Page 57 of Love Fast

“Just neighbors, huh?” Worth says, handing us both pool cues. We take them and separate—reluctantly.

“Tell me about New York,” I say. “Remind me what I’m missing.”

“My wife called me an asshole before I left, and she wasn’t even the first that day. That honor goes to the person behind me in the line at the coffee shop, because I accidently brushed her coat with my elbow.”

I chuckle. “God, I miss the place. How is Sophia?” I ask. “How’s married life?”

“You’re newly married?” Rosey asks. She beams like she thinks it would be wonderful to be newly married. Ironic, given how she arrived in this town.

“I am,” Worth says wearing a shit-eating grin. “Sophia and I got married in Vegas the second time we ever met.”

Rosey’s hand slaps against Worth’s arm. “Are you serious? And you’re making it work?”

“I would have asked her the first time I met her if I’d thought she’d say yes.”

“When was the first time you met her?” I ask.

“At the brunch where we were discussing Leo and Jules eloping.”

“What are you three gossiping about while I whip Jack’s arse?” Fisher asks.

“Worth was just catching Rosey up about how he fell in love with Sophia at the brunch where Jules was trying to setyouup with Sophia,” I reply. “I wasn’t there but I heard about it. A lot.”

“It sounds like you’re all very… family style with your dating,” Rosey says.

“Family style?” Fisher asks.

“No,” I say, a rush of protectiveness surging in me. “We’re not. There’s absolutely no sharing.”

Fisher chokes on his beer. “We’re close, but we’re notthatclose.

“It’s not like that,” I say, looking Rosey straight in the eye. I’m not sure if it was just an offhand remark or whether she’s wondering if we’re just a bunch of playboys who hand women around like hors d’oeuvres. “None of us would ever. You’re safe.” I don’t want her to think I’d ever try to take advantage of her or treat her like a thing rather than the insightful, kind, sensitive woman she is.

She offers me a small smile. “I’ve never been to New York. I imagine things are very different there compared to Oregon or Star Falls.”

“People are people,” I say. “There are assholes everywhere.” The guys have moved over to the pool table, debating which shot Jack should take next.

“I haven’t met any in Star Falls yet,” Rosey says. “It seems to be filled with the best kind of people.” She shoots me a smile. “But maybe that’s because of you.”

“Me?” I ask, confused.

“Maybe you attract the best people. Maybe the assholes stay away when you’re around.”

I huff out a laugh. “Wouldn’t that be a good superpower to have? Asshole repellant.” I lift her chin between my thumb and finger. I don’t know why I don’t care if my friends see me with Rosey, or if I feel so comfortable with herbecausethey’re here. “Is this okay?” I ask, my voice low.

She sighs. I feel any tension in me or between us ebb away. She brings her hands up over my shoulders and nods. I brush my lips against hers in a half kiss, release her, and turn back to the game.

TWENTY-THREE

Rosey

We pull up in front of the cabins and I can’t shut up about the RVs. It’s like someone’s turned a tap on inside me and words are just pouring out. To think that I almost thought it was too cold to go back and see the stars from Valley Park. “I didn’t expect them to have actual tile on the floors. Did you see Worth’s? What’s an infrared sauna, anyway?”

Byron chuckles. “I’m gonna risk a guess and say you were impressed with the RVs.”

“I thought they were kidding when Donna said they were ‘million-dollar’ RVs. I’ve lived in a trailer most of my life and hated every second of it. But I’d have loved a place like that.”

“Did you live with Frank?” he asks. “What was his place like?”

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