“There’s no resentment,” I promised, focusing hard on keeping my voice steady and sure. “I’ve moved on completely… I’m seeing someone.”
Rose blinked in surprise. “You’re seeing someone?”
“Why didn’t you say anything?” Logan asked, suspicious,given her earlier attempt to help me prep for this confrontation.
“It still feels new,” I said.
“How new?” Aimee asked around between bites of danish.
“Since the summer,” I said, because none of them had been home during the summer. With no one around to confirm, they’d never be able to figure out that I’d spent most of my time tagging along with Haven to the beach and watching her get hit on while I scribbled ideas in my sketchbook.
“So, what’s their name?” Mom asked.
“Their name…” I hesitated as if it were a math question.
Rose scoffed, and Logan shot me a sympathetic look.
Mom laughed, oblivious to any kind of suspicion. “Yes, I assume they have one?”
“It’s David,” I said, because it seemed like the most logical next move. Logan had already heard his voice in my room. And Rose heard his voice note. It was clear we’d been spending time together. Since we went to Westbrooke together, it made sense that maybe we’d found solace in one another… I almost laughed at the thought, but kept myself together under the curious stares. There had been an actual kiss between us after all. So, some chemistry (no matter how minuscule) existed underneath the depths of our shared disdain.
It may not be that deep.
“You sure?” Rose asked.
“What do you mean, am I sure?” I frowned, trying my best not to snap at her. So, Ren chose her over me. So, she’d been able to reach her dreams at breakneck speed. So, she’ll be married by next year. Was it really so difficult to believe that someone would be interested in me once again?
“David’s a great guy,” I continued, forcing myself to think of more nice things to say about him and our nonexistent relationship. “He’s matured since high school. Really dedicated to his team. And he… pushes me to try new things. I’m pretty sure I’m in love.”
The last part had been unnecessary. But I wanted to emphasize I had my own world outside of them. While their world kept spinning, mine did too. I was growing, changing, and falling in love.
“Really in love this time. Not the first time, puppy love stuff with Ren. She was sweet but… well, with David it’s different,” I said, and that seemed to drive the point home. They exchanged looks, and the consensus seemed to be they were willing to move David to the next stage in Every women approval. They needed to vet him for themselves.
“You should bring David to the engagement dinner, then,” Rose offered with a smile.
“I think that’s a lovely idea.” Mom held up her glass of orange juice to salute Rose. “I think this is the first time all of you girls have partners simultaneously.”
“The engagement dinner…?” I asked, my skin itchy again. Aimee noticed my nails as I went to work, placing her hand on top of mine under the table. My cheeks burned, but she didn’t say anything to everyone else. She simply patted me and went back to finishing her danish.
“It’ll be nice to have everyone together,” Rose said.
“Okay, yeah, I’ll ask, but it’s the beginning of the season, so… he’s swamped.”
“He can’t take one night off to go to dinner with his girlfriend?” Rose raised a brow, a challenge.
I swallowed and forced myself to smile, trying to make it look as natural and easy as possible. “I’ll bring him. He’ll be there.”
“Perfect.” Rose beamed, and it was her turn to salute me with her glass. “To love. New and old.”
“New and old,” I said, hollow and a million miles away.
David had started this mess, but I’d dug myself deeper. I was at the core of the earth, and my only way back up may be a temperamental asshole with a penchant for making me work for it.
13
I’d goneto sleep that night hoping a better option would present itself in my dreams. I’d solved plenty of nightmare scenarios in the comfort of my subconscious. But no matter how many times I hit snooze, my options remained the same:
1. Come clean and start another uncomfortable, unnecessary point of tension between my soon-to-be-engaged sister.
