Nash Brothers Box Set - Carrie Aarons Page 0,125

him off at the dinner in Philadelphia, said I’d never go to another one of those again, but …

I’m weak. I love my parents, and I’ve been a part of their machine far longer than I’ve had my own life and my own home. Their game is the one I know, and sometimes, I can’t help but fall back into it. Go to an event, be doted on by my father. Show up at an appearance, see that smile of gratitude and respect on my mom’s face.

And on top of it all, I’m trying to keep up some semblance of a … can I call it a relationship? Well, whatever is happening, Bowen and I have tried to carve out an hour here and there for each other. After the night of drunken wedding sex, which was, gosh …

I blush just thinking about how wild it was.

“What are you smirking at?” Presley asks as I cut up cheese to put on our charcuterie board.

She’s finally back from her and Keaton’s Hawaiian honeymoon, and Penelope begged for a girl’s night the minute I’d had a day to fully sleep and recover from the marathon I’d been sprinting.

We sit around Presley’s dining room table, chatting about the wedding, her honeymoon, what’s been going on in Fawn Hill and everything in between.

“Yeah, what’s so funny?” Penelope accuses.

“Nothing.” I try to clamp my lips shut, but the smile just won’t stop.

Presley tickles my side. “Out with it!”

Here goes nothing. At least Keaton is out on a vet emergency call right now, and not here to witness this.

“Bowen and I … we slept together.” I wring my hands, waiting for the outburst.

“I KNEW IT!” Penelope shouts, jumping up and running around the table in circles.

Presley just smiles and sips her white wine. “It was only a matter of time.”

I know I look guilty now. “Well, we’ve actually been seeing each other. And the wedding wasn’t the … uh, first time.”

“What?” Now Presley is acting like a squawking chicken. “You’ve been having sex with Bowen for how long?”

The two of them are looking at each other like the world has just exploded, or pigs are flying, or … Brad Pitt just showed up in Keaton and Presley’s living room. Now that would be a hoot.

“Sit down.” I laugh, both shy about having this conversation but relieved to get this off my chest.

“I’m sweating.” Penelope huffs out a breath. “This is giving me so much life.”

“All right, are you two going to listen?” I chuckle.

“Yes, spill.” Presley perks up like a good little pupil, all ears.

“Well, it started the night of the meth house fire.”

“When I texted you?” Presley interrupts.

“Yes, I … well, I went over to his house to wait for him. I don’t know why, it was such a stupid move, but we ended up spending the night together.”

Presley leans toward Penelope. “Secretly, I schemed that plan in my head. I knew it was a long shot, but now that it actually worked, I think I should go into the matchmaking business or something.”

My jaw dislodges. “You sneaky little … you were trying to get us together?”

“Obviously, I was!” She pumps her fist as if she’s scored a touchdown or a goal.

“If your dating magic is that spot on, maybe you can wish Jake Gyllenhaal into my life?” Penelope pops an olive in her mouth.

“Shut it, let her talk.” Presley slathers spicy jam onto a breadstick while silencing our other best friend, then motions for me to continue.

“Actually, if I’m being honest, it started in the early part of the summer, even before you got engaged. Bowen picked me up on the side of the road after my car broke down, and things just kind of spiraled from there. We kept bumping into each other, and I’m sure part of your diabolical plan included making us best man and maid of honor because it worked.”

Presley looks down, a smirk gracing her lips, all but confirming her meddling. Penelope slaps her on the back in congratulations.

“And then we just … decided to take things slow. We’ve had some talks about the past, about the accident, although there are still things he isn’t willing to tell me. We’ve obviously been sleeping together.”

“How is the sex?” Penelope interrupts as if this is the most important part of the conversation.

I tip my chin and give her an admonishing look.

She shrugs her shoulders innocently. “What? Is this girl talk or not? You haven’t fucked the man since you were seventeen,