4
Mia got to the library and unlocked the front door. Allison was already waiting in the parking lot and followed her inside as Mia flipped on the lights.
“You’re here early,” Mia said.
“Working on a deadline.”
Allison made her way to her usual table and set up as Mia set all her things down and powered on her computer. She didn’t expect much action today at the library. But being in a small town meant there wasn’t much going on when the schools weren’t scheduled to come by.
The front door swung open, and Mia looked over to see who was entering. The mornings were usually the slowest, so she hadn’t expected to see anyone aside from Allison for a few hours. But when all three of Jackson’s brothers walked in, Mia’s eyebrows shot up. She couldn’t recall a time when she ever saw them in the library unless one of them was bringing Emma in for a book. But Emma was in school.
“Hey, guys. What are you doing here?”
The three men walked over to the counter. Noah leaned forward with his forearms on the counter, Ethan leaned his hipagainst it, and Miles stood with a more casual stance with his hands tucked in his pockets.
“We aren’t going to bullshit here. You’re in love with Jackson,” Ethan said.
It wasn’t a question. Just a statement. Mia’s cheeks burned. She had never spoken it aloud, but always suspected his family had picked up on it with the varying looks they all gave her.
She walked to the back room and fished out the books from the return bin and walked back to the counter. She needed something to keep her busy, to avoid having to look at the guys. Opening the first book, she went into the library system and marked it returned.
“What’s this about?”
“Jackson told us about the pact.”
She froze and looked up. “And?”
Noah smiled. “And when you turn thirty, the pact will come true.”
She looked between the three brothers’ smiling faces. “We were kids when we made that, and he doesn’t want me.”
Miles sighed. “See, that’s where you’re wrong. He just doesn’t know he wants you. He’s in denial.”
Mia set the book aside. Her interest was piqued. “Why do you think that?”
“He doesn’t date. He gets everything he wants in you.”
“That’s not entirely true.” They weren’t sleeping together. He didn’t get anything physical from her, which meant he was getting it somewhere else. Jealousy spiked in her stomach.
“We meant the female companionship. He’s got his best friend,” Ethan said.
“I knew it!” Allison practically yelled from right beside them.
They all jumped and looked over at her.
“Where did you come from?” Ethan asked.
“I’ve been listening in this entire time. I’ve been telling her he’s in love with her,” Allison said.
Mia sighed. “Yes, I’ll admit I’ve always had feelings for Jackson. But he has never felt the same way, and I don’t want to risk our friendship.”
“You don’t have to risk it.”
“Telling him means he has a chance to say ‘no.’” She grabbed a stack of books and carried them out from around the counter and across the library. The group trailed behind her.
“You’d rather go your entire life wondering if you could have been?” Noah asked.
“Over losing my best friend? Yes.”
