Page 61 of Echoes of You

She grinned. “I’m pretty partial to it myself. How’s Jordan’s place treating you?”

I took the basket of pastries from Wren and selected one. “Honestly, it wasn’t that bad after a thorough cleaning. It’s outdated, but everything works.”

A smile played on Grae’s lips. “And I heard you’ve had a visitor staying with you.”

I stilled, a bite of muffin halfway to my lips. “Not a visitor. Nash.”

Grae’s smile widened as she shared a look with Wren. “Does that mean my big brother has finally pulled his head out of his booty and seen what’s right in front of his face?”

I winced. “It’s not like that with us. We’re just friends.”

Wren gave me a doubtful look. “Holt and I started out as just friends.”

“You and Holt were neverjustfriends. You were just too young for him to act on his feelings until he did.”

Grae leaned back against the couch. “I don’t get it. I see the way you two are together. It’s like no one else exists.”

I sighed, dropping my piece of muffin to my plate. Grae had always been nosy about her brother and me, but now that I was back, and we were both single? She wouldn’t drop this unless I gave her a good reason.

“Besides the fact that things are unbelievably complicated for me right now?” I swallowed my pride and gave her the simple truth. “I’ve always had feelings for him, but he’s never reciprocated. And I’m not going to push it. You know how women are around him. They make fools of themselves to get his attention. I won’t do that.”

“But you haven’t just put it out there?” Grae asked.

“I don’t need to, G,” I said. “You know if a man is interested or not. He’s never made one move.” And it hurt more than I could say.

“Maybe he’s just scared,” Grae started. “Maybe—”

“G,” Wren cut her off. “It’s their journey. They have to walk it themselves.” She reached over and squeezed my hand. “But we’re here to listen if you ever need to talk.”

“Or I can put his face on my kickboxing dummy, and we can throw knives at it because he’s such a dumb-dumb,” Grae offered.

I snorted. “You guys are true friends.”

Grae wrapped an arm around my shoulders. “Nothing says friendship like a little knife-throwing and baked goods.”

Wren shook her head. “Just don’t open the champagne if we’re throwing knives later.”

“Noted.”

I grinned at the women I could slip so easily back into friendship with. We got caught up on all the things that had happened while I was gone. Holt coming back to town and how Wren and he had found their way back to each other amidst a madman stalking them. Her dispatch job. Grae’s work leading hiking trips for Jordan’s company, and the latest with her family.

I studiously avoided much talk about Adam, not wanting to go there just yet. Instead, I told them about my new job at The Brew and plans for the cabin. I even shared that I was thinking about brushing up on my dog training skills, a piece of myself I’d erased for a man who’d never loved me at all. By the time we finished brunch and cleaned up, I felt like I hadn’t missed a moment away.

Wren hugged me gently. “Call me if you need anything. I can help paint or lug furniture when you get some.”

“I suck with a paintbrush, but I’m good with bringing snacks,” Grae offered.

“Thank you both. Really.”

“Oooooh!” Grae cried. “We need a girls’ night. Whenever there’s live music at Dockside next.”

I grinned. “That would be fun.”

“I’ll look up the schedule and text you,” Grae said.

“Sounds good.”

I waved to them both and started down the steps to my SUV. As I rounded the back of the vehicle, my steps faltered, and my blood ran cold. There was a white lily on the windshield.

---