Page 89 of Darlin'

"What?" I ask, hopeful and afraid. "Tell me..."

Jesse's jaw clenches, his mouth opening slowly to spill some much need clarification, but fate intervenes like an unwelcome guest, a truth-blocker, a gosh darn nuisance.

"Savvy!" Beau calls out. "JP?"

"We broughtTaboo!" Pippa yells.

"And a shit ton of coolers!" Marlow adds. "Where are they?"

"Pool," Jesse grumbles, cursing under his breath as he effortlessly lifts me up and sets me on the edge of the pool. Marlow, Pippa, and Beau all tumble into the backyard. Jesse flashes them a tight smile. "Thought we said two?"

Beau frowns, scanning my drenched appearance. "Were you...swimming?"

"I was floating," I reply, standing up as Jesse hops out of the pool. "Baby steps, right?"

Beaublinks at Jesse. "You got her in the water?" My brother glances at Marlow, who presses her lips in a thin line. "I see. Well..."

"Thanks for letting us borrow the floaties," I blurt out, unable to stand this awkward silence. I offer Pippa a forced smile. "They work real good."

"Any time, babe," Pippa says, setting the board game down on the patio table. "So uh—we playing or what?" She looks around. "Should we put on some music or something?"

"Aux cord's inside," Jesse says, grabbing a towel and wrapping it around himself. "I'm gonna shower quickly." He glances at me. "Or do you wanna go first?"

"You go," I say. "I'll get the snacks ready and stuff."

"Okay," Jesse says and disappears inside the house.

I clap my hands. "Right, so...chips? Yeah?"

"I'll help you," Beau says, following me to the kitchen as Marlow and Pippa set up the game. "Savannah." He stops us in the hallway. "Are you and JP..."

"Uh—" I swallow, biting my lip. My brother's no fool. There's no point in lying to him. "I don't...I don't know."

"You don't know?" he asks, lifting a brow. "What does that mean?"

"It means I don't know." I sigh, yanking off the arm floaties and tossing them on the floor as I march to the kitchen. "Want dip? French Onion?"

"Do you like him?" Beau asks, his gaze frantically searching mine. "Savannah..."

"Do you have anything other than country on here?!" Marlow yells from the living room. "Your Spotify is just one giant barn dance."

I roll my eyes, answering her, "There's some rap too! Keep scrolling!" I turn my attention back to my brother. "Can we not talk about this today? Let's just hang out and have fun, okay? We'll talk later. I promise."

"Fine." Beau pulls out his phone, frustration oozing from his being. "Later then." His phone vibrates. "I gotta take this." He turns around, leaving the room. "Yeah Jo, I know..."

Dang it. That's gonna be one helluva awkward conversation.

"What the hell is ahonkytonk?" Marlow asks, kneeling in front of the sound system. She looks up at me. "Well?"

I giggle. "Time for a little southern education."

"Gonna enroll me in"—she reads the album cover of one of my favorite artists—"Honkytonk University?" Beau appears through the hallway, and she grins at my brother. "Apparently, I'm going back to school, baby!" Marlow frowns, scanning Beau's flat expression. "What's wrong?"

"Can I talk to you for a second?" Beau asks Marlow. He glances at me. "Alone."

"Okay," she says, standing up. "What is it?"

I mouthsorryto her before joining Pippa outside. He better not blame Marlow for my secrecy. I wasn't ready to tell him. I can barely admit it to myself.

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