Page 27 of One Small Spark
Guilty, but I’m not in the mood to confess anything. Leo’s the one who rhapsodizes about the latest woman he’s into, not me. Divulging information about my private life makes me antsy even without the precarious dynamic between me and Wren in the mix.
“Worry about yourself. Which of the three women who dropped their numbers in your lap tonight are you going to call?”
It’s part of the package of being friends with someone famous, but all the attention makes my skin crawl. People stare like he’s a chimp in a zoo and they’re waiting for him to do a trick. They pretend to take selfies, but they’re actually sneaking photos of him. The boldest ones come over to meet him. The shameless ones leave their numbers on napkins alongside lipstick kisses.
The smile drops off his face. “I’m not going to call any of those women.”
“That’s right. I heard you’re dating that fitness influencer who’s staying at the lodge.” He’s not. Leo is my opposite in this, too. He’s incapable of keeping things to himself. If he was dating her, I would already have heard way too many details.
He groans. “How did you find out about that?”
“Palmer. After singletrack, gossip is his favorite subject.” He asked me to confirm or deny the rumors, but I told him in no uncertain terms he won’t get information about Leo out of me. Nothing Leo doesn’t share himself, anyway.
“There was a blind item about it. ‘Fitness influencer and former NFL center getting cozy at Oregon resort.’” He drags his palm down his face before resting his chin in his hand. “Charlie heard about it.”
“She’s probably happy for the free publicity for the lodge.”
He shakes his head, his usual cheer turned morose. “It’s one more reason she doesn’t take me seriously. I took your advice and straight up asked her to be my date to the gala, but she said no.”
I stare at him, his words jangling around in my skull. “I didn’t tell you to ask Charlie on a date.”
He stares back. “Yes, you did. Those were your exact words. ‘Ask Charlie.’”
“No. I meant you should ask her if you couldhavea date, not tobeyour date. Wait. You’re…” I look around the bar as if I’ll find answers at someone else’s table. “You’re actually interested in my sister?”
Leo’s a good guy, or we wouldn’t be as close as we are. I trust him implicitly and know in my gut he would never hurt anyone in our family. I still have a small but powerful urge to fight him.
“We’ve always teased and joked around. We were friends. But ever since she kissed me a year ago?—”
“Shekissedyou?” That doesn’t sound like Charlie at all. She’s sensible and smart. Impulsiveness isn’t her style.
Which means it wouldn’t have been a spur-of-the-moment thing.
I’m going to need another beer for this.
At least he looks sheepish. “I’m doing this all wrong. Charlie is awesome. She’s talented and capable and makes my manager look like a chump. She’s beautiful and funny and…” He splays his hands. “I care about her. A lot.”
I exhale hard. I’ve never had to deal with the hypothetical of a friend being into my sister before. Especially not my closest friend. The football hero. Who’s also working with her. And living next door to her—in the houseIset him up with.
No part of that’s reassuring me.
He flashes a small smile. “If it makes you feel any better, she thinks I’m an idiot.”
“That helps.”
“But maybe you could?—”
“Nope. Whatever you’re thinking, the answer is no. I’m not going to be your wingman or give you advice or be your Cyrano de Bergerac for my sister’s hand.” First, I would be lousy atgiving anyone dating advice. Second, I can’t think of anything that would make me more uncomfortable.
“But you’d be such a good Cyrano.”
“I regret even knowing this much about it.” I finish off the last of my beer. “What happened to that Dalesandro charm all the TV hosts love to go on about?”
“My Dalesandro charm only annoys her.”
Sounds like Charlie.
If that’s the case though, why did she kiss him a year ago? I rake a hand through my hair. It’s none of my business, and I don’t want to know.
