Page 25 of Choosing You

There was no way he’d force Sloane to share his hobby—that would just be crazy—just like she couldn’t force him. But he wanted her to see that there was more to him than just that one interest—a lot more, probably more than he let most people see. He’d just never found anyone that he felt comfortable enough with to be more than just Will the mechanic.

Until now.

“I think I have a solution,” he said finally.

“A solution?”

“To that whole being nervous and rectifying thing we mentioned earlier.”

Sloane looked at him warily. “O-kay…”

“Spend the weekend with me.”

ChapterFive

It was almost five when she walked into her sister’s house. She found Hailey and Max in the kitchen cooking and laughing, and for a moment, she just stood in the shadows and watched. It was so obvious that they loved each other, and it made her ache because she wanted that kind of connection too.

Max leaned in and placed a kiss on the tip of Hailey’s nose and Sloane suddenly felt like a creeper standing there watching them. Clearing her throat loudly, she walked into the kitchen. “Hey, you two! Something smells yummy!”

“We’re making skillet barbecue chicken, sauteed green beans, and homemade mashed potatoes,” Max told her with a serene smile. “Can I get you something to drink? A glass of wine?”

“Ooh…yes, please. Thanks.” Stepping closer to the stove, she inhaled. “Wow, that really does smell wonderful. How long until we eat?”

“About fifteen minutes,” Max told her, handing her a glass of wine. “I just poured myself a glass, so it was already out. Why don’t the two of you go inside and relax and I’ll call you when everything’s ready?”

“Thanks, babe,” Hailey said, kissing him before turning and taking Sloane by the hand and dragging her out of the room. No sooner were they sitting down than her sister was practically bouncing in her seat. “So? How was the rest of your day? Is he hot? Is he everything you fantasized he’d be?”

Hailey was the one who called Sloane earlier, when she and Will were walking toward the hotel. Without giving too much information, Sloane had told her she had found her kissing booth guy and they were hanging out, getting to know each other. Fortunately, her sister was still relatively new to Sweetbriar Ridge and didn’t know everyone, so she had no idea who Will was.

Taking a sip of her wine, she chose to think about what she was going to say.

“Nice stalling tactic,” Hailey murmured.

Placing her glass down, she sighed. “Fine. He was…amazing,” she gushed giddily. “He’s sweet and funny, super handsome, and I had a really great time with him today.”

“But…”

Frowning, she asked, “But what?”

“Sloane, come on. I know you. There was clearly a but coming.”

She hated how well her sister knew her. “Okay, there was definitely a but.”

“So? What’s wrong with him?”

Groaning, she fell back against the cushions. “This is going to sound so shallow…”

“Well, now I have to know.”

“You’re going to judge me. Hard.”

“I won’t! I promise! Come on. Out with it.”

Turning her head, she said, “He’s a mechanic.”

Hailey blinked. “And…?”

“And…that’s it. He’s a car guy,” she whined before groaning again. “Like…it’s his whole life. His job, his hobbies, they’re all about cars!”

---