Page 75 of The Perfect Mistake

“What?” Connie asks. “He is?”

“Yeah. Something about golf caddies… I don’t think it’ll go anywhere,” I say with a wave of my hand. “It’s a hobby project to fill his days.”

“He might need that, so he stops bothering you,” she says.

“Yeah. When was the last time you spoke with him?” I ask.

She cocks her head. “I think… three weeks ago now, give or take. Right before the wedding party that he didn’t bother attending.”

“I’m sorry he did that,” I say.

Connie shakes her head. “Don’t. He’s his own person,” she says. “Eventually, he’ll realize that me marrying a Thompson doesn’t mean I’m a traitor to our business… or he won’t. And that’ll have to be okay.”

Nate nods into his beer like they’ve had this conversation before.

I frown at her. “He’ll accept it.”

“Will he?” she asks dryly. “Maybe, but if he’s expecting me to come crawling with an apology, I won’t. I’ll never apologize for falling in love with Gabriel.”

That’s exactly what he’s hoping for. I stare at her, my baby sister. She’s always been so young. Born when I was already eleven, when my voice was breaking and my body shooting up in height. She’d been tiny in my arms when Mom let me hold her the first time.

She’s not little anymore, not with that statement.

“You shouldn’t,” I say. “You’re doing a great job at the Foundation, by the way. Maybe I haven’t said that.”

She blinks at me. “Thank you. I’m enjoying the work.”

“It shows.”

Silence descends on our table, a bit stilted, and a bit awkward. I take a long pull of my beer and look back at the TV screen. She is my baby sister… and yet, Isabel is even younger than her. Only a few years, but still.

Fifteen years.

Another wave of guilt washes over me. I shouldn’t want Isabel the way I do. Even if she’s a fully grown woman, even if I’ve never known her as anything but. Even if it doesn’t feel wrong when she’s in my arms.

I doubt others will see it that way.

Connie definitely wouldn’t. The guilt intensifies, knowing she sent Isabel in my direction with a belief that she can trust me with her friend. To give Isabel a job and a place to stay.

Not to argue with her. Not to kiss her. And definitely not to sleep with her.

“So who are you meeting after?” Connie asks Nate.

He grins. “Are you implying I double-booked tonight? I would never.”

“Except that you have. Right? You’re only in town for a few days.”

“Yeah. I’m meeting Dean later.”

Connie frowns. I get her reaction. Nate’s college buddy isn’t someone I’ve particularly liked, at least not in our few interactions. He’s brash in a way that grates.

Nate chuckles. “Yeah, I know. But he’s better.”

“He met someone, didn’t he?” Connie asks. “Maybe she’s helping him learn to tone it down a bit.”

Nate looks down into his glass and shrugs a bit too casually. “Harper. She’s coming tonight, too.”

“Poor girl,” my sister says and nudges Nate. “I mean, I get that Dean is a catch and all, but I would’ve needed to knock him down a few pegs if I were her.”

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