The sound of her name makes me want to flinch. “What about it?”
“She’s going to be at my dad’s party this weekend. I can’t uninvite her or not attend myself. So although I can’t undo the fact that she’ll be there, I can be up front about what it won’t be.”
I pass a swallow down my throat. “True.”
“How’s this?” he asks. “I just sent this to Liz: ‘If you come, please bring a plus-one, as I will be. See you there.’ Sound good?”
Does it sound good? For Liz to hear that, yes. He needs to set that boundary with her. It sounds good, but my foolish heart needs to ignore the burning sensation in my throat and the million questions I have as to who is going with him to a place Liz will be. But I’m not about to ask that.
“Sounds great,” I say and hand him a plate. “Let’s eat.”
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
TREVOR
This is probably the worst idea I’ve ever had. And to be honest, I’ve had some doozies. Like the one that I came up with last night at the inn. It’s the one that started this whole train wreck of terrible ideas.
Terrible and potentially amazing.
But it’s logical, and logical is what you fall back on when you aren’t sure. Logic never fails.
I hope.
I angle my head from side to side as I head into Dogwood Lane, trying to work some of the tension out. The back of my neck feels like a rubber band has been stretched through it and someone is pulling it taut. The pain is irritating and only adds to my discomfort about this whole day.
Lorene fixed me a breakfast of bacon and eggs, even though breakfast isn’t included with the room. I made sure to fix her leaky faucet in the kitchen while she prepped the meal. I’ve enjoyed chatting with her over the last few days, but today I just wanted to get out of there and take care of business.
I stop at an intersection and wait for a school bus. I fire a text to Jake with my idea and answer a few questions we left unresolved after I got back from Haley’s last night. The messages go through, and I toss my phone out of my reach and wait for it.
One. Two. Thr—I don’t get to “three” before the phone rings with as many unread messages. Like a firing squad, they come in so quickly I know any peace I had with Jake is dead. He’ll use one of those texts to fire me up for the foreseeable future.
I hate the line Haley’s drawn. Her stupid refusal to let me touch her or treat her the way I want to is maddening, and I’m not sure if I like her despite, or because of, it.
I drive up her street, swerving around the dog that doesn’t appear to have moved since last night. He blinks, so he’s alive but apparently really comfortable in the middle of the road.
The sun sits high in the sky, almost directly overhead. My fingers tap a beat against the steering wheel as I pull up to Haley’s.
I don’t want to feel this desperate. I’ve not wanted to do something I know I shouldn’t like this for a long time.
I’ve clearly lost my damn mind.
As if my brain has taken control and put me on autopilot, I shut off the truck. Open the door. Get out and lock it behind me. Before I know it, I’m ringing Haley’s doorbell with a flood of excitement hitting my veins.
“I’m coming,” she hollers from inside the house.
I shove my hands in my pockets and wait for the door to swing open. When it does, I’m glad I’m not able to reach for her.
A pair of short shorts barely covers her legs, and a white tank top stretches across her breasts. I realize I’ve never seen her this stripped down. What I came here for? It’s gone. No clue.
“Hey,” she says, pulling her brows together. “What are you doing here?”
“Um . . .”
“We didn’t discuss dinner, and assuming is against the rules. But even if I do agree to spare you a meal alone, it’s like noon.”
I nod like a freaking idiot.
She leans her head against the door. “Trevor? Are you okay?”
“Me? Yeah. For sure.” I clear my throat. “I just came by to talk to you.”
She steps back and opens the door. Surprise is written across her beautiful face. “Okay. Come on in.”