“Kind of?” Sophie giggles, but then throws Lily an ‘I-told-you-so’ look.
Lily does an eye roll that starts from one side of her head to the other in a grand flourish before narrowing in on me.
I get the message, or rather, the command to explain myself. “I was so upset, and Wade was messed up about his nana selling the ranch. I guess we had a shared moment.” I hold my hands up as if to assert my innocence, which I’m not. Innocent, that is. I was the one who instigated the kiss, after all.
They all sobered quickly, staring at me as if I dropped a bombshell, which I kind of did.
Sophie speaks first, concern coating her voice. “Why is his grandmother selling their ranch?”
The gawkers resume enjoying their meals, but three very intent sets of eyes stare at me in expectation, demanding I explain.
I’ve done it now. Waving it off, I lean against the back of the booth. “I shouldn’t have mentioned that. Not my story to tell.”
Lily lifts a finely shaped brow. “But you did.”
She’s right. I did. “Then forget I said anything. Please?”
All three of them shake their heads.
Wade will have a cow if he finds out I told anyone before he’s had a chance to process things and figure something out. I could pose it as if I were simply trying to help him. In all honesty, that’s all it would be, anyway.
I’ve been banging around ideas to solve this predicament. I even dug through my boxes to find the album I’d created when I dreamed of opening up my family’s ranch to the public for weekend events like horseback riding and a petting zoo during the spring and summer. My plan included event hosting for reunions and weddings all year long, and, in autumn, we’d rent part of the apple orchard on Wade’s property for apple picking, which would include a stand selling apple fritters, hot apple cider, and apple cider donuts, of course.
I never had the chance to bring that dream to life, but who says this couldn’t work now? It would take a lot, though, and since Nana doesn’t want to run the ranch anymore, I doubt she’d be interested in doing it, anyway. Still, my heart aches to see the last connection to my family’s history go away, too.
Mia turns in the booth to face me. “Is his grandmother sick or something?”
“No, nothing like that.” I tug a hand from each of them into a knot of fingers on the table and cover them with mine. “Promise you won’t say anything to Wade, Ethan, Luke, or Payton. Swear?”
They all nod.
“She wants to sell the ranch and retire. That’s all I know.”
“Wade didn’t tell you what’s going on?” Mia asks.
I pull my hands to my lap and stare at them. “He didn’t really have a chance.”
Sophie mouths a silent ‘oh.’ “Because of the kiss.”
I shrug. “I guess.”
Still facing me, Mia leans her chin in her hand. “Yeah, let’s talk about that. Was it a good kiss? You know, the kind that’s nice and sweet. Or was it as hot as blazes?”
My cheeks burst into flames. I don’t have to see my face to know it’s beet red, giving her an answer without saying a word.
Sophie gasps yet again as she turns toward Mia, who’s wearing the biggest smile I’ve ever seen on her.
Mia holds her hand out toward Sophie. “Pay up.”
After digging into a bright pink wallet, Sophie hands over a dollar bill. “I hate it when you’re right.”
“I know.” Mia snatches and tucks the bill into her purse, grinning with satisfaction.
“A dollar? That’s it?” I don’t know why I’m offended. A dollar bet seems so minuscule compared to the impact this kiss could have on my friendship with Wade.
Lily holds her hands up in innocence. “I had nothing to do with it.”
I prop my elbows on the table and cover my face. “You guys, I don’t know what to do. I left Texas to get away from the mess there and start over. But all I’ve done is drag it here with me and create a new one as well.” I cross my arms on the surface. “What is wrong with me?”
