Page 59 of When We Burn

“Pumpkin spice latte?”

I turn and smile at Millie, who’s holding a tray of small cups with lids.

“Don’t mind if I do. Wow, this is so great.”

“I know,” Millie says with a grin. “People have been in and out all day long, going back and forth between our stores, and it’s damn awesome.”

“I love this so much.” I sip my latte and sigh in happiness. “I will spend literally all my spare time here.”

Millie eyes me playfully. “Or, you know, with Bridger.”

“Did someone say my brother’s name?” Bee, dressed in a gorgeous pink dress, her dark hair up in a high ponytail and her makeup flawless as usual, wraps her arm around my shoulders and squeezes me. “What did he do now?”

I laugh and shake my head. “Nothing.”

“Nothing?” Millie demands. “I might have to smack my bestie around because he’s clearly slacking if he’s done nothing to you.”

“Well, he didn’t do anything bad, is what I should say,” I assure her, and then look around to make sure no one is eavesdropping. Thankfully, it looks like the store has hit a lull. I know that both of these women are aware that something has been brewing between Bridger and me.

And I need friendly advice.

“Honestly, I think—” I press my lips together, unsure of how to phrase it.

“Tell us,” Bee says gently as she brushes her fingers through my hair. “We can help. Don’t get too graphic because it’s mybrother.”

“I think it’s just going to be a friends-with-benefits thing.” The words rush out of me in a whoosh, and then I sip my latte to mask my embarrassment. “I mean, we’re both so busy, you guys. I hardly see him.”

“Is there no chemistry?” Bee asks. I know that despite the fact that we’re discussing her brother, she can be impartial and give me excellent advice.

She’s always been good at giving advice.

“Oh, there’s chemistry.” I bite my lip and then decide to tell them about my garage just a few hours ago, and that has them both wrapping me in a hug. “But, isn’t that the definition of…convenience? We bang when we can, but otherwise, there’s not much going on?”

Bee frowns, and Millie’s head is cocked to the side, watching me with her lips pursed.

“Mm, I think you should talk to Bridger,” she says at last. “Because that’s not the impression that I got from him the other day.”

“Why? What did he say the other day?”

Millie shakes her head. “He’s my best friend, and I can’t betray a confidence, but you really do need to talk to him, Dani. Hey, I gotta go. It looks like we have a line.”

Millie hurries back to her coffee shop, and Bee links her arm through mine.

“She’s right,” she says. “I’myourbestie, and I’m telling you, you need to talk to him. You’ve come so far in sticking up for yourself, in speaking up for what you need. Don’t stop that now, babe. Bridger’s not really the fuck buddy type, so seriously, just have a conversation.”

I nod and swallow the lump that just formed in my throat. I needed to talk to her about this because the doubts I’ve been dealing with have been driving me nuts.

And she’s right, the only person who can tell me what he’s thinking is the man himself.

“Okay, enough of that. Back to the reason I’m here. The store is amazing,Bee.”

She grins. “Right? So far, the response has been so fantastic.”

“I love how well-stocked the spicy book section is,” I inform her, waggling my eyebrows. “I’ll be buying, like, twenty books today.”

“Good. I’ll let you.”

“Excuse me.”

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