Page 79 of Someday You Learn

“As for my brother, I would have asked you how he was this morning, but you said you snuck out before he was up, so I don’t have much to go on here. So, my advice is…just play it cool, and act like nothing changed.”

My jaw falls open. “That’s it? That’s your advice?”

She shrugs. “I don’t know what else to say. The other option is to corner him and make him talk. There’s only two ways he can react.”

“Which are?”

“He caves and finally addresses the tension between you two. You can be truthful with him about what you want, and then hopefully when your business is up and running, you two will agree to give this a real shot. Or, he walks away from you again, at which point I’d say cut your losses.”

“But…but I don’t want to cut my losses.” I clasp a hand over my heart. “I want your brother.”

Hazel eyes me over the rim of her coffee. “Congratulations, you just passed the test.”

Laughter spills from my lips. “What?”

“I’m just making sure you’re not giving up on him, because Parker needs someone who won’t stop fighting for him.”

“Then what do Iactuallydo?”

“You go home, jump his bones, and then right before he’s about to come, grab him by the dick and make him talk to you.”

I blink at her slowly. “Maybe I should have called Willow.”

She shrugs. “It’s early and my brain isn’t firing on all cylinders yet.”

Shaking my head, I consider whether Hazel is right. I’ve followed her advice thus far, and look where it’s gotten me. But I know I’m so close to getting Parker to see what’s right in front of him. If I give up now, I’ll never forgive myself.

No regrets, Cashlynn. Remember?

“I’m going to corner him today.”

Hazel nods approvingly. “I think that’s the right move.”

“I’ll let you know how it goes. If things blow up…” I glance around her apartment. “Do you have space for a roommate?”

She laughs. “I don’t think that will be necessary. My brother may be stubborn as all hell, but he’s not stupid—though he has his moments. Don’t all men?”

I take a sip of my coffee just as my eyes fall to the hummingbird on Hazel’s arm again. “Okay, so back to you and this hummingbird.”

Hazel’s smile grows instantly. “I’m still trying to wrap my head around what happened, Cashlynn, but…do you believe in signs from the universe?”

“Absolutely.”

“Well, I think my dad was giving me one.”

Goosebumps break out over my skin. “Oh my God…”

“Yeah.” Her eyes glisten, but she blinks away the tears. “I was sitting at Keely’s, doing some editing and responding to emails because sometimes working outside of my studio makes me more productive,” she says as I nod in understanding. “And all of a sudden, this man walks up to me, and I swear, if I had a picture in my mind of what my perfect guy would look like, he would have been it. Tall, lean but muscular, covered in tattoos, and I’m pretty sure I saw a tongue piercing.”

My eyes widen. “Ooh, nice.”

“Right? So he strides up to me and sits down in the seat across from me. When I took my earbuds out, he asked me if he could draw on my arm.”

“What?” I laugh in disbelief.

“Yeah, it was really bizarre, and for a moment, I thought it was his version of a pick-up line. But he explained that he was fulfilling a bucket list item of sorts, and noticed I had beautiful, bare skin.”

“Oh my God. My stomach is all tingly right now.”

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