Page 42 of Whispers and Wildfire

“This is what she does to me. It’s like the other day. This woman came to the garage to ask some questions about a car her grandpa has sitting out at his property. And not just a woman, a hot woman, and I’m telling you, she was flirting with me.”

“And this is bad because?”

“Because Melanie.”

“What does she have to do with it?”

“That’s exactly my point. She shouldn’t have anything to do with it. I was standing there talking to her, thinking she wanted me to ask her out. And any other time, I would have. Because why not? I’m single. She seemed to be single. There could be something there. But did I?”

“I’m guessing no, based on how annoyed you are right now.”

“No. No, I didn’t. And do you know why?” I didn’t wait for him to answer. “Melanie, that’s why. I felt guilty. Why should I feel guilty? I’m not dating her. I don’t even like her.”

“Then there’s no reason for you to feel guilty.”

“I know. But I did. Then I realized she was watching, and I felt even worse. Like I’d been caught doing something wrong.”

By the face Theo made as he nodded, I could tell he had no idea why I was so riled up.

Neither did I.

“Think of it this way,” Theo said. “Maybe she inadvertently saved you from a disaster.”

“Who? Melanie?”

“Yeah. If she hadn’t been there, you might have asked the woman out. And let’s be real, she’s probably terrible for you.”

“Excuse me?”

“You always date women who are awful for you.”

“I do not.”

“You totally do.”

My brother Zachary seemed to appear out of thin air, eating a cookie. Baby Emily slept against his chest, secure in her carrier. “Actually, that’s true, dude.”

“Where did you come from?”

“I got here like five minutes ago.”

“Have you just been standing there listening to our conversation?”

“It’s not my fault you didn’t see me.” He popped the last bite of his cookie into his mouth. “And we all know you have a broken radar.”

“Yeah, that’s exactly it,” Theo said.

“What?”

“Let me put it this way.” Z patted Emily and swayed back and forth as he talked. “If you walked into a bar with a hundred single women, you’d find the one guaranteed to end in disaster. It’s like you’re attracted to the hot messes who are totally wrong for you. And don’t get me wrong, I’m not judging girls who are hot messes. I’m a hot mess.”

“But you’re not bad for Marigold,” I pointed out.

“Indeed, I’m not. My wifey is a lucky woman.” He glanced over his shoulder and winked at Marigold, who was chatting with our mom by the grill.

Theo groaned. “You’re lucky she puts up with you.”

Z chuckled. “No, you’re right, that’s totally true. I’m the lucky one.”

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