Page 40 of Falling for the Guy Next Door

Ella’s cheeks flooded with a blush. “It wasn’t how I envisioned it or how I would have written it in a novel. I stood there and stared at him for a long time because my mind just couldn’t accept that I heard the words right. Then Rhett fidgeted and looked embarrassed. We were standing in his kitchen waiting for our frozen lasagna to heat. Then he said, ‘Guess you weren’t ready to hear that’ and he turned to check the oven. Once I realized I hadn’t imagined or misheard him, I teared up and threw myself into his arms. At some point with my sniffles and my face smashed into his chest, I blubbered out the words ‘I love you, too.’”

Isla lifted her glass. “Here’s to saying ‘I love you.’”

We joined in and then I set my glass down. “I want that,” I said. “To hear ‘I love you’ from someone who means it and someone who means something to you.” I leaned over and hugged Ella. “I’m happy for you, El. He’s the best, and you deserve nothing less.”

Ella hugged me back. “Thank you, and it will happen for you, too.”

We got back to eating and laughing and gossiping and all the things I missed whenever we weren’t together. It was never going to be the same now that they’d all found partners, but the connections between us were as strong as ever. No matter what happened in my life, my sisters were always there to help me celebrate or pick up the pieces.

ChapterTwenty-Four

Nash

I’d worked on the song all evening. It was nice to have quiet time, away from work and the band and all the other distractions, so I could focus. The song was finished, and I had to admit, it sounded good. But then I had some incredible inspiration for this one. Headlights swung past the house. I glanced out the kitchen window. Layla’s car pulled into the driveway.

I picked up my phone and before I could stop myself, I sent off a text. “Nightcap?”

The answer was sweet and simple. “Sure.” We were both obviously tiptoeing through this thing. There was nothing solid enough yet to go barreling into it all-cylinders-firing. I didn’t want to make a misstep and blow it before it even got started, and I knew she was still feeling the frailness of the whole idea because of her best friend. I didn’t want to mess that up either. I just didn’t think it was fair to avoid trying this just to keep her friend happy.

The knock on my door caused a breath to catch in my chest. Admittedly, it happened every time I saw Layla. She was that stunning and not just on the outside. Rocky heard the knock and reacted with his usual “fierce guy” growl but started wagging his tail before I even opened the door.

“Rocky knew it was you,” I said. My dog was very useful for breaking the ice.

“Rocky, my buddy.” She hugged him, then with a moment of awkwardness that quickly melted, she hugged me.

“Second in line,” I quipped. “I’ll take it. After all, I don’t have big brown eyes and a fuzzy muzzle and a smile that could melt a scoop of ice cream off the top of Everest.”

Layla was wearing a light green sundress and sandals, and she was breathtaking. I was sure she’d look just as amazing in a heavy winter coat and beanie.

She placed her purse on the side table. “What exactly is a nightcap? I’ve heard the term, but I wasn’t entirely sure. I assume it has nothing to do with an actual cap.”

“It’s an old-fashioned term for one last drink before bedtime.”

“I thought that might be the case. I’ll just have a glass of water, if you don’t mind. I know that seems boring, but my sisters and I just finished two blenders full of margaritas and a load of spicy food.”

“Lucky you.” I walked to the kitchen and filled a glass with ice water and grabbed myself a beer.

We sat on the couch. Rocky walked over and stared up at me to let me know he was going to climb up on the couch between us. I shook my head. “No chance, buddy. Tonight, she’smyguest.”

Rocky released a loud dog sigh, turned away and lumbered to his bed. Layla watched him walk away, head and tail down. “Aww, he looks so sad.”

“He’s really good at the poor, neglected dog act.”

Rocky climbed onto his plush pillow, turned several circles to find the exact right spot and plopped down with another sigh.

“As you can see, his life is just one hardship after another.”

Layla laughed. “That pillow does look far more luxurious than my bed.” She turned back to face me, and I had to give myself a second to catch my breath. “So, Nash Ledger, now that we’ve opened this Pandora’s Box, tell me about yourself. I know you sing in a band, you have thousands of fans, you work construction during the day, you’re helping to support your sister and momandyou have the world’s coolest dog, but fill in the missing pieces.”

“Man, after that list, I wish I had something good and intriguing to add. Hmm, one time I won an apple pie at the school fair because I managed to dunk the principal in the dunk tank. One throw and down he went. I was really determined because the guy always found reasons to suspend me.”

Layla looked at me skeptically. “Foundreasons?”

“I guess he didn’t have to look too hard because I sort of handed him the reasons. In my defense, I didn’t cause the minor explosion in the chem lab. That was Bosco, only I took the blame because his dad …” I decided not to finish the sentence.

Layla predicted the ending. She crinkled up her nose. “Did Bosco have a strict dad?”

“You could say that. He was always looking for some way to put Bosco down. Never the opposite.”

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