Page 67 of On the Run
“Let’s not.”
“Oh, no, I’m with Rafe on this one.” Gage shut off his phone and set it facedown. “Let’s talk about the color-coordinated, designer-shoe-wearing, party-planning elephant in the room.”
I sipped my tea and stared at the bright July day outside the window.
“Things seem to have gotten serious between you remarkably fast, even for two people who knew each other years ago.” Rafe picked three packets of sugar out of the container by his elbow and added them to his iced coffee. He tasted it, then reached for three more. “Even for soul mates.”
“So, are you happy?” Gage asked.
Was I?
That morning, I’d woken up with Toby wrapped around me, which had become our norm. The sky outside had been rose-tinged with sunrise, and I’d known I’d curse myself for putting off my run until the day got hotter, but it had been really hard to force myself away from the man in my arms. I’d stared down at Toby’s face, which I’d already mapped a dozen times over the past week in moments like that, and remembered Mason was coming home tonight. Tonight, Toby would tellMasonabout the problem he was facing in New York—the one he wouldn’t explain to me. Tonight, Toby and Mason would figure out a solution—one that might involve Toby leaving for good. All the frustration that had built up over the past week at feeling myself grow closer to Toby—but alsonot,thanks to these giant, gaping holes—ate at me. It gave me a tight feeling in my chest that felt like a portent. Like something bad was coming.
And then, Toby’s dark eyes had fluttered open, and the instant he saw me, he’d smiled like the thing he’d been dreaming of had come to life. Just like every other day this week, I’d told myself that maybe I didn’t need to knowallthe details of his life or his problems. He’d trusted me with his identity as Hagatha. He’d told me about his family. We’d had in-depth conversations on all kinds of topics, and he’d even sung me silly show tunes. Maybe what I knew was therealToby, one those idiots in New York hadn’t gotten to know, and maybe that was enough.
“Yeah,” I said quietly. “I’m happy.”
Rafe and Gage exchanged a smiling look, and I rolled my eyes.
“I thought you were against the whole soul mate thing, Rafael. Make up your mind.”
“See, ironically enough, that’s exactly what I had against the soul mate thing. I wanted you to stop waiting around and make up your mind, and now you have. I don’t care if he’s your soul mate or your Grindr hookup, as long as you’re happy. Because drifting isn’t the same as happy, Beale.”
I thought of Toby, floating in the pool yesterday, and how floating and swimming weren’t the same thing. I nodded once.
“Well, I’m fucking jealous,” Gage said, sipping at his own coffee. “Not only did you get yourself a hot soul mate, you found one who’s heading up the fundraising committee for the bridgeandcoordinating your party. I’m pissed Grandma never sent me to Adventure Camp.”
“You went to Nerdy Nerd Camp that one time.” Rafe waved a hand. “Not Grandma’s fault you never hooked a dude like Trey.”
“It was called the Center for Advanced Technologically Talented Youth,” Gage corrected, throwing a straw wrapper at him.
“Ah, yes. How could I forget your ‘CATTY Camp’ shirt?”
Gage held up a hand. “I’m not talking to you about this. Back toTrey, who is about to become my favorite brother.”
“Uh. Brother might be pushing it.” I hunched forward spinning my coffee cup on the table. “Let’s wait and see if he decides to stay, okay?”
Rafe snorted. “Beale. He’s singlehandedly spearheading your party—”
“Not singlehandedly,” I protested. “He’s got an army of volunteers.”
“I wasbornon this island, Beale, and nothing could make me attempt to coordinate a volunteer army of Whispering Keysters.” Rafe shuddered. “That’s love.”
I swallowed hard. It wasn’t love. Of course not. But how foolish did it make me that I almost wished it was? Toby wasn’t my soul mate, and I knew that, but…
“Remember, not all of us volunteered. Trey had no problem conscripting the two of us to go pick up Fenn and Mason at the airport at seven.” He motioned between himself and Rafe. “Then we have to text him when we’re twenty minutes out so he can get everyone ready to yell surprise.”
“Would be nice if Fenn acknowledged my fucking text and confirmed the time,” Rafe said sourly.
“Sure, but why would he whennotanswering pisses you off so nicely?” Gage gave him a sweet smile.
“Anyway, tell Trey to let us know if he needs anything before then,” Rafe said. “Everyone I invited is showing up around eight.”
“I’ll let him know, but I’d be shocked if he hasn’t thought of everything. He’s really good at taking care of people.” I found myself smiling again. He pretended Hagatha’s caring and deep emotions weren’t him, but they so were. No one who got all emotional when he orgasmed could be heartless. I refused to believe it. And if that was the case… maybe he cared for me a little.
Or more than a little.
“You know,” Rafe said, staring at my face thoughtfully, probably because I was grinning like a sap, “the whole time Aimee lived here, at least while we were married… she never tried to fit in the way Trey has. She had an idea of what this town was based on those summers when we were kids, but she didn’t like the reality. Trey does. I’m glad for you, man. Really.”
