Page 61 of You're The One
I’ve got to get this under control before we’re with Logan and Hannah next week. They’ll see straight through me. Before they see every inappropriate thought I’ve been having about his little sister.
Fuck. I’ve never kept anything from him. Over the course of our four-year friendship, he’s become a vault for all my secrets. Well, not all of them… I never told him about my mom. Mia is the only person I’ve shared the full story with. I can’t even rationalize that when I try.
I never intended for something to develop with my best friend’s little sister when I agreed to keep Mia here, but… here we are.
Emma walks up next to me, Mia and Summer a few steps ahead. I pull my gaze away from them and turn to her, forcing a smile I hope masks what’s going on inside me.
“The escape room was fun, right?”
“Yeah, I had a good time. Congrats on your win, by the way. I think I forgot to say that earlier.”
“Thanks. I’m just glad we get to spend the night together.” She pauses. “I feel bad Mia’s the odd one out, though.”
“Me too.” I clear my throat.
“You two seem like you’ve gotten closer?” There’s no jealousy in her voice, more curiosity. Maybe an attempt to connect, but it’s hard to tell. Emma keeps things close to the chest, and I haven’t quite figured out how to read her yet.
“Yeah, I think we have.” My eyes drift back to Mia. She’s laughing at something with Summer, head tipped back slightly.
I look away, focusing on the water as it laps against the rocky shore.
“Look,” Summer calls, pointing toward a cluster of sea lions stretched out on the rocks a few hundred feet away.
We all stop to watch, passing around the binoculars the crew handed out earlier.
“Ahh! Look at them!” Summer shouts. “First time seeing a sea creature!”
Mia covers her ear, probably protecting her eardrums from Summer’s shrieks. “A sea creature? Have you never seen the ocean?”
“Nope,” Summer declares, filled with childhood amusement. She’s the perfect balance to Mia’s more cynical edges. I’m glad this show has brought them together.
Once the excitement fades, the afternoon slips by. And before I’m ready, Bodhi steps in to collect Mia and gives the rest of us a rundown of the evening’s plans: another dinner where we probably won’t be allowed to eat.
He points us toward one of the vans while hanging back with Mia a few paces behind.
I catch pieces of their conversation, just enough to make me wonder what the hell he’s saying. It sounds like he’s trying to make plans with her for later. My brows pull together, and I glance over my shoulder.
They’re standing too close, talking quietly, like they don’t want anyone to hear. Or at leastheis.
Has he still not given up on this? Is Mia actually into him?
Summer nudges my arm. “Something interesting back there?”
I shake my head. “Have you noticed something going on between them?”
She glances back. “Just a little harmless flirting. I think he’s got a crush. You know, since you and Mia hate each other, it shouldn’t bother you.”
“For the record, I’ve never said I evendislikedMia,” I mutter.
She smiles like she’s up to something, and when we reach the van—Emma already climbing into the back—I figure out why.
I go to offer Summer a hand, but instead she doubles over, clutching her stomach.
“Oh. I don’t feel so good.”
Mia and Bodhi linger near the other car headed for the mansion, but the sound of Summer’s shaky voice draws them over.
“Everything okay over here?”
