I let him go. Because I know my brother. He’s not going to talk to me right now.
Ashley wanders over to join us, and I smile when she complains about all the random women.
“My brother’s influence,” I say. “Jared won’t settle down.”
“He’s not even talking to any of them, though,” Winter points out.
That’s true, actually.
“Why the hell did Jared invite them then?” Ashley says curtly. “They’re puck bunnies. It’s pretty obvious they only want one thing.”
Jared, beer in hand, squeezes into the chaise lounge next to Ashley.
“Hey, y’all.”
Ashley rolls her eyes at him. “Seriously, why invite all these strangers over if you’re not even going to hang out with them?”
Jared glances over at the hot tub. “They bothering you?”
Ashley blushes. “No. Yes. I don’t know!”
She looks at Peyton, who stands up and the two of them head for the house.
I shake my head at my brother. “Jared, what are you doing?”
He just grins. “I didn’t invite them for me. I invited them for Liam.”
“Liam?” Winter looks around. “Where is he? Besides being married, that is.”
“He’s hiding out inside. He and Cathy are on the outs,” Jared says. “He’s having a rough go of it.”
Winter turns to me. “You didn’t mention that. I would have baked him something.”
I kiss her neck. “You still can. I didn’t know if he wanted his situation known yet. It’s still pretty raw.”
Jared and I exchange worried glances.
“I’m going to go check on him,” Jared says. “And maybe I’ll try to make up with Ashley.”
“Whatever happened between you two?” I ask him.
He just flips me off and keeps walking. “None of your business, Hunt,” he calls over his shoulder.
Winter turns to me. “I can’t believe Ashley never spilled to me. She’s usually an open book.”
I shrug. “Maybe we’ll find out someday. In the meanwhile, do you want to get out of here?”
Winter smiles. “You have some post-engagement party plans for us?”
Absolutely.
I want to take my fiancée in my arms and tell her how much I love her.
How much I’ve always loved her.
“I vote for going straight to the bedroom,” she whispers to me.
I kiss her as we stand up. “We’re on the same page, Princess,” I say in her ear.
