Page 57 of Sloane

I watched as Josh plopped himself on the other side of the table and tried to start up a conversation with Ashley and Tammy. Ash smiled warmly and chatted up a storm with him, while Tammy was not as friendly. I saw her roll her eyes at the man more than once. Her disdain seemed to spur him on because he only grinned when he doubled down with his attempts to engage her.

Then he winked at Ashley, and that was my cue, because hell no. Nobody winked at my girl but me.

Wait.

She’s not my girl, my conscience tried to remind me, but my heart growled louder, The fuck she’s not.

I sat down next to Ash at the same time Tammy abruptly pushed herself away from the table and mumbled, “I’m going to grab the soda from my car.”

Josh quickly stood up, too.

“I’ll help you.”

“Yeah, I told her you’d bring that in for her,” Ryan called over his shoulder as he pointed the remote at his big screen TV and scanned through channels until he settled on the Arizona—UCLA football game.

“No, that’s okay,” Tammy replied as she quickly walked toward the door. Undeterred, Josh was right behind her.

The last thing I heard him say was, “Don’t be silly,” before I heard the front door close.

Nodding my head toward where the two had just disappeared, I said, “I’m guessing there’s more to that story.”

“Yeah, but I think I only know about a quarter of it.”

As I went to put my arm around the back of her chair, she slid her seat away, stood without a second glance at me, and made her way to the couch like there was nothing in the world she found more interesting than college football.

As I sat at the table trying to make sense of what just happened, Maddie moved closer to me and leaned her head against my shoulder, whispering, “It’s so nice to have you home.”

I glanced toward the family room where Ashley was talking with Tommy and Randy. They worked with Craig and Maddie and had been on my softball team last summer. I wasn’t sure if they were gay or just in a bromance. Either way, I knew they’d be friendly with Ashley without being pervy. Still, I watched her from my chair while I answered Maddie.

“It’s nice to be home.”

“I wish you were staying longer.”

Ashley must have felt me looking at her because she glanced my way and while my eyes were locked with hers, I replied, “Me too, Princess. Me, too.”

“Do you have any idea when you’ll be back for good?”

****

Ashley

My ears perked up to hear if Sloane answered Maddie differently than he had when we were on Ryan’s front doorstep a few days ago.

“Honestly, I don’t know. Like I just told Ash the other night, it could be three months, or it could be another year. They haven’t given an end date, not even an estimation.”

“So, why did they bring you home without your company?”

“You know I can’t talk about that.”

“Geez, you can’t tell us why you’re home earlier than planned, you can’t tell us when you’re coming back for good…”

“When I find out, you’ll be the first—” Sloane stopped and winked at me before he corrected himself. “The second to know.”

Despite being mad at him, I couldn’t help but smile back at him like the lovesick fool I was.

You are so ridiculous, my brain chided. Have some fucking pride.

Ryan spoke up. “Ahem. They’ll be the third to know. I’m watching your dog; I think that should afford me some privileges.”

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