“Are you sure about that? Because I think we both know that when Wes finds out you’ve been sleeping with a man who holds way too much power over his career, he might disagree. Especially once you tell him that you’re in love with the guy.”
Shock turns my knees weak, forcing me to lean against the garage door. The laugh that bursts free of me sounds equally as terrified as I feel.
“Who the hell said anything about love?”
She blinks, face completely unmoving. “Don’t insult our friendship by pretending in front of me. I should have noticed this from the beginning. Toronto makes so much more sense now. You snuck off to go have sex with Roman Shore.”
“I’m not pretending. Maybe I like him a little, but I don’t love him,” I push, shaking my head. “I was horny, and he was there.”
This time, she’s the one laughing. A deep belly laugh that cracks through the night air with the punch of a gunshot. “You’ve always been a terrible liar. A man like him isn’t the type you go to when you need a quick fuck, Brielle. You know that just as well as I do.”
I shove hot fingers through my hair and swallow the confessions that want to be spoken out loud. The agreement that while she may be off a bit, Idofeel things for him. Too many things, considering his lack of opening up to me these last few weeks. There’s . . . there’s only so much I can deny to her.
“Okay, fine. I’m in too deep. That doesn’t mean I’m in love with him. I don’t even know him well enough for that,” I explain with a frustrated wave of my hands.
Aubrey takes a step toward me and grabs my shoulders firmly. Her eyes hold mine in place, ensuring I can’t look away. “How deep are you?”
“I don’t know.”
“Shit.”
“We’re talking about this like I’ve gotten caught in the mob or something,” I mutter, my throat tight.
She releases a slow, calm breath and tugs me closer. “We’ll figure it out.”
“This isn’t a mess I need you to clean up for me, Aubrey.”
“I know that. You’re not a child. I’m just really concerned here. This won’t just affect Wes. Think about the rest of the guys, too. What if you two have a messy break and he takes his frustration out on Wes? Or Finn?”
Something hot and angry explodes through me at the insinuation. “He’s not an immature boy with a habit of mixing his personal life with his professional one.”
“And you know that for a fact? Without a sliver of a doubt?”
“Do you know without a sliver of a doubt that if you and Finn broke up, it wouldn’t affect the well-being of the group? Of the team? Because I don’t remember talking about what to do if that very scenario did occur when I was encouraging you to take the risk,” I snap back.
She reels back. “Woah.”
“Well? You’re not being fair.”
“You’re right,” she admits, loosening her grip on my shoulders bit by bit until her hands fall. They smooth the front of her blouse. “I haven’t been fair. I’m sorry.”
I relax a bit. “Our being here tonight is because of Evie. Not Roman.”
“I know that much.” She pauses, rolling her glossy lips together. “I’d rather be here than home alone, missing Finn like a total sucker.”
“Do you . . . always miss him this much when he’s on the road?”
Aubrey’s entire demeanour changes. One moment, she’s still watching me a bit gingerly, and the next, there’s almostappreciation gleaming in her eyes. She nods and lets go of a trapped exhale.
“Yes. All the time. Even before we got together. I hated that he was gone so often.”
“It doesn’t get easier, then. That’s what you’re saying.”
Her bottom lip tugs up as she swats a piece of hair over my shoulder. “You miss Roman?”
“Are you going to give me a lecture if I say yes?”
“No. I’m going to bring you inside and do my best to distract the both of us so we don’t get depressed over two men. Does yours at least know how to choose a good bottle of rosé?”
