I almost choke. “What?”
She gives me a knowing look. “I saw him driving away as I was pulling up.”
“Damn it,” I mumble under my breath.
“It’s not like anyone comes to this side of the property for fun.” She raises an eyebrow. “So what was he doing here?”
“Bringing me firewood.”
Her eyes narrow in suspicion, knowing there has to be more to the story. “Why?”
I shrug like it’s no big deal and definitely not somethingthat’s been messing with my head since the moment he left. “There was none when I got here last night. Leo must’ve sent him over with some logs this morning.”
Liv studies me for a second, then grins. “Huh. So, let me get this straight. He shows up, mostly likely uninvited, because let’s be real, Leo didn’t tell him shit. Brings you firewood. Clearly started it for you, because I know for damn sure you don’t know how to do it yourself. And then stormed off dramatically. And you’re gonna sit here and pretend that’s normal?”
“How do you know it was ‘dramatic?’”
“Well by the look on his face, I wouldn’t have assumed things went smoothly.” My face tells her everything she needs to know because she begins to cackle. “Oh, honey. You are inso muchtrouble.”
I huff, dropping onto the couch next to her. I don’t bother to argue because I already know I am.
“I hate you.”
“That’s fair,” she says, stealing a bite of my croissant.
I watch her for a second, grateful that she’s here and that I have someone besides my brothers that I know I can count on. She gives me a mischievous look and I have a feeling that I know what she’s going to say next.
“Do not,” I warn.
Liv smirks. “Oh, I’m definitely going to.” She pauses, “Tell me everything.”
I hesitate. “We argued. Like always.”
“Figures.” She blinks, waiting for more details.
I gesture wildly. “I completely forgot yesterday was Friday, so of course thirty minutes after being back in Windhaven, he shows up to the house. Then offers to drive me here after dinner. We argue in the truck. He shows up again this morning with wood and starts the fire. It’s six in the morning. You know I’mnota morning person so I was already in a mood. The next thing I know, we’re standing way too close and?—”
Liv’s eyes sparkle with excitement. She thrives on other people’s drama. “Way too close?”
I shoot her a look. “That’snotthe point.”
She hums, clearly unconvinced. “So you guys argued,” she says, making air quotes, “and then he left?”
I shift uncomfortably. “Yeah. He, um… stormed out.”
She tilts her head, continuing her attempt to pry information out of me. “What were you arguing about?”
I open my mouth, then shut it, as I think back to the way his eyes were transfixed on my lips as I was talking, most likely not paying attention to anything I was actually saying. I shake away the thought. “I don’t remember.”
Liv laughs. “Oh my God, Em! You’re so full of shit!”
I grab a pillow and smack her with it. “Shut up.”
She cackles, dodging my next swing. “I knew this would happen. You and Alex have so much unresolved tension that you both don’t know what to do with it.”
“Idoknow what to do with it,” I say firmly. “Ignore it. Forever.”
Liv rolls her eyes. “Right. That’s already working so well for you. Standing too close to each other,” she mocks.
