Laney’s eyes widen at that.
“What?”
“I, uh…” Stumbling, she focuses back on her task, but now I’m curious about her reaction. “Nothing. So, did you take him up on that?”
“I mean, I kind of had to. I ended up having ice cream with him and Ellis that night too. That little girl is very persuasive.”
“Oh, I know. My niece gets her way around here, trust me. There are plenty of adults in her life that have fallen victim to that smile and pout.”
“She’s such a sweetheart, though. And my puppy loves her. She asks to play with him all the time.”
“And Rhonan lets her?”
“Yeah. Is that surprising?”
Laney shrugs. “Honestly, he’s not one to make friends.”
I laugh. “Well, he made it clear we aren’t friends. But apparently, he’s forgotten all about that because he and Elliot fixed my shower the day after mine broke, and I’m supposed to paint rocks with Ellis sometime this week.” Sighing, I mutter under my breath, “Confusing man.”
Laney shakes her head in disbelief. “Wow.”
I arch a brow at her. “Why do I get the feeling there’s something more you want to say?”
“There is. I just…”
I hold a hand up. “It’s fine. You don’t have to.”
She shakes her head. “No. I think it’s important that you know.” Inhaling deeply, she continues. “My brother is pretty closed off, which makes the fact that he’s voluntarily helping you and letting you spend time with Ellis sort of…hopeful?” She lifts her shoulders as hope blossoms in my chest, even though I know that it shouldn’t for multiple reasons. “I’m just saying, he doesn’t do stuff like that for just anyone.”
“Oh.”
“I love my brother, but I also know that sometimes he needs to be pushed a bit to see things clearly.”
“What do you mean?”
Our eyes meet in the mirror. “I heard about the night you met.”
My pulse spikes. “I see.”
“Yeah. And I’m sure you had your reasons for walking away, but my brother was definitely in a mood after that.”
“I’ve apologized, but I honestly never thought I’d see him again. He just…took me by surprise.”
She holds up a hand to stop me. “Trust me, I get it. I hid from my feelings for Fletcher for years and wasted so much time when deep down, I knew what I wanted.”
But do you even know what you want, Vienna? And does that involve Rhonan? Or should you just lay low like you planned when you moved here?
Laney taps her chin in thought while my mind is spiraling. “You know, I just remembered that we have room for another guest at the wedding,” she says, a knowing smirk on her lips. “So perhaps you’d like a free meal and booze on June 1st?”
“Wait. You’re inviting me to your wedding?” I practically shriek, but then glance around the salon to make sure I wasn’t too loud.
She laughs. “I mean, you are my brother’s neighbor and my niece’s teacher. You’re practically family now.”
Shaking my head, I reply, “That’s so sweet, Laney, but you don’t have to do that.”
“I know I don’t, but I want to. And while I’m thinking about it, do you like yoga by any chance?” she asks rapidly, throwing me off kilter.
“Uh, I do actually.”
