“Right.”Hunter is definitely laughing at me now.
I run my hand through my hair and look at Hunter, really look at him.
He looks like shit.
“I thought you were going to the city?”
“I was, yeah, but apparently Bailey’s not home.Wait, how did you know I was going to the city?”
“Uh, that’s where you went last time you got in a fight with Morgan, so I just assumed?”Ugh.I hate lying to Hunter, but Idefinitelycan’t tell him Bailey is here.I’m willing to take the punch, but I can’t do that to Bailey without us having a conversation about it.Hell, we need to have a conversation about us.She was ready to bolt this morning, and that’s not how I want to leave it.
“Oh yeah.Well, I’m not exactly in a fight with Morgan right now.I mean, he’s nothappywith me, but he’s more pissed at his brother.”
“Graham deserved it, I’m sure.I wonder what it’s gonna take for Morgan to finally see the light on Graham.”
Hunter blows out a breath.“Who knows.Anyway, you wanna grab lunch?”He lifts his chin toward my house.“You can bring your friend.”
The hope in his voice breaks my heart.“She’s not staying.Why don’t I meet you at Sweet Persuasions in an hour?”
He straightens, a grin peeking through.“Yeah, that’d be great.”
He holds his hand out for one of our complicated handshakes we’ve been doing since grade school—the one we invented in sixth grade and have never forgotten.It ends like it always does, in a hug.
I hold on longer than usual, because Hunter needs it.He’s always the one taking care of us, protecting us, making sure we’re okay.Even now, when he’s the one who just punched someone and is clearly having a rough time, he showed up to check on me.
My best friend.Who I just lied to.About his sister.Who’s currently hiding shirtless in my kitchen.
The guilt sits heavy in my gut, but I push it down.Hunter’s body softens in my embrace and I can feel him relax, some of the tension leaving his shoulders.
And then he pulls away and says, “You smell like sex,” and my heart stops.
If he kills me, right here on my front stoop, I’m pretty sure I deserve it.
When I go back inside,Bailey’s dressed again but lying on my kitchen floor, staring at the ceiling.Echo loafs on her chest, purring up a storm.My cat turns her head and glares at me, ears going back.She’s pissed that I didn’t let her say hello to Hunter.
Bailey doesn’t look at me.
I sink to the floor, crossing my legs underneath me.“How much of that did you hear?”
“Enough.”Her voice is carefully neutral—that flat tone she uses when she’s building her walls back up.“You’re meeting my brother for lunch?”
“Yeah.”I watch her profile, trying to read her expression.“Bailey?—”
“It’s fine.”She scratches Echo’s chin, still not looking at me.“You should go.He needs you right now.”
The words are generous, but her tone is distant.Like she’s already left.She doesn’t move though, scratching Echo’s chin just right, and I’m pretty certain she’s staying put because of my cat.Not because of me.And I want that to change.
“When can I see you again?”
Bailey sighs.Echo shoots me another dirty look.“I don’t know if that’s a good idea.”
“Why not?”
Bailey turns her head to look at me.“Well, for starters, my brother thinks you’re hooking up with a tourist from Hinge.”
“Do you want me to tell him it was you?”I move to stand, patting the counter looking for my phone.
“No, don’t.”Bailey sits up, finally dislodging my cat who shakes herself and stalks away, irritated with the humans who are no fun.Bailey catches my sleeve and tugs me back down to the floor.“It doesn’t make any sense to tell him.You’ll just get punched—maybe—and what would be the point?”
