Page 55 of Drowning Erin

“What’s up?” Iask.

His eyes assess me as always. He looks as if he knows everything I’ve thought in the past 24 hours, and I blushreflexively.

“You tellme.”

“I don’t know what happened last night,” Isay.

“I could draw you adiagram.”

“I mean I don’t know why it happened and why it went so far. But we were drinking.” A lame excuse. And one that doesn’t exactly explain why it’s all I’m thinking about now. “And we stopped before it went too far. So it doesn’tcount.”

“Doesn’tcount? Erin,wedidn’t stop. Matthew stoppedus.”

I blow out a frustrated exhale. “What do you want me to say,Brendan?”

He steps closer. He is too close, again. “I want to know what you’re thinking.” His voice is low and husky, sending a shiver up my spine—one I need to kill,stat.

“I’m thinking it was just a tiny drunk mistake, and we pretend it never happened, and everyone’sfine.”

He nods, his shoulders sagging with either relief or disappointment, I’m not sure which. “Neither of us mentions it to Rob,right?”

“Right.” Iconfirm.

I look up at him and forget everything I’ve just said. His eyes have darkened and now dip to my mouth, as if he’s just come across something he’s starved for. It’s probably how I’m looking at himtoo.

I hop off the tailgate, and we close the backdoors.

“Do me a favor,” he says. “Stay away fromLee.”

I roll my eyes. “He’sharmless.”

“Yeah, he is,” Brendan agrees. “But I’m not. So stay away fromhim.”

38

Erin

Present

Late in theafternoon I change into a singlet and shorts to run my ten miles with Olivia, and as soon as she’s gotten her blisters dealt with for the thousandth time we takeoff.

The pace is punishing, though not nearly as punishing as theconversation.

“So according to my son,” she begins, “you and Brendan are in love and probably having ababy.”

Oh God. “OhGod.”

“What the hell? Why didn’t you tell me you two were together? I just asked you yesterday, and you totallylied!”

“We’re not together,” I groan. “It was amisunderstanding.”

“Yes,” she says with a serious nod, “so many misunderstandings involve someone accidentally putting his tongue in yourmouth.”

“We just made a mistake.” I sigh. “Shit. Who did hetell?”

“Everyone who will listen. He wants to know how soon the baby is coming, and he wants you to name it Rubble—that’s his favoritePaw Patrolcharacter.”

I groan. “It’s not funny, Olivia. I almost cheated on Rob last night. It’s not funny atall.”

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