Page 59 of A Lot Like Forever
Chapter 12
“This is amazing,” Chloe said, dropping into the booth seat and grinning. “I can’t believe we’re actually doing something without children attached to us. Or the guys for that matter.”
Faith smiled at Chole’s enthusiasm, taking a sip of her vodka, lemon, and lime. “Sorry we couldn’t go to Joe’s.”
“Ugh, Joe’s isn’t that great,” Chloe said. “Seriously, I worked there long enough not to need to go back for a very long time.”
“You mentioned the other day that you met Ryder here. Was it love at first sight?”
“Ha-ha, yes and no.” Chloe sipped her drink. “I was working there to save up for my college tuition and I ended up making a bet with Ryder. Funnily enough, it was one bet I’ve never regretted.”
They all laughed.
“Once you’ve fallen for a King you never go back,” Hope added, grinning.
“So this ex of yours, I never said anything before, but he took over as manager just before I left,” Chloe said. “He was fine to me, but I never liked the guy.”
“Funnily enough, my friend said the same thing,” Faith admitted. “I’m starting to wonder if he just laid on the charm when I was around, did it to impress me, and I just never saw the true him until it was too late.”
Chloe patted her hand. “It’s all right; you have Nate now.”
“Yeah, and he’s smitten,” Hope chimed in. “I still remember that time when we saw you at Joe’s and he just froze. We all teased him about it.”
Faith had frozen, looking between the two woman seated across from her. “You’re kidding, right?” That was almost the same thing Chloe had told her that first time she’d met her at Nate’s house.
“Honey, he’s definitely smitten,” Chloe told her. “I’ve only known him a couple of years, but I’ve never seen him like his. Surely you’ve known him long enough to know he’s not usually like this.”
“With one woman, she means,” interrupted Hope. “According to Chase, he’s never been in a relationship longer than, well, never, I don’t think.”
“We’re just having fun,” Faith managed to say, holding her glass to stop her hand from shaking. “I wouldn’t exactly call it a relationship.”
“You might be having fun, but he’s definitely in love with you.” Chloe sighed. “A million and one girls have tried to hook that big fish, and none have even come close. Then you come along and bam, he’s caught the bait and not even trying to get away. I say just enjoy it.”
Chloe and Hope giggled, but Faith was still in shock. Was he actually in love with her? She took a long, slow sip of her vodka. That was being stupid. There was no chance he was in love with her. He’d told her as much tonight, that they were still just having fun, that he loved having her around but that they were still on the same page about where their relationship was going.
“I . . .”
“There’s nothing to be embarrassed about, if that’s what’s worrying you,” Chloe assured her. “And if you want us to shut up, just say so. We’re not easily offended.”
Faith took a deep breath and smiled. “It’s fine. I just think you’ve both got the wrong idea about what’s going on with us.”
The other two exchanged glances like she was the crazy one.
“We’ve kept it quiet because we decided before anything happened that we just wanted to have fun for a while,” she continued. “Neither of us wanted something serious, so we’re definitely on the same page there.”
“Except for the fact that Nate has gone kind of gaga over you.” Chloe giggled. “He hasn’t worked from home all year as far as I know, and he’s usually traveling all the time, but miraculously now that you’re here he’s hardly left the ranch.”
Hope nodded and Faith just sighed. “Please stop.”
“Because you’re embarrassed or because you feel bad that he feels differently than you do?” Hope asked.
Faith picked up her drink and tipped it back until she’d drunk every last drop. She dropped it with a bang on the table and groaned. “I’ve lusted after Nate since I was a teenager with a crush,” she admitted. “But honestly, all I wanted was for him to make me feel good, to have fun for a bit until I was back on my feet again. And now it’s turned into something a whole lot more serious than it was supposed to and I don’t know how it even happened.”
Hope reached over and squeezed her hand. “We shouldn’t have said anything. I guess we both just presumed that you and Nate were, um, serious.”
“I’ve got to admit that we were eyeing you up as the perfect sister-in-law,” Chloe teased, still grinning. “But look, so long as you and Nate know what’s going on and what you both want, that’s between the two of you. We’d hate to see him get hurt, that’s all.”
Now Faith was the one laughing. “Me hurt Nate?” She shook her head. “No possible way. He’d just shrug it off and move on to the next woman.”
