Page 42 of Fake It Till We Fall
“Careful, brother.” I stopped him. “I know you’re worked up right now. But Jess is a good woman. And if sheismarrying this guy, I’m sure he’s a nice guy. Don’t jump to conclusions just because the two of you have history.”
Delaney’s eyes grew wide, but Ethan gave her a quick shake of his head. I’m sure he’d fill her in later when Preston wasn’t around.
The truth was, there was a time when Preston looked at Jess very differently. Before he’d convinced himself how opposite they were. He, with his mud-splattered boots and the need to be outside and living free, and she in her tailored blazers and a growing taste for the finer things in life. I remembered the day in grade school when he’d presented her with a bouquet of hand-picked daisies, hoping with his innocent heart that a young Jess might return his developing feelings.
And how, subsequently, she’d scattered those daisies at his feet and laughed at him. Sure, they’d only been eleven or twelve. But when it came to Jess Anderson, Preston had never been able to let it go.
Brody clattered a fresh platter of tortillas down in the center of the table, breaking the tension. “Well, if Jess is serious about this guy, she’ll figure out the details. I’m sure she only wants the best for Trickle Creek, too. In the meantime, eat.”
We all dug in, settling into the familiar rhythm of family dinner. Bowls of ground beef and chicken were passed around with plates of toppings. Quinn tested the limits of her tortilla shell with an unreasonable amount of toppings that resulted in a minor explosion that had everyone laughing, and her father rolling his eyes as he passed her a fork.
Conversation shifted from topic to topic, and no matter how much I tried to stay present, I couldn’t seem to focus on anything. My thoughts kept drifting.
To Harper’s smile.
To the way her hand felt in mine as we drove back with the tree.
The way her lips felt on mine. The kiss that wasn’t for anyone else.
Just us.
“Earth to Grayson.” Reid’s voice cut through my thoughts.
I blinked. “What?”
He gave me a look, too sharp to ignore. “Fuck, brother.”
“Watch your mouth,” Ethan said.
“No way! Money for the swear jar,” Quinn called out with glee.
While I watched, Reid handed Quinn a five-dollar bill. “That should cover what I need to say.”
I swallowed hard and narrowed my eyes at my twin. “What?” I asked again, rougher this time. “You have something to say, brother? Just say it.”
“What’s happening?” Brody glanced between us. We both ignored him.
Reid held my gaze. “It’s too late, isn’t it? You’ve fallen for her.”
The table went quiet. All eyes turned to me.
What I wasn’t going to say was that I hadn’tfallenfor her, because I’d never stopped caring. I gripped my fork a little tighter, my pulse pounding in my ears. “It’s not like that,” I said evenly. “This is all for?—”
“The holidays,” Reid finished for me. “Fuck that.”
“Hey!” Ethan said. “Language.”
“Look,” my twin brother continued. “Keep telling yourself whatever you need to believe, Gray. But you know how this ends. Her future isn’t in this town. It never was.”
After a second, the table carried on, laughter bubbling back up, but I didn’t hear a word.
Because Reid was right.
And we all knew it.
Harper
The apartment wasdark except for the glow of the tree, every light twinkling against the glass ornaments Grandma andI unpacked and hung a few hours earlier. I curled into the corner of the couch, glass of wine in hand, and let the silence settle around me.
