Page 53 of Chasing Sunsets

Wade whistles low, his eyes lighting up with mischief as he walks in, carrying a small end table. “Oh, this just got interesting.”

I sigh, rubbing a hand over my face. “Yak it up, assholes. Nothing’s wrong with me, and I’m not in the mood for your shit.”

Sebastian grins. “Nothingdoesn’t make you walk like you need a cane.”

I mutter a curse under my breath. There’s no way they’re letting this go. Might as well get it over with. “I spent the night at Tabby’s.”

Parker’s brows shoot up. “In the camper?”

Lennon lets out a laugh. “Now, it makes sense.” He shakes his head, smirking. “The mighty Anson, folded up like a damn lawn chair in his girlfriend’s RV.”

Girlfriend?

Parker snickers. “You could’ve just brought her home, you know, or come home after. You do have a perfectly good bed here.”

I level a glare at the lot of them. “It wasn’t planned, and I wasn’t going to just leave her after.”

That shuts them up. For a second at least.

Parker tilts his head, studying me like I’m some rare species he just discovered. “Huh.”

Sebastian crosses his arms.

“What?” I bark as they all stand there, staring at me.

“It’s just that you’ve never had a problem doing it before,” Parker points out.

I exhale, bracing my hands on my hips. I knew this conversation was coming. Hell, I’ve been having it with myself for weeks now. But saying it out loud? That’s a different thing entirely.

“That’s true,” I admit.

Parker and Sebastian exchange a look.

“Damn,” Wade chimes in, shaking his head. “The island’s residentlove ’em and leave ’emguy is catching feelings.”

Lennon whistles. “Never thought I’d see the day.”

I glare at both of them, but there’s no heat behind it. Mostly because they’re right.

Tabby isn’t just some fling. She’s not just a fun way to pass the time. She’s Tabby—carefree, wild, paint-streaked, and impossible not to watch when she’s around. She moves like she doesn’t have a care in the world, like life is just one big adventure, and somehow, she makes me want to be a part of it.

“She’s different,” I say, rubbing the back of my neck. “I don’t know how else to explain it.”

Parker nods, his expression thoughtful. “You want to spend more time with her.”

I huff out a dry laugh. “I already spend most of my free time with her.”

Lennon raises a brow. “And that doesn’t scare you?”

I shake my head. “No. That’s the thing. I want to be around her. All the damn time.”

Sebastian grins. “Oh man, you’re a goner.”

I scowl, but he’s not wrong.

Wade leans against the counter, arms crossed. “So, what are you gonna do about it?” he asks.

That’s the question, isn’t it?

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