All traces of humor fled. “Warn me about what?”
Her lips flattened and her face stretched into a wince. “Raylan’s here.”
I could have sworn I heard a record scratch in my brain. “What do you mean he’s here?”
“Like he’s inside. Zach invited him to dinner and I couldn’t exactly get him to take it back without spilling your secret.”
“Ugh.” I threw my head back and groaned up at the sky. “My brother is theworst.”
I’d kept the events of that night to myself for a long time, not wanting to relive the embarrassment and pain that came with rehashing everything, but about a month ago, I finally came clean to my friend, Merritt. It felt like a weight had been lifted off my shoulders after that, so instead of carrying that burden all on my own, I opened up to the rest of my girls—well, those who weren’t related to him at least. On top of swearing never to share what happened with a single soul outside our little girl squad, they also ran interference whenever the need arose.
Like just then.
I let out a heavy sigh, forcing my muscles to relax. There was no way in hell I was walking in there and letting him see that his presence had any effect on me. This wasmyparents’ house, damn it. If there was anyone who should have felt uncomfortable, it was him.
“It’s fine,” I insisted, shaking out the lingering tension in my shoulders and standing tall.
Rae looked skeptical. “Are you sure?”
I blew out a raspberry and waved my hand. “Totally. I amtotallyfine. Don’t I look fine? If anyone shouldn’t be fine, it’s him. Because I am totally?—”
“Fine. Yeah, so you’ve said. A little too passionately.”
“Only because it’s true.” I knew I sounded like I was losing my mind, but I couldn’t seem to stop myself.
Rae’s head tilted to the side as she studied me too closely for my comfort. “Sweetie, I thought you said you were over him.”
“I am,” I insisted, my voice rising painfully high. I cleared my throat and tried again. “I am over him.”
I held my breath as her eyes scanned every inch of my face. My stomach dropped the moment pity washed over her features. “Oh, honey.”
Damn it. I had hoped I could lie more convincingly, but apparently not.
“Whatever. I’m not talking about this, especially not right now. Let’s get inside and get this over with, shall we?” I put on a brave face and started marching toward the front porch steps like a soldier heading into battle. “Please, God, tell me there’s booze.”
“Beer and wine,” Rae said as she trailed after me. “And you know I’ve got your back. I’ll run interference as best as I can.”
I really had lucked out in the sister-in-law department. With my hand on the door knob, I turned to look over my shoulder and gave her a genuine smile. “You’re my favorite sibling.”
She returned my smile with one of her own. “I am totally telling your brother you said that next time he pisses me off.”
Oh, I had no doubt she would.
“There’s my girl!” Mom came into the entryway from the kitchen, holding her arms wide. I walked into her embrace without hesitation. Not to be partial or anything, but I could have sworn my parents gave the best hugsever. Better than kitten fur or unicorn kisses.
“Hey, Mom.”
She pulled back, cupping my cheeks in her hands and squishing them together just like she had been doing since I was a toddler. “I’m so happy to see you.”
I shook off her hold with a laugh. “I told you I would be here, didn’t I?”
“Ah, there she is!” My grandmother came around the corner just then, a glass of wine in each hand. Knowing my grandma, it was a toss-up whether one of those was for me, or she was simply double fisting.
I got my answer when she thrust one of them in my direction. “For you,” she said, stepping in to press a kiss to my cheek. I would have usually preferred a beer instead, but I had a feeling I’d be needing something with a higher alcohol content tonight.
“Ah, bless you,” I breathed gratefully before taking an extra-long gulp.
The skin on the back of my neck began to tingle, and I knew without having to turn around who was watching me, but I refused to look in that direction. Instead, I acted like he wasn’t there as I went around to greet the rest of my family.
