I don’t think I’ve ever been enough for anyone before, least of all myself. But Summer said those words with such sincerity that it’s hard not to believe her.
Her words never leave my mind. Not as I finish up the best meal I’ve had, maybe ever, and not even when I gather the dishes and take them to the kitchen, letting her relax with our friends because she deserves it.
Once I have everything on the counter, I let the water run for a bit to get it hot so I can give the dishes a rinse before putting them in our new dishwasher.
The door opens behind me, and I don’t even bother looking to see who it is.
I know.
“When did you start sleeping with your employee?”
“Hello to you too,” I say to Noah as I take off my watch and set it aside, deciding to hand-wash the dishes instead. I need something to do if we’re going to have this conversation. “Want to help?”
“No.”
But he does anyway, coming to stand next to me and grabbing a towel.
We’re quiet for a while. I wash, he dries, and so many unspoken words float between us.
“Well?” he prompts after we’ve let too many silent minutes pass. “When?”
I sigh. “I don’t know. About two months ago now?”
I catch him pause from the corner of my eye.
“Jesus,” he mumbles as he resumes his duties. “And you didn’t think to tell me?”
I level him with a stare. “Like you have any room to talk, Noah.”
It wasn’t all that long ago when Noah brought Odette on to help renovate our barn to turn it into a wedding venue. If I recall, they snuck around for just about as long as Summer and I have been before being found out and admitting they were in love.
Noah has no business scolding me for keeping this a secret.
“You’re right. I did do something similar. But Odette wasn’t actually our employee. Summer is.”
“Maybe on paper, but we both know that I never would have hired her if it weren’t for Sheriff Turner blackmailing me.”
“That’s a bullshit flimsy excuse if I’ve ever heard one,” he scoffs.
He’s not wrong. It is. But it’s all I have to cling to that will explain why I’m doing something that’s so clearly wrong.
“So,” Noah says, leaning against the counter beside me. “I’m guessing it’s serious, then?”
“What?” I look at him like he’s grown another head. “No. Why would you say that?”
“Because you’re hiding it.”
“I’m hiding it because, as you pointed out, she’s my employee. I’m her boss. Not like I want to advertise that.”
“Or you’re hiding it because you have feelings for her and you’re afraid to admit it.” He shrugs. “That’s why I hid my relationship with Odette.”
“You hid your relationship with her because you were afraid of Izzy finding out.”
“Yeah, because how the fuck was I supposed to explain to my younger sister that I’d fallen in love with her best friend?” He leans in conspiratorially. “It’s okay if that’s what happened, Ez. I’m not going to judge you.”
I glower at him. “Fuck off.”
But there’s no actual bite behind the words. Not when he’s hitting so close to the truth.
