She narrowed her eyes. “I should’ve done the hip-dip spin to the right on beat, and I would’ve seen you.”
“It’s clear who’s at fault. The singer should’ve sung the song slower.”
She laughed, and a terrible yearning formed in my chest. No. This was not for me. But I could be friends with Clover, and friends laughed together. That thought eased the throbbing in my butt even more.
When Elijah first brought her home, I couldn’t believe he’d picked someone with a brain. Usually, his girlfriends had to lack some intelligence to put up with his pompous nature. But Clover was kind while having stars in her eyes around him. He was always good at fooling people. And I was always good at being fooled by him.
I got off the floor, wincing at the cracking in the knee I hurt in high school. Damn thing didn’t like getting bent at extreme angles without some warning.
“You did get hurt!” She stood and wrung her hands.
“No, it’s just an old snowboarding injury.”
Her bow mouth formed an O. “Is that where you collided with Elijah?”
“Is that what he said?” I muttered, hobbling down the hall to the kitchen. I needed more cookies at the mention of my brother.
A wave of lemon-fresh scent followed me. “What happened? Didn’t Elijah tell me the truth? Oh God, he lied again, didn’t he? Is this what it’s going to be like from now on? I’m going to find out about all the things he was dishonest about?”
She must chatter when she was nervous. My finger that had been on her lips tingled. Her mouth was way too inviting.
My brain must’ve gotten rattled in the fall.
“I have no doubt he thinks it’s the truth.” I reached the cookies and took two. I held the plate out to her.
She put her hand to her stomach. “I was craving them, but when they were done, I got nauseous. It usually passes by late afternoon.”
“Morning sickness?”
She nodded, and I kept my gaze planted firmly on her face. Better than those curvy legs or the way her shirt pooled around her hips, showing off an hourglass figure. It was bad enough that I was closing my eyes and seeing her in that ethereal dress during the wedding. It had clovers on it, and it was perfect for her.
She wasn’t mine.
All we had in common was this house and that we’d both been let down by Elijah. She’d asked for the real story behind my knee. I was okay blasting any rose-colored glasses she was still wearing when it came to him. “Elijah wanted to use my snowboard, and I said no. On the next run, he rammed right into me. Didn’t even know he had enough skill to do that.” I shoved a cookie into my mouth.
Her pretty lips turned down. “He said you got too close to him and clipped him because you were new at it.”
I barked out a laugh, and a few crumbs escaped. Damn. I’d been in that basement too long, and I’d known it.
Wiping my mouth, I swallowed. “He was the noob. It’s why I wouldn’t lend him my snowboard and made him rent one. He refused to go on what he considered a lesser slope than me. But I think he crashed into me on purpose.”
“Why?”
Surprised she didn’t just brush me off, I stuffed another cookie into my mouth. My parents always took Elijah’s side. I was the “oops” kid and a hard baby on top of it. He was planned and had slept a lot. I was supposed to hand everything over for his taking as the cost of being the oldest and fussiest.
Brushing my fingers off, I thought about what to say. “He’s the prized child. What was mine was his.” And now his fiancée was my wife. My stomach clenched around the cookie. Was that the motivation behind my bright idea? “He doesn’t like being told no.”
Her brows popped up. “Oh. Wow. I mean, I knew he was arrogant—and he seemed harsh when it came to you. But I thought…” She lifted her shoulders. “I thought we were kindred spirits.” Her eyes misted over, and she hastily swiped at her cheeks. “Ugh. These hormones. I am not missing a guy who tossed me and the baby away so easily.”
Did I blame my hormones for not liking how she was crying over Elijah? I wasn’t surprised he could ditch her and a kid. I’d known him my whole life, and it was on trend. Clover was the one person in the world who’d believe me now, and for that alone, I’d help her.
“Maybe it’s time for that cookie.” She grabbed three. “Since I can’t crack a cold one for a while.”
“I can get root beer.”
“I’ve got a six-pack of it. I usually drink kombucha, but I can’t handle that right now either.” She wandered farther into the kitchen. “What do you want for dinner? I was going to pick up more groceries, but I didn’t know what you liked.”
A vise crimped around my ribs. Buying groceries for each other? Too cozy. I was here to get to the next level in my career. “I can cook for myself. I can buy my own stuff too.”
