KENNEDY
The waitress slides Hart’s plate in front of him before turning to me. Caroline holds eye contact for a beat too long, then blushes and sets down my order.
“There you go, Kenny,” she says, smile curling prettily, and my gut does that littlewhooshthing.
My lips tug upward in return, which pulls a cute giggle from her, and a long, loud sigh from my brother.
She walks away, and I turn to him.
“What?”
Hart takes his time dipping a fry into the pile of ketchup on his plate before answering in a bored voice, “Just wondering how long it will be before you declare her my new sister-in-law.”
“Don’t be dramatic.”
“Dramatic? This might be the longest relationship you’ve ever had.”
I know he’s exaggerating for effect, but I can’t deny that he has a point. We’ve been coming to this same diner in Wayward a few times a week since we got to Wilde’s End, andCarolinehasworked most of those days. When I’m interested in someone, I normally ask them out right away, and by the second date …
No. Nope. Can’t do it. I’m not going there again. Every time I think I’ve found someone amazing, I come on too strong and scare them off. Wilde’s End is in the middle of nowhere, and we have a big job ahead of us, even with how much we’ve done already.
Surely being out here is the one time I can escape dating and love and instead focus on accomplishing something.
When I return home, then I can think about relationships again.
I level my twin with the most serious look I can manage. “No relationship. I’m off dating, remember?”
The mocking expression he wears as he continues to eat his fries shows how much he believes me.
“I’m serious this time.”
“The fact you need to saythis timegives me a pass for not believing you.”
I can’t argue with him. I want to, but I can’t. “You’ll see.”
“Maybe.” He stabs at the side salad that’s mostly lettuce and some tomato. “I’m still waiting for you and Hudson to get bored of this place and move home, and it hasn’t happened yet.”
Not that Hudson didn’t try. Last week, when it looked like the wild man he’d been sleeping with wanted to end their arrangement, he’d taken off. They’ve worked things out now, but damn, that had been a long two days between when he left and when he came back. Our older brother has always been terrible with making decisions, and it wasn’t my place to interfere, but asking someone to treat your sibling right shouldn’t be that much of an issue.
I love Hudson and want the best for him.
Hartwell too.
Sometimes it feels like out of the three of us, I’m the only one who actually wants to be happy.
Wilde and Hudson are … dating now? If you can call fucking like rabbits and grunting at each other dating, and while I don’t believe it’s serious or going to last, I’ve already said my piece and need to leave it at that.
Sometimes I feelso muchthat when I’m upset, it’s world-ending. It’s why my brothers are over all of the breakups. But the heightened emotion isn’t only for me; it’s for everyone in my life. When I love someone—romantic or platonic—I want to do everything in my power to make sure they’re living their happiest life, and if they’re not … sometimes it’s like I can’t breathe under the weight of it all. Like I’ve failed at the one thing I’m good at.
“Oh no …” Hart monotones around the food in his mouth. “I’m ninety percent sure she’s bringing you her number.”
My body is at war with itself as I perk up at the same time as regret floods me. Under any other circumstances, I’d be interested, but I’ve promised myself, dammit.
“Hey,” Caroline says, warm brown stare focused on the tile floor. “I wanted to give you this. Use it, don’t use it, I … yeah.” She drops the paper on the table and hurries away like she’s ready for the floor to swallow her whole.
My respect for her is through the roof because how brave is she? Clearly nervous but came over anyway. I pick up the paper, and Hart was right: her number is scrawled under her name, dotted with a heart.
“You called it,” I tell him.
