“He does,” I interject, glancing down at the silver bracelet with a little bee charm dangling from my wrist. Fingering the delicate jewelry, I smile to myself.
However, happiness has levels, and passion for my job doesn’t compare to passion for his former best friend.
“Stone values honesty above all else,” Enya adds.
The statement is a reminder of Cort’s past with Stone. He came to Stone after everything that happened and admitted his fault. It destroyed their friendship.
And if anyone has lied recently, it’s been me.
“You just need to tell him the truth,” Genie reiterates. “Lies never lead anywhere good.”
Says the girl who faked an engagement with Judd, only to learn they actually were in love with one another.
“I’m not saying it will be easy,” Enya tries to soothe. “Just tell him what you told us. How happy Cort makes you.”
“And now is your opportunity.” Mavis nods and I look up to see my brother in his sheriff’s uniform entering the Roadhouse.
“He’s probably on a dinner break.” I hesitate. “I should wait until we are somewhere private.” Then again, in a public place, Stone is less likely to make a scene. Not that he is a scene-making kind of guy, but you never know about those silent types.
“No time like the present,” Cadence encourages.
“You got this.” Halle reaches across the table and gives my arm a reassuring squeeze.
“I got this,” I state, slowly rising and taking a final gulp of my margarita.
This is Stone. My oldest brother. A man who has loved me unconditionally from infancy to ornery teen to single motherhood. He’s been by my side literally every day of my life. He wasn’t my father; he’s been so much more, and that’s why this situation felt so much worse.
But I also believe what every important woman in my life has told me. My brother only wants the best for each of us. He wants us happy and whole, loved, and I am all those things . . . with Cort. And honesty is the best way through this situation.
“Hey, big brother,” I tease, slipping into a chair across from Stone. He took a seat at a high-top table closer to the bar and he holds a menu like he hasn’t eaten at Milton Roadhouse enough times to have memorized their offerings.
“Hey.” He gives me a slow, kind smile. One that feels reserved just for family.
“I was wondering if I could?—”
“Hey there. I didn’t know we’d have company.” Andy Whitehall sneaks up behind me and rounds the table, pulling out a stool next to my brother who shifts to accommodate Andy’s position.
Shit.
“You joinin’ us for dinner?” Andy adds, offering a smile that makes my blood boil. After how he botched up the Stanton situation and believed Henry over Hudson, I don’t want to even look at him.
“I was just looking to speak to Stone a second, but it can?—”
“Are you kidding me?” Andy mutters, glaring over my shoulder. His harsh undertone forces me ramrod straight.
Then I get a sense of what Andy is looking at, or ratherwho,as he takes a seat behind me. The tables are tight in this section, and I heard a chair scrape against the wooden floor behind me but hadn’t given it a thought. When I catch a whiff of balsam fir, man, and asphalt, I know exactly who is seated at my back.
With Josh witnessing us straight out of the shower, we realized it was only a matter of time before rumors would start. We could hardly keep our eyes off one another during Haven Hitters’ practices or games. Keeping our hands to ourselves has been torture.
When I’d told Cort I was going to come clean to the females in the family, he’d asked if I needed moral support. I hadn’t known how badly I might need him at my back until this moment.
“We can do this another time.” Because now might not be the ideal time to speak. With Andy present, and Cort behind me. Plus, thisisa public place, and I should have this discussion privately with my big brother.
Stone immediately stands despite what I’d said. “I’m going to wash my hands.”
This leaves me awkwardly seated at the table with Andy,knowing I shouldn’t leave until Stone returns, but desperately wanting to slink away.
“My, my, my, isn’t this complicated,” Andy smirks, glancing over my head at Cort behind me. Then he leans forward, lowering his head and his voice. “Because sister here has a secret.”
