These past few weeks with him have had their ups and downs, but I wouldn’t trade the roller coaster for a steady carousel any day because the ups and downs have helped me come to the realization that I love this man. He’s it for me.
My phone rings again, and I see it’s Eric.
“Hey, what’s up?”
“You’re really not coming home?” The whine in his voice makes me laugh.
“Are you lonely?”
“A little.” We both laugh.
“Work on the menu. I need some girl time.”
“What about some bro time? We have three whole years to make up for. I know you like to say that things are cool with us, but I can still detect some tension, Eve. Are you trying to avoid me tonight?”
Yes, there’s tension and maybe a little bit of awkwardness, but that will go away with time. The more we work together and mend the open wound in our relationship, the more we’ll get comfortable again. After all, we’re family, and family always sticks together.
“I’m not avoiding you, I promise. Harper just offered me wine, cheese, and crackers. What can you offer?”
“Nothing, because that’s what you have in your fridge. Absolutely nothing.”
“Looks like you should take a trip down to the general store then. Maybe say hi to Oliver. You two were friends growing up.”
“Until his boating accident. After that happened, he pretty much sequestered himself to his shop.”
“Well, reach out. He might need a friend. I’ll be home later. And don’t go snooping in my things; you never know what kind of vibrating objects you might find.”
“Jesus, Eve.” I laugh, hard. “That wasn’t necessary.”
“It really was. Talk to you later, bro.”
When I hang up, Walter looks up into the rearview mirror with a brow raised. “Vibrating objects?”
Shit.
Of course Walter overheard that tidbit.
I can count on my little comment being broadcast around town within an hour. Reason number one for never answering my phone while getting a ride from Walter: whatever you say is guaranteed to get spread from one mouth to the other like a kissing virus.
But his eavesdropping gives me an idea.
“Say, Walter, did you happen to hear—”
“That you don’t want anyone exposing your relationship with Reid to your brother? Yeah, that’s old news.”
I smile to myself. For the first time since I can remember, I actually appreciate the gossip in this town.
“I don’t think you’ll be getting these pants back.” I flop onto the couch and rub my hand over my leg. “This is the softest fabric ever. Where did you get them?”
“Rogan got them for me. I think he likes the way it feels when he runs his hands up and down my legs.”
“Sounds about right. The Knightly men seem to all have one thing in common, besides those devastating blue eyes—they’re all horny.”
Ren snorts as she sips her wine. “Yeah, that’s one way to describe it. Did I ever tell you about the first time Griffin and I had sex?”
“No,” Harper and I say at the same time, leaning in.
“It was after we went on a camping trip with everyone. Brig and Reid were doing everything in their power to keep us from having sex, and Griffin was so frustrated. We made an excuse to go back home with one thing in mind . . . doing the deed. But then Griffin was pulled away by his family, cockblocking of course, and then my parents showed up just as Griffin and I started to get handsy. He had to sneak out the back of my house with the biggest boner ever and trudge across the neighborhood to his house. That night, we met up on the beach—”
“Oh my God!” Harper says, slamming her hand on the couch. “Hold up. That rumor of you two doing it on the beach is true?”
Ren slowly nods.
“Wait, you did it on the beach in Port Snow, where anyone could catch you?” I ask.
“Yup, see? Horny men, all of them.”
“Rogan is the same way; it’s like he’s reliving our teenage years again, trying to sneak it in wherever he can. I can’t even tell you how many times we’ve done it in the manor at this point. Poor Gina, she must regret being Rogan’s assistant. I’m almost positive she’s heard us at least a dozen times. I told Rogan she needs a raise.”
“What about Reid?” Ren asks. “I’m guessing he’s just as bad.”
“Worse,” I answer. “Not only are his hands always all over me, but he’s also so perverted, constantly making sexual innuendos.”
“Yup, sounds about right,” Harper says and then turns to Ren. “That boy has always been sexual, ever since I’ve met him. Didn’t he lose his virginity at like thirteen?”
“Sixteen,” I correct, hating that I know such an intimate detail. I remember the day he bragged about it to Eric—I was so heartbroken. “It was with Kelsey Littleton. I got to hear all about it when he told Eric.”
“Oh, that must have been fun.” Ren sips her wine.
“Especially since you were crushing on Reid big time, right?” Harper says.
“You were?” Ren asks.
I nod, reaching over and grabbing a few cheeses and grapes. “Oh yeah. Typical brother’s-best-friend crush. I was infatuated with him, but he was clueless.”
“Eh, I wouldn’t say that,” Harper says. “I remember the way he used to look at you back then. It was puppy love.”
I shake my head. “No, because if that was the case, he wouldn’t have gone after every other girl in our grade until he went off to culinary school.”
“Who knows—maybe he was too nervous to take things to the next level with you.”
“Okay.” I laugh. “I’m pretty sure that wasn’t the case at all. But it doesn’t matter at this point, now that we’re together.”
Ren and Harper exchange looks before Harper says, “Do you love him?”
I raise my glass of wine to her. “I should have known this invite was going to be a shakedown for information.”
“Oh please,” Harper counters. “You were up my ass when it came to Rogan. It’s only right that I do the same with you and Reid.”
It’s true. I was relentless when she was thinking about getting back together with Rogan after so many years of being apart. But that’s what best friends do, right?
“Can’t fault you for that,” I say and twist my wineglass by the stem as it rests on my leg. “Yes, I do. I love him, and it’s scary and exciting and consuming. I’m not sure if he feels the same way, but what I do know is that he’s working really hard at being the man he thinks I deserve.”
“Gah, my heart. Oh, Reid. Look at him, all grown up.” Harper clasps her hands over her chest.
Suddenly, the front door whooshes open, and in come the four Knightly men, all looking as handsome as ever. Rogan leads the group, followed by Griffin and Reid, with Brig bringing up the rear.
When Reid sees me, his smile stretches across his face, and we stare at each other, savoring the moment. I love that smile so much, that look in his eyes whenever he sees me. Talk about butterflies: they’re constantly floating in my stomach when he’s around.