I glanced at the back of their house, then at Katie.
She frowned. “You okay?”
I nodded, wrung my hands in my lap. “Yeah. It’s, um… alot.”
“You don’t like Hayes?” she asked, lowering her voice.
I leaned in. “I do, it’s just… I’ve, um, never really dated before. Or whatever this is. I mean, I’m staying with him. Tonight.”
“I’ve known the Wilder family almost all of my life. I’ve been best friends with Lainey since we were little. I’ve been in love with Bray since I was eleven. Last year, he finally saw me. Sure, I had to climb in his lap and kiss him, but he saw me. After that, it’s like he was all–” she waved her hands around “–guns ablazing. I didn’t have any experience. Like, none.”
My eyes widened. She had to be mid-twenties, so that surprised me.
“Really?”
She nodded. “Don’t think, just feel. Do you like how it feels when you’re with Hayes?”
“I haven’t beenwithhim. We’ve only kissed. Once.”
She smiled and I was thankful she didn’t laugh or make me feel like a kid.
“That’s okay. But how do you feel being around him?”
“Is it supposed to be like this? So… hot? So… scary?”
She tipped her head and her eyes held mine. “Good scary, right?”
I bit my lip and nodded.
“Then know this, the Wilders move fast when they know what they want.”
“That’s what Sage said,” I replied.
Katie nodded. “Hayes wouldn’t be here with you if you weren’t it for him. He wouldn’t want you out of the bunk house or want you in his place–”
“Or boss me around,” I added.
She laughed. “Or boss you around,” she confirmed. “If you like it, go for it.”
“Okay,” I said, not all that sure.
“Want to know a secret?” she asked, glancing at the house, probably expecting the guys to come back out at any time.
“Yes.”
“Bray spanks me. For fun. I like it.” Her eyes lit up and her cheeks flushed. “A lot.”
My eyes widened once again. “You do?”
She nodded, took a sip of her iced tea.
“I… I think I like it, too.”
She raised her hand and for a second I was confused, then I gave her the high five she was waiting for.
10
HAYES
