Page 47 of Dining for Love

We’ve barely begun our walk to the end of the pier before a shout comes from behind us. “Wait up!”

I turn and smile, grateful for the backup. “Hey, sis!”

Goldie wraps me in a hug, breathless from her sprint to join us. “You didn’t tell me the Willa and Matty Yoga and Pier Walk was open to others.” She shoots a playful look at Reid. “Not really fair that some new-to-town stranger gets to do it when I’ve been asking for years.”

Reid quirks a wily smile. “Did I intrude on something?”

“Yes,” I say.

“Not at all.” Matty’s voice overrides mine as he shoves me just enough to send me stumbling into Reid’s very muscular arm. I glare at my former best friend and mouth, “Asshole.”

He smiles a shit-eating grin right back, entirely unapologetic for his meddling activities, then holds his arm out for Goldie. She threads her arm through his without hesitation, and it almost looks as though there’s a faint blush on her cheeks as she does it.

Matty lets out a satisfied grunt. “Ah, look at us, spendingqualitytimetogether.”

“It’s really nice,” Reid agrees.

Goldie shoots a look at me, and I guess whatever she sees has her elbowing Matty in my defense.

They don’t get it. I know they want to see me happy, and I love them for it. But what’s the point in any of this if the only thing that waits for me at the end is Reid going back to Miami?

“Come on,” I grumble. “Let’s at least go check on my yacht.”

Reid’s head whips to me. “You have a yacht?”

We all laugh. “Hardly. But we’ve all claimed a vessel,” I gesture to the line of beautifully appointed yachts and boats. “Mine is way down there, at the end.”

Reid looks where I’m pointing. “TheShakespeare?”

I shake my head. “No, the really big one on the other side. TheBear.”

He chuckles. “For someone as unassuming as you, you really swing for the fences with your boats, huh?”

I shrug. “It’s a fantasy. Why not?”

We continue talking as we walk, the four of us joking and having a good time. I let myself relax into the camaraderie, and by the time we make our way back up the pier, Matty and Willa are making excuses to leave. Because of course they are.

Reid waves as they hustle away. “Are they a thing?”

I snort a laugh. “Matty and my sister? No way.”

He hums thoughtfully.

I reach up to pet Midnight, and she bats at my hand playfully.

“Ride home with me?” Reid asks.

I glance up at him. “Well, considering that Matty’s abandoned me, sure. I’d love to.”

At the house, Reid puts his truck in park and looks over at me, where I’ve got Midnight bundled into a ball on my lap and purring contentedly. “Want to explain to me why you’ve been ignoring me?”

I freeze. “I?—”

“Because I like you, Willa. I want to spend time with you. I thought you wanted the same thing. If I’m wrong?—”

“You’re not wrong.” I regret the words as soon as they leave my mouth.

“Then what is it?”

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