Page 93 of Lavender Lake
I sighed. “Yeah, you’re right.” My lukewarm cup of coffee was on the end table next to the couch and I reached for it, trying not to disturb the new occupant who’d made me her newest nap spot.
“He was willing to bet on you, though,” she said with a wry smile. “So you might want to cut him a little slack.”
“Heartwarming.”
“Anyone that saw you play field hockey in high school knows to bet on you.” She nibbled on her lip. “So are you really not going to tell me what she said?”
“Why does it matter?” I asked. “It was rude and it was about you and I took care of it. And if anyone asks, you can tell them the altitude got to me. I’m not used to the thinner air. I wasn’t thinking clearly because I was oxygen deprived.”
“No, don’t do that,” Hadley said. “You’ve been protecting me since we were kids. You don’t have to do that now.”
“Yes, I do,” I said. “That’s what we do. You followed me to New York to make sure I always had someone to bail me out of jai—my problems—and I protect you from people who are mean to you. It’s our way. Trust me, Hadley. You’re not missing anything by not knowing what Amber said. Okay?”
“Okay. But you have to promise me one thing if you’re not gonna tell me . . .”
“What’s that?”
She took my hand in hers and linked her fingers through mine. “I want my child to always know they can call you. They won’t always want to call me or Declan, but if they’re in trouble and they’re afraid, I want them to know they can count on you.”
Emotion thickened my throat. “Are you sure you want me to be their emergency call? You trust me with the safety of your child?”
“Salem, you’re my twin sister. You’re my favorite person on this planet. Aside from Declan.” She smiled. “Of course I trust you.”
“Even though I’m a hair trigger?”
“Even though you’re a hair trigger.”
“I’m not an adult, Hadley. I can barely take care of myself.”
“You don’t give yourself enough credit.”
“I don’t give myselfanycredit,” I mumbled. “Starting bar fights?—”
“Hey, as far as I’m concerned, Amber started the fight and you finished it. And that’s a good life lesson to teach a kid.”
I stroked a hand down Tempest’s back and got lost in my own thoughts for a moment.
“What are you thinking about?” she asked.
“A lot of things,” I admitted. “Dad coming home. Your wedding. Poet and Wyn coming out here. Me going back to New York. My job.”
Cas.
“That’s a lot.”
I nodded. “Yeah.”
“Okay, what’s going on with you?” she demanded.
“What do you mean?” I frowned. “I just told you all the things in my head.”
“No, there’s something else. Something you’re not telling me.”
“You’re my twin. What do you think I’m keeping from you?” I asked, desperately trying to bury the knowledge that Cas had spent the night in my bed—inside me.
“I don’t know.” Hadley pondered, peering at me like she could see below the surface of my face. “Something.”
“I’m not keeping anything from you,” I lied.
