ChapterTen
The Bar
“So there’s really nothing between you and Garrett?”Poet asked after we shook hands.
“Nope.”
“I’m rarely this wrong,” Poet remarked.“I swore you guys were flirting at karaoke night a few months ago.”
“You can flirt and not have it mean anything.”
She blinked.
“You get that, right?It’s important that you get that.”
Poet snapped her shoulders back.“I know how flirting works.”
“Don’t think so, you little elfin fairy.”
“I do too, Viking.Brooks and I flirt.We’ve flirted.”
I gestured to her belly.“Yeah, I know.”
She placed her hand on her stomach.“Okay, fine, soIcan’t flirt without it meaning something.But this isn’t about me.This is about you and Garrett.And you and Garrett were flirting.”
I rolled my eyes.“I know what you’re doing.”
“What am I doing?”
“You’re trying to distract me with this ridiculous conversation, so I’ll forget about the fact that you didn’t tell me you and Brooks are building a house.It’s not working, by the way.”
She leaned back against the booth and peered at me.“I was going to tell you when you came for the wedding.”
“Uh huh.”
“I swear.”Her eyes were earnest.“Please don’t be mad at me.”
“Why would I be mad at you?”I asked in exasperation.“Did you think I wouldn’t be happy for you?”
“No.Of course you would.But I know how hard this is for you, Wyn.”
“What’s hard?”
“Me.Salem.Hadley.”
“Happy, in love ...pregnant?”I asked.
She nodded.
“You can’t hide your milestones from me.That’ll make us both feel worse.”
“All right,” she said with a nod.
“It’s funny, you know?You used to be the one we all had to protect, and now you’re trying to protect me.”
“I want you to be happy,” she said.
“I know you do.But hiding how happyyouare isn’t going to work.That will just drive a wedge between us.I don’t want that.”
