way over my head.For the first time, it hits me we will be so close all the freaking time now.
Just then, Gabby’s cries come through the baby monitor.Saved by the baby.Thank you, sweet girl, for pulling me from my thoughts before I got myself carried away.Too late.
“Why don’t you go get Gabby, and I’ll start breakfast, and then we can start packing before you head into work today. Less stress for moving day.”
I nod before leaving the kitchen. Why do I feel like that conversation went way differently from how I imagined? Here’s hoping this doesn’t backfire on me.
Chapter 9
Rhyland
On Sundays, I wake up, get a run in, shower, stop at the coffee shop, and head to the fairgrounds. Every Sunday is the same thing—the routine is something I’ve prided myself on over the years. I did all of those things this morning, only instead of driving to the fairgrounds, I drove to Connie’s house. My body didn’t even act on instinct, knowing exactly where it was meant to be.
As I walk up the front steps, I replay the conversation I had last night with Archer and Ollie about what was happening today. After a busy evening, the Mosby brothers, Logan, and I all stayed past closing to decompress. It wasn’t entirely out of character for us to do, but it seemed like it had been forever since we had. I had planned to tell them the plan, but turns out I hadn’t needed to. Someone else had beaten me to it.
“What’s this I hear about my sister and niece moving in with you?” Ollie said as he sat down four beers on the table.
Well, so much for any nerves I had about sharing the news of our new living situation. “Pretty much exactly what you just said,” I teased.
“I didn’t realize you were looking for a roommate,” Archer added, while Logan just sat back and observed the conversation.
“I wasn’t. But I guess your mom has been driving Pay nuts, and I just figured she had been through enough and offered her a safe space that’s not some strange place with potential strangers around her.”
“Makes sense. I’m glad Payton has an extra big brother looking out for her.” Ollie saluted his beer in thanks. I tried to hide my wince by taking a swig of my drink. If only he knew my thoughts of his sister were anything but brotherly. Yes, I wanted to protect her, but I also wanted her under me, in front of me, and riding me. “But I don’t want your one-night stands around my niece.”
I didn’t correct my best friend that it’d been a while since I’d fucked anything other than my right hand. It wasn’t that I hadn’t had plenty of opportunities, too, but I just hadn’t felt it. It wasn’t really a conversation I wanted to have right now because I knew Ollie, and he would pry until he pulled the last layer back to figure out the truth.
