Page 41 of Someday You Learn

Fuck, she really is gorgeous—and funny, and smart. She’s sarcastic, witty, and makes my blood fucking boil.

But is this really her true self?

That’s the thing that’s eating at me. Because I’ve been burned before—by a woman who had demons she never let me see until it was too late.

I’m not sure I could survive another.

Chapter seven

Cashlynn

“Our dog had babies, but Parker went to school and told everyone she had rabies and he was going to give them to his friends.” Penn finishes his story, making everyone around the fire laugh.

Parker comes up behind me, placing his hand on the back of my chair. For a second, I wish he’d touch me again, but I can tell that he’s been tense all evening while putting on this act, with the exception of when he put his arm around me at dinner, that is.

A shiver runs through my body at the memory.

Parker adjusts his glasses on his nose as he looks across the fire at his brother. “Ha. Ha. I’m so glad everyone is getting a laugh at my expense.”

“It’s kind of ironic, though,” Dallas interjects. “You ended up being a vet, so I sincerely hope you know the difference between babies and rabies now.”

“He certainly didn’t know the difference between a human and animal breast pump in the baby store that day,” Grady chimes in. Penn and Dallas fall apart with laughter.

“I feel like that’s the next story I need to hear,” I say, trying to hide my amusement, but Parker glares down at me.

“Knock it off, boys,” Katherine admonishes, shaking her head at her sons and Grady, who might as well be one of them.

“Hey, he was laughing plenty when Penn was sharing stories about me to Willow,” Dallas whines, sounding more like a child than a grown man.

I guess siblings never stop making fun of one another. I’m speculating here, of course, since I never had this—siblings to tease or to share the heat when you’re in trouble. As much as I love my dad, sometimes being an only child sucks. Maybe that’s why I can’t bring myself to tell him the truth about my plans yet.

Parker flips Dallas off. I reach back behind me and grab his hand, squeezing it while looking up at him and whisper, “I think it’s cute.”

“The rabies part, I assume?”

Giggling, I nod. “Yeah, but now I have questions about the breast pump.”

His eyes dip down and find mine, a soft smile playing on his lips. “At least someone finds it cute.” Then he leans down and lowers his voice. “You doing okay?”

Our eyes lock, and for a second, I imagine closing the space between us and kissing him, just to see how he’d react. But I chicken out. “Yep,” I reply simply.

“So, Cashlynn, are you ready to tell me about your business idea?” Willow asks as she stands from her chair, rubbing her growing belly and pulling me from my moment with my fake fiancé.

“Oh, uh, sure.”

“Let’s go inside so we can talk,” she suggests, gesturing toward the house. As I stand to follow, Parker stops me, catching my hand.

“Willow is smart and very financially savvy. Don’t be afraid to ask her any questions you have, okay?”

“I won’t.”

He leans forward and kisses me on the temple, taking me by surprise. But then I remember our agreement about touching—only in front of others. I remind myself it’s all part of the act. Still, the flutter in my chest feels too real.

“I’ll be out here if you need me.”

Releasing his grip on my hand, he takes the seat I just vacated as I head inside, willing my heart to slow down. I find Willow sitting on the couch. “I hope you don’t mind being pulled away from the fun outside,” she says as she eases down, adjusting herself. “The couch is just so much more comfortable.”

“Not at all. How far along are you, if you don’t mind my asking?” I take a seat on the opposite end of the couch.

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