“How much sake did you guys drink at the sushi place?”
Everly laughs. “I told you the bartender was hot.”
“Yeah well, it makes you mean,” I tell them.
“Not mean. Direct,” Bryn corrects me. “Listen, we love you. But it’s not like we don’t know Easton. It’s not like we haven’t watched the two of you together. You’ve danced around this for a long time. It’s almost like what everyone says about your mom and Brandon. Don’t wait as long as they did to figure it out. If you’ve got feelings for him, figure out what you want now. And if you don’t . . .”
My head snaps up. “If I don’t, what?”
Everly cocks her head. “If you don’t, then set the man free, and don’t come crying when someone else snatches him up. Because drunken wedding aside, that man is a keeper. He’s gorgeous and tall with big hands and big feet, so my money’s on a big—”
“Don’t,” I snap. “Don’t go there.”
“Fine,” She sips her wine and attempts to hide her smile. “But I’m just saying, if you let him go, you better be sure that’s what you really want because you won’t get a second chance.”
I know she’s right. I’ve hated knowing he was hooking up with women over the years.
I always dreaded the thought of him bringing someone home to meet the family.
“I hate you both,” I tell them, and Brynlee laughs while Everly just shakes her head.
“No, you don’t. You love us,” Bryn says.
“Whatever. I’m not ready to let him go,” I admit and stuff another piece of California roll in my mouth, completely unwilling to say anything else.
“Oh, Lindy. That’s not good enough.” Everly snatches a piece off my plate.
“Hey, you ate already.” I poke her with a chopstick.
“Hot bartender, remember?” she argues. “We don’t eat in front of the hot bartenders. I’m starving.” She stands and looks down at me. “Do you want him? Or do you just not want anyone else to have him, Linds? Because if it’s the second, you’re a better person than that.”
I grab her glass of wine and finish off what’s left of it. “Fine. I want him. I’ve always wanted him. But not like this.”
“Then how do you want it, princess?”
Everly, Brynlee, and I all shriek, and Easton looks at the three of us like we’re absolutely insane.
Everly snorts. “Jesus Christ, man. Make some fucking noise when you walk in the house.”
“We’re just gonna . . .” Bryn grabs Everly’s hand and tugs her out of the kitchen but not before Everly manages to grab the black to-go container from the table.
I watch them both run away to hide and silently wish they could take me with them. “How much did you hear?”
He looks so damn good in worn blue jeans and a white thermal shirt stretched tight across his chest. Strong and sexy. This man is every fantasy I’ve ever had, and he’s standing right in front of me. But I don’t handle being trapped all that well, and I’m feeling cornered right now.
“I heard you say you want me but not like this. Tell me what you want, Lindy. We’ve shared so much over the years. You can’t start holding back on me now.” He leans back against the counter and crosses those arms I love over his chest, and his shirt stretches so damn tight around his biceps. My God. It should be illegal to look that damn good.
“Easton . . . Haven’t you ever noticed I never talked to you about this? Not about you. Not about any guys. I’ve never crossed that line,” I tell him because I don’t know how to give him what he wants.
“I was kinda hoping it was because there weren’t any guys.”
My blood burns with indignation. “You’ve got to be kidding. You used to FaceTime me with women in your bed, but you didn’t want me dating? Seems awfully hypocritical, doesn’t it, E?”
“I never said I was a saint, princess. But think about it for a minute. No matter who I was with, I always ended up calling you. Doesn’t that tell you everything you need to know?” His hazel eyes are so damn intense, I’m not sure how much I can take.
“You don’t actually think I liked it when you’d call me with a woman in bed next to you, do you?” I demand.
“Tell me why it bothered you,” he pushes back.
“Because . . .” I stammer.
“Use your words, Madeline.”