Page 46 of Love Songs

“But it’s haunted.”

That last coming from Haider. Being the most stubborn one of the four of us, he’d always believed the house was haunted and nothing was going to steer him from that.

I shrugged and looked away. My thoughts were racing away from me again.

“I’m sorry, Conor,” Sam said, and laid a comforting hand on my shoulder. “I didn’t know.”

“None of us did,” Haider said with a pout in his voice, like I’d personally offended him.

“You’ve been always so freewheeling and adventurous,” Sam said as we started walking again. For whatever reason, it was easier to talk about all this when I was moving. “We kind of figured you’d be the last of us to want to get all domestic with owning a home and starting a family.”

“Who said anything about a family?” I grumbled. “I was thinking more along the lines of a partner and a couple of dogs.”

“That still makes a family,” Ryan said. “And if Dallas is the one you’re thinking of, he has a daughter.”

I snorted. “That’s gettingwayahead of the curve.”

Even though that’s where my thoughts had gone when I’d stood on the side of the road in front of that SOLD sign.

“But you wanted that house,” Sam said softly. “And now, maybe, the instant family Dallas would bring.”

I sighed. It was ridiculous to be thinking about anything along those lines, but I had to admit the idea felt good.

“Yeah,” I breathed.

Haider’s eyes glistened with affection as he looked up at me. “Our Jedi growing up.”

“Shut up.” I bumped my shoulder into him, chuckling when I knocked him off balance for a couple of steps.

“Brute,” he teased, smiling.

“Right. Okay.” Sam stopped and propped his hands on his hips. “First thing you’re going do is find out who bought the house. Then you’re going to make them an offer and buy it from them.”

“I don’t have enough money yet,” I admitted, my cheeks heating.

The guys looked at each other, and a silent discussion passed between them.

“Oh, no.” I raised my hand and shook my head. “You guys are not loaning me anything.”

“Why not?” they asked in unison.

“We can help, and we want to,” Sam said, and Ryan and Haider nodded their heads in agreement.

“And don’t forget,” Haider added with a grin. “I have a rich boyfriend now.”

“I appreciate that you guys want to help. I really do. But there’s no point now.” I shrugged and started walking back toward the bridge. “No one is going to sell a house they justbought. And more than likely, the new owners are flippers. Once they get the house renovated, they’ll put it back on the market for substantially more.”

The guys fell into step beside me.

“He has a point,” Sam conceded, and Haider hummed in agreement.

“Speaking of rich boyfriends . . .” Ryan piped up after a few minutes where the only sounds were the crunch of gravel under our feet and the birds chirping in the trees. “Have you heard from Dallas?”

“He is not my boyfriend.” I slanted a glare at Ryan. “And yes, we’ve exchanged a couple of texts.”

Which were awkward. Dallas had texted the day he’d left, letting me know he was back in New York City and that he’d enjoyed spending time with me. It was ridiculous how my heart had jumped in my chest with excitement when I’d seen his name on the screen, but after a few exchanges, I hadn’t known what to say. Didn’t know how to tell him what I was feeling, and over text was probably not the best way even if I could.

The last message had been from Dallas, saying he hoped we could see each other again soon. Pick up where we’d left off.If only. I’d texted back that I’d like the same, but that had been lip service. An easy out because I knew the chances of more happening for us were slim to none.

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