Page 7 of Aisle Come Back to You

Maybe I shouldn’t care so much about making this up to her, especially since she was the one coming at me with this weird hostility, but despite the distance and the way our friendship has grown apart these past few years, I find myself wanting and needing her approval. One thing I’ve unfortunately realized about myself is that I’ll always care a bit too much about what Blair Bennett thinks about me.

“Yeah, no need to get upset. In fact, I think this calls for another round of drinks,” Ronnie not so helpfully decides as the waitress sets down my plate of food before nodding her head as she goes off to put in their next order of margaritas. Something tells me I have a long night ahead.

4

Ford

Turns out not drinkingwas the right decision, especially when it became clear that neither woman was capable of driving home. But now, as I carefully maneuver the two women up the stairs toward Miles Bennett’s second-story apartment, I’m questioning all the life choices that led me to this point. They definitely aren’t making this easy on me, especially as they keep giggling and insisting that they need to rest every few steps.

The fact that I have to deliver them to Miles in this condition makes it even worse. While being three years older than us may play a part, his overprotective nature has always been intimidating as hell. I may have surpassed him in height with my now six-foot frame by an inch or two, but that doesn’t stop me from shaking like a leaf. The dude is not one to mess with, especially when it comes to his younger sister.

I’ve always suspected that Miles is capable of knocking me out with just one punch, and has only been waiting for me to givehim the perfect opportunity to get away with it. Then again, I’ve also had a feeling he appreciates the way I look out for the girls. However, I can’t help but feel apprehensive that if I take one step out of line, he won’t hesitate to make me pay for it.

Considering his sister’s short time in town, I doubt he’ll be pleased to see her in such an intoxicated state, especially on her first night back. But who am I to be the one to determine how much someone should or shouldn’t drink? Given our complicated history, I also imagine she wouldn’t have been all that happy if I were to make any comments about how overboard she went tonight. Once upon a time, it probably would’ve been fine for me to say something, but I suspect those days are long gone.

“It’s this one, right?” I ask Blair, pointing toward the door on our right.

Miles and I have never been close, so I’ve never been to his place. But in a small town like Evergreen Grove, it’s common to know everyone’s business and know where they live. It’s both a blessing and a curse. Sure, it’s nice that I didn’t have to drive around town aimlessly while we tried to figure it out, but I suspect by tomorrow morning everyone in Evergreen is going to know that I drove a very drunk and giggly Blair and Ronnie home.

I know I no longer need to care or think about what Jenny and her family will have to say about this. However, my mind definitely goes there, especially since I know how much she has always hated and resented my tight-knit friendship with Blair Bennett.

“How am I supposed to know?” she asks through another loud giggle. Ronnie follows suit and the two of them fall into each other as if I just asked the most hilarious and ridiculous question in the entire world.

“Well, I guess there’s only one way to find out,” I decide as I release a defeated sigh. I raise my hand and give the door a firm knock. Thankfully, it isn’t too late, and if I’m mistaken and we’re in the completely wrong place, they shouldn’t be too upset about the weird intrusion. However, Miles opening the door with a disappointed and hardened stare is equally intimidating—pretty sure I’m in a lose-lose situation.

I’m not sure if I’m relieved or not when I hear barking and shuffling behind the door, as someone comes to open it.

“Uh, hey Miles,” I say with an optimistic smile as I awkwardly raise a hand in greeting. Thankfully it is his face that greets us. “I have a special delivery,” I add, as he looks behind me to find Blair and Ronnie still snickering away.

It’s clear he and Blair are related, with their strikingly similar blond hair and piercing blue eyes, and I’m once again reminded why I’ve always found the guy intimidating. I may be taller, but he’s certainly not short. Instead of being on the lankier side like me, he’s got muscles, which are very pronounced at the moment in his gray sweatpants and white T-shirt as he crosses his arms and shakes his head.

I silently will him not to kill me as he puffs out an annoyed breath of air, seeming to do everything he can to hold his frustration in. “Do me a favor and help me get them inside,” he finally says. He walks outside and grabs his sister around the shoulders with a small, but hefty bulldog in tow, and does his best to guide her through the door. Clearly leaving Ronnie for me to handle.

I’d offered to take both girls to Ronnie’s place, but they’d decided Miles would be upset if Blair didn’t come home, and since they wanted to spend the night together, I went along with it. I’ve long since learned that if Ronnie and Blair have something in mind, you do it. Once they make a joint decision, it’s set in stone—there’s no changing their minds.

Yes, Ronnie and I have work tomorrow, and while I considered reminding her about this, neither of them seems worried about it, so I do my best not to care either. If they’re not worried, then why should I be? Then again, it’s always been my role to be the caretaker for the three of us.

“Come on, Ron,” I softly encourage, as I place a hand on the back of her shoulder and follow Miles and Blair’s lead.

Walking into his place for the first time, I have to admit, this very much feels like a Miles sort of place. It once again makes sense that he and Blair are siblings. The majority of the room is furnished with black, metal, and industrial-style furniture, with a huge leather couch in the middle of the living area. It exudes a strong bachelor aesthetic, especially with the various use of old car parts and license plates as decor. The atmosphere is exactly what you’d expect from someone who owns an auto-body shop.

“Ooooh, doggy,” Ronnie coos as she clumsily pulls away from my grasp and falls to the ground, her legs spreading into a v-shape as she moves to give the bulldog some love. He practically jumps on her, covering her in wet, slobbery dog kisses. Luckily, this dog seems like a big softy, unlike his grumpy owner, who seems pretty annoyed that his dog is loving on Ronnie, of all people. “I didn’t know you were adaddy.”

“Ew.” Blair shivers as she pushes herself out of her brother’s grasp before plopping down onto the black leather sofa. “Please don’tevercall my brother daddy again, and definitely not inthattone of voice.”

“Yeah, I think I’d appreciate that too,” Miles echoes as he heads into the kitchen, where he retrieves two water bottles from the fridge.

“Hey, I’m only calling it as I see it. Plus, come on, if he’s worried about it, he shouldn’t go around flaunting it in those sexy-ass gray sweatpants. Doesn’t he know that we ladies go feral for that?” Ronnie asks, her attention still on the dog.

“Okay, ew.” Blair gags. “That’s my brother you’re talking about.”

“Not to mention the fact that you’re engaged,” I add as a final reminder, as Miles shifts uncomfortably. I understand that I’m not the ideal person to call anyone out, given my own circumstances, but it still feels important to point out.

“Oops, my bad,” Ronnie giggles as Miles takes it in stride and instead focuses on handing out the water to the women.

“Drink,” he commands, and luckily, they both seem to comply, at least for now.

“So, uh, sorry about this,” I apologize, as I rub at the back of my neck. “Didn’t mean to drop them on you like this.”

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