Page 7 of Crave Me

“It’s complicated. It’s just the family dynamic. It has everything to do with me and nothing to do with them, and going there just reminds me of everything that I’ve lost. Plus, I have a standing appointment that day.”

Now that, I can relate to. I don’t want to ask further questions on the topic, I understand more than anyone the need to keep our secrets close.

“So, I guess I’m going solo then. I’ll let you know how it goes. I’m positive it’s going to ruin Dallas’ day, so that will be my highlight.”

He laughs and takes another sip of his coffee, then sits up straight and looks at me with huge eyes.

“Wait, you actually know someone who got pulled into a cult?”

“How are you just now hearing that? I swear men’s brains are bizarrely wired. I’m so not making it up. My roommate in college got involved with one. Took over her entire life, like consumed her. Couldn’t talk about anything else. Kept trying to get me to join. Hard pass, by the way. But we lost her to it. The CrossFit gods claimed her.”

The look on his face is priceless, as shock morphs into a deep laugh that triggers my own. It feels so good to have a friend. AR is finally starting to feel like home.

I decide to head back to my apartment upstairs to get some work done, choosing to spend the rest of the day with my Post Malone playlist on shuffle, working on my laptop, and going over plans for Sawyer and Ivy’s upcoming wedding. They wanted to have it on the distillery property, something intimate and beautiful, and being asked to plan it has been such an honor. While I’d worked on weddings at my previous job, I’ve never taken the lead until now.

Planning weddings has always been my dream, and this is as close to reaching it as I’m going to get right now. Creating someone’s happiest moments and giving them something spectacular to look back on, would be goals for me.

Before I know it, four hours have passed, and I’m forced to set my laptop down next to me on the couch and rub my strained eyes. I stretch my legs out and pick up my phone to scroll aimlessly through social media, when I find a missed text.

Cole:

I had a great time with you last night. I’m glad you agreed to go out with me.

A soft smile comes to my face. Despite Dallas flustering me in the bathroom, I had a good time with Cole. The conversation flowed easily, and he was present and attentive, sweet even. But he didn’t light me up. There weren’t any initial sparks. But maybe that takes time. Perhaps if Dallas hadn’t messed with my head, I’d feel differently. I want so badly to make it work here in Aspen Ridge, and dating is a part of that. I don’t want to be alone forever.

Me:

Thank you for taking me out. I had a good time as well.

Cole:

I was hoping that was the case.

Unsure of what to say in response, my fingers hover over my keypad. Feeling slightly awkward about how to keep the conversation going, I toss my phone to the side and pick up my sketchpad and pencil, adding some finishing touches to a new wedding gown design I’ve had floating around in my head. Designing wedding dresses was my first passion, but going to art school was too much of a gamble. I needed to make sure that I could settle down with a stable job, and let’s face it, unless I wanted to teach, getting my degree in art was going to make finding a career more challenging. With no one to fall back on but myself, going to school for hospitality management and then studying my ass off to get my project plus certification was the closest I could get to creating dream weddings. I may not bedesigning brides’ dream gowns, but the event process is just as fulfilling.

Looking around the sparse room that is my apartment, I can’t help but wonder what tomorrow will be like at Dallas’ parents’ house. I’ve seen the relationship dynamic between the Hayes brothers, and their closeness must be partially due to their parents and their upbringing. As much as I’m eager to see the shocked look on Dallas’ face, I’m nervous to be asked questions about my own family, because I’m seriously lacking in that department. I’ll have to get creative to keep my secrets locked up close.

But I’ve been playing this game my entire life.

Chapter Four

Dallas

Sunday afternoons are always spent at my parents’ house, and my mom expects your presence unless you’re on your deathbed. I walk into the house I grew up in, raucous noise echoing off the walls. I’m stunned still when I leave the entryway and bump into none other than Blaire fucking Hollis, princess of my nightmares. She’s wearing a cream-colored sweater that hangs slightly off one shoulder, exposing the expanse of her collarbone, and the memory of my hand wrapped around her throat on Friday night makes me flex my hands into fists at my sides.

“The hell are you doing here?”

Blaire’s face pales, which surprises me. It’s only a moment before she schools her expression and snaps back at me, “I was invited, dickhead. I don’t make it a habit of just showing up at people’s homes on a Sunday to crash their dinner.”

“That nickname is reserved for family,” I say, pointing my finger in her face, “and who the hell invited you?”

“I did,” Ivy chirps, coming up next to Blaire. “Problem? I ran into her yesterday at Bean Haven and Hannah and I were talking about dinner. Sawyer was thrilled I invited her and encouraged her to come. Don’t be rude.”

Blaire gives me one of her signature smug smiles and waltzes away with Ivy, arms linked together like they’re best pals. I’m fuming. This is my space, the last thing I need is her in it. She’s already taken over the distillery. I go on a hunt for my twin brother, ready to rip him a new one.

“Hi, my wild child. Hope you’re hungry,” my mom says as I lean in and kiss her cheek.

“Always hungry for your cooking, Mom. Where’s Sawyer?”

---