I’m cautious of it getting late when I put Caroline in her car and warn her to drive safely. She should make it back to Wayward before dark, but up here, surrounded by hills and trees, nighttime sets in fast.
I watch as the brake lights disappear into the trees, feeling thrown by the last few hours. For someone who’s always sucked at romance, there’s no doubt in my mind that Caroline was flirting with me, after the agreed friends thing, and it’s not sitting right. I’d hate to think I’m leading her on, but I was up-front about where I’m at.
I don’t know what else to do.
My brothers are sitting in the camping chairs outside the main house we’ve been using to sleep in. It’s the only one we haven’t started pulling apart, but once one of the others is livable, this one will be going too. Until then, it’s almost starting to feel like home.
“Surprised she didn’t stick around for dinner,” Hart calls as I get closer.
“Didn’t want her driving in the dark.”
“She could have stayed the night. We wouldn’t care.”
I bristle at how easily he throws that out there. “Why would I want her to stay?”
Hart’s cynical gaze slides to Hudson. “Ah … because that’s sort of your thing? Smother them in attention, wear their skin …”
“Gross.”
“He’s got a point,” Hudson unhelpfully adds. “Normally when you start seeing someone, you don’t let them out of your sight.”
“The difference is,” I say, trying to keep my tone even, “I’m not seeing Caroline.”
He waves my comment away. “Dating. Wanting to date. Same thing.”
“Did it occur to either of you that I don’t want to date her at all?” My tone gets louder with each word, but I’m met by silence. “Hartwell? Itoldyou I didn’t want to date her.”
“Yeah, because of the stupid deal you made with Hudson.”
Before I can answer, Hudson cuts in. “Which I’m not holding you to, by the way. I know that getting together with Wilde sort of negated?—”
“It doesn’t negate anything. And you don’t need to hold me to it.” I turn to the cooktop and act invested in getting it as clean as possible before I start dinner. “I brought up the idea because I wanted to do it. I’m sick of having my heart stomped on.”
“If it helps, I don’t think she’s planning to do any stomping.” Hart scowls. “I bumped into her in Wayward, and to get her to shut up about you and stop talking to me, I offered for her to follow me up here.”
“Yeah, well, thanks for that,” I throw back sarcastically. “Next time, don’t offer. I was busy and then had to spend the afternoon playing tour guide.”
“Tour guide to a pretty girl who’s interested in you?” Hudson mocks. “Thepain.”
“Shut the fuck up.” It’s not like me to snap, and I know I’m making them uncomfortable, but the longer I have to think about it, the more I don’t like that no one is listening to me. Is it really that unbelievable that I’m not interested in someone?
“Wait …” Hart drags out the word. “Are you …madat me?”
Am I? Hudson and I lock horns about the important stuff, but Hartwell never gives anything enough attention for me to bother getting mad at him. Right now though? I actually think I am.
“All I’m saying is that it would have been nice if you called first.”
“With her in my face? You wanted me to call and see if I was allowed to bring her over for a playdate?”
“I had plans.”
“Doing what?”
Nothing, actually, and I’m too slow to think up a lie.
“What’s really going on here? Any other time and you’d be high-fiving me for setting you up.”
“I don’twantto be set up.”
