Page 10 of Trust Me With Forever

“Are you ever not annoying?”

He raised a dark eyebrow. “I was being nice before you threatened to steal all the cookies, but no more.” His eyes looked over my face. “Why do you look like you went to hell and back?”

I flipped him off again. “Says the man who will have to find some woman who pities him to wake up to that face every day.”

Zach grinned. “Now I know you’re tired because that’s not your A-game, Abby. I’m sexy, and you know it.”

I made retching sounds. “Just no. I already have to work at not imagining Emmy with West. Don’t push me over the edge.”

And I suspected I’d soon have to do the same with my brother Nolan and my friend Katie, even with the whole Katie-refusing-to-see-Nolan thing right now.

Zane jumped in. “Zach might have to move away if he ever wants to see a naked woman again. No one in Starry Hills will give him a chance.”

After swallowing my cookie, I said, “I’m sitting right here. And I don’t want to hear about Zach and naked women.”

Zach ignored me and sighed dramatically. “It’s true. They keep turning me down, apart from old Mrs. Easton.”

Zane smirked. “There’s something about an older woman that can be fun.”

“Older, yes. But she’s seventy-two and I draw the line at septuagenarians.”

“Since when do you know words like septuagenarians?” I drawled.

Zach gave me the middle finger. “I read. Not all of us are fancy college graduates.”

Memories threatened to break free, ones about my mentor teacher’s betrayal and how I’d never teach like I’d always wanted to do.

I grabbed a few cookies and headed toward the door. I heard Zach say, “I’m sorry, Abby. Come back!” But I kept walking.

However, instead of going upstairs to shower and crash into bed, I went outside and walked toward the apple orchard. Memories of my mom were the strongest there, especially sinceshe’d tried to make it a fun place to play after my dad’s death when I was seven.

As the bare branches came into view, a sense of peace fell over me. Here, my mom had given so many hugs and kisses. My dad had even chased me and the twins around the trees when we’d been young. Not to mention my friends and I had climbed the trees as kids and pretended they were ship masts and we were pirates on the open sea.

After all the chaos with Rafe this morning, plus Katie’s current dilemma with Nolan’s ex-bitch, and even Zane struggling with the changes to his body after being discharged from the Navy SEALs, I needed some peace and quiet.

Except when I approached the center of the orchard—where the Wishing Tree, stone arch, and bench were located—Nolan paced back and forth, running his hands through his hair, muttering something.

I’d guessed for a while that Nolan was in love with Katie. And while one of my greatest fears was that another of my best friends would get married and eventually forget I existed, I couldn’t be selfish. Two people I loved deserved happiness.

And so I went to talk to my brother and see how I could help him with Katie.

Chapter Five

Rafe

Emmy:By the way, you’re coming to dinner next week.

Me:I am?

Emmy:Yes. I won’t take no for an answer. You and West need to learn how to get along.

Me:Can’t we just go out to lunch, me and you?

Emmy:No. I’m having a big family dinner here. 7 o’clock on Saturday. Don’t be late.

Me:So the entire Wolfe family will be there?

Emmy:Yes. And I will send them to hunt you down, if you try to bail.

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