Erin huffed. “It’s true. You’re dating Maggie.”
So much for that shield. He couldn’t lie to her or even distract her—she was like a dog with a bone at times like this. “It’s brand-new, Erin. We’ve only had two dates.” Three if you counted the aquarium and four if you counted last night’s pizza—which he wasn’t.
“My best friend is dating my other brother and neither of you bothered to mention it? This is a huge shift—and it affects the whole family.” She gave her head a hard shake. “She was Ethan’s wife, Josh. I feel like the whole world just turned upside down.”
“Don’t buy into Nora’s irrational thinking. We’re not exactly committing incest here, you know. Nora’s only upset because she wanted Maggie to pair up with the son of a board member to further her own career. That’s what this is really all about.”
“Dr. Derrick?”
Josh blinked. “He’s a doctor?”
“Listen, I know how Nora can be and I don’t necessarily share her outrage. But at the same time, I’m having trouble wrapping my mind around this.” Her eyes narrowed on him. “And a little heads-up would’ve been nice. She blindsided me.”
He couldn’t believe Derrick was a doctor. He was surprised Nora hadn’t thrown that in his face last night. He shook the thought away. “Well, that’s what she does.”
“And yet Maggie confided inNoraabout your relationship?”
Josh gave a harsh laugh. “Of course not. Her mom walked in on us at the beach house last night and had a hissy fit.”
“Walked in on you... what?” Erin scowled. “Just two dates, huh?”
“It was just two dates.”
“And already there was something to walk in on?”
He glared at his sister. He couldn’t believe Nora had gone behind their backs like this. Stirred things up. It shouldn’t have surprised him, though.
“All right, fine.” Erin crossed her arms. “It’s none of my business.”
“Finally.”
“But this does affect the whole family, whether you like it or not. And it would’ve been nice if my brother or best friend had at least mentioned it in passing.”
“We wanted to let it play out without pressure from the family. We wanted to see how it went.”
“And? How’s it going?”
“It’s going well, Erin, that’s how it’s going.”
“Excuse me for being a little caught off guard here. Maggie and I tell each other everything—or so I thought. I’ve spoken with her almost every day this summer.”
“Don’t you dare give her a hard time about this. We were just waiting till the fifth anniversary passed. We didn’t want to spring it on the family when we’re all about to face that day. Nora’s already scolded and shamed her over this—it was painful to witness and all I could do to stop myself from throttling the woman. Maggie was shaking by the time she finally left.” Josh pinned Erin with an unwavering stare. “The last thing she needs is her best friend heaping guilt on her too.”
Erin held his eye contact. Then she slowly leaned back in the booth, her gaze sharpening on him with a knowing look. “You’re in love with her.”
He gritted his teeth. He hadn’t meant to give himself away like that. “If I am, you’re sure not the first person I’d tell.”
Erin’s expression softened. Then she looked to the window where a model bow tug made its way upstream.
“Don’t you dare tell her.”
Erin glanced his way, all innocence. “Tell her what?” Then her lips tipped in a warm smile. “Does she feel the same way?”
“I don’t know,” he grumbled. Shifted in the booth. He knew he should’ve added some padding to the seat backs.
“I’ve never seen you quite like this.”
“Testy?”
