Page 84 of Finding New Dreams

“I’m sorry for what Lorraine did and said to you. It sounds like she wasn’t worth your commitment anyway.” Chloe paused, biting her lip, and that dread came creeping back. “But I need to know that you’ll be careful with Rose.”

I opened my mouth, but she held up her hand. “No point in denying it, especially after Mable rehashed every version of the ‘sex on the beach’ incident she’d heard.” She shuddered. “But I don’t think you’re after Rose for another rebound hookup. I’ve seen the way you look at her, the way you care for her.” She paused again, and I had to bite back the words telling her to spit it out. “Just make sure you both know what this is between you. And what it’s not.”

My mouth dropped open, but no words came out. I closed it. Her words whirled around and around my head like a tornado, dislodging my grasp of our current situation.

Chloe checked her phone. “Hunter says the food’s arrived. We should head back.” She patted me on the shoulder. “Love you, big brother. That’s always true.”

I strained to give her a smile. “Love you too.”

We walked back to our seats, even though, in that moment, I would’ve rather stayed in the hallway. At least until my head stopped spinning. Conversation rumbled around me as I mindlessly ate my towering piece of lasagna.

Chloe now knew my troubles, but she wouldn’t gossip about them. Good.

She knew about me and Rose, and she wasn’t mad. Also good.

But my brain kept sticking on the last few things she’d said. About how I looked at Rose. Cared for her. That we both needed to understand what was going on.

What had Chloe been getting at?

I glanced at her, but she was laughing and talking with Hunter and our friends like nothing was wrong.

And maybe it wasn’t. Maybe I was reading too much into it. But she’d been emphatic.

My fist clenched around my fork. Did she think I had feelings for Rose? That I was getting caught up in the fun and flirtation and romance of it all? Not checking to make sure Rose was still on the same page? Like Lorraine.

Did she think I was going to get hurt again?

I glanced at Rose, and she met my eyes with that smile that blinded me to everyone else.

She nodded at my meatless lasagna. “You could’ve ordered a steak, you know.”

“Didn’t want to be another bad date,” I said softly.

“That’s not the only thing that made him a bad date, trust me. But people can order whatever they want.” She pointedly glanced at our friends who were indeed eating a variety of meaty and meatless dishes. “I own my choice, and they own theirs. I just didn’t want to be with a guy who didn’t bother to remember or respect my choice.” Her hand rubbed my thigh. “You do both.”

My heart stumbled.

Chloe was right. I cared for Rose. But did that have to change anything between us? We could still have our hot, fun fling. Then I’d go back to L.A., and she’d go back to finding Mr. Perfect.

Twin knives of reluctance and rage stabbed through my chest.

Shit, if it hurt this bad now, what would it feel like later?

Hands busy with eating her grilled veggies, Rose pressed the edge of her foot against my boot, aligning our legs.

I tensed at the thick wave of desire rolling over me.

The real questions were, would the threat of pain stop me?

No.

And…

Should I tell her?

21

ROSE

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