Page 9 of Pining for the Lumberjack

“Mountain Mates. It’s been the talk of the town lately.” Jack looked between Suzie and me. “I know you two must’ve heard about it.”

I shrugged and feigned innocence. Suzie tried to do the same, but she couldn’t hide the stupid smirk on her face. I nudged her under the table with my foot, but of course, I hit Jack by mistake.

“Ouch, what the hell?”

Before I could open my mouth and change the subject, Suzie beat me to it.

“Well, actually, we have heard of it, and we made a profile for Adalynn as a joke using a different picture and name, and she ended up matching with Forrest, and now they’ve been talking a lot and?—”

“Wait a second,” Jack roared. “You’re the girl Forrest won’t stop talking about?” His eyes bore into me, and I wanted the floor to open and swallow me whole.

“He won’t stop talking about me?” The question slipped out while hope and excitement made my heart race and my stomach free-fall. Yet when I looked at Jack’s face, I knew I shouldn’t have asked that.

“What the hell is going on, Ads?”

I glared at Suzie in the most murderous way I could. “A little too much wine and I made a profile. I didn’t know he’d match with me. Or that we’d start talking a lot. I didn’t mean for it to go this far, yet?—”

Jack jumped to his feet. “So you mean to tell me you’ve been playing my friend for a fool? Why? What’s the endgame here, Ads?”

“She hasn’t been playing Forrest. She’s madly in love with him,” Suzie blurted out, and this time, I made sure it was her leg I kicked under the table.

“What?” Jack snapped. “You’re in love with Forrest? What the fuck, Adalynn?”

“Can you just sit and calm down? We can talk this out like adults. Here, have a donut.” I pushed a vanilla creme toward him, but he didn’t touch it.

He sat and crossed his arms. “Explain yourself.” His gaze was murderous.

I swallowed down my nerves and inhaled deeply. “I’ve always had a secret crush on Forrest. Only Suzie knew. I knew you’d be upset, and I knew Forrest didn’t feel the same, so I never acted on it. I just ignored it instead. Honestly, the profile was a complete joke, and I didn’t expect us to match or for him to message me. I tried ignoring him, but I couldn’t. I finally had his full attention all to myself and…” I was unable to look at my brother, or anywhere for that matter, except the table.

“Ads.” Jack’s voice was softer than I expected.

I snuck a glance at him, afraid of what I’d see. But there was only a hint of annoyance. The rest was care and concern.

“You can’t help who you fall in love with. Didn’t Mom and Dad always say that? And it’s true. Besides, if I were to pick any guy for my little sister to be with, it’d be a good, hardworking, solid guy like Forrest. I trust him with my life, and I know you’d be in good hands. Is it annoying? Yeah, a little bit.” Jack smirked. “But it’s also pretty awesome, too.”

My mouth fell open in shock. Suzie wore the same look. “Wait, so you’re not pissed?”

“Pissed? No. A little annoyed? Yeah. More so about this whole profile thing. I don’t like the thought of Forrest being led on. But I will say that when he talked about the girl he’s been messaging with, he told me about her interests, and I told himthat sounded exactly like my sister. He looked at me weird and changed the subject. But my hunch was right. It was you.”

“I only lied about my name and my picture. Everything else was one hundred percent me.”

“I’m surprised he hasn’t figured it out yet. Let’s go tell him. Then he can decide. I’ve always wondered if he had a little crush on you.”

Suzie laughed loudly. “I knew it! See, I knew it!”

We all laughed.

“I don’t know if I’m ready to tell him,” I confessed in a hushed voice.

“I don’t want either of you to get hurt. And while I’m not mad, I want you to tell him. It’s not fair for either of you.”

I looked toward my best friend, who nodded her head.

“C’mon, we’ll all go together.” Jack stood once more and waved his hand. “Let’s go.”

CHAPTER SIX

Forrest

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