Page 34 of So in Love
Crystal gave them both a stern stare, which she followed with a smile.“You aren’t either.We’ll fix it tonight.You’ll tell the guys, and I’ll handle whatever happens with Jamie and his folks.”Maybe she’d call Jamie when she left so she could talk to him in advance of meeting him.They’d agreed to drive separately to his parents’ so that no one thought it was a date.
Because itwasn’ta date.
“You know whatcouldhappen tonight?”Brooke asked, exchanging a look with Kelsey.“Angie will assume you and Jamie are dating.”
“But we aren’t.We’re not even driving together.”
They traded looks again and this time finished by laughing.“As if that matters,” Brooke said.“Angie’s been trying to pair her boys off for years.”
“Well, two of them are taken care of.That ought to satisfy her.”Besides, Jamie wasn’t interested in being paired off.“Jamie likes being single.”
Brooke and Kelsey looked at each other again, their eyes widening.“And how do you know that?”Brooke asked Crystal.
Uh-oh.She’d stepped right in that.Damn.Well, it wasn’t a secret or anything.Wait, was it?They’d only talked about not wanting his parents to think they were dating.
Because theyweren’t.
“Ididtalk to him the other night at the pub.”Even Crystal realized that sounded pathetic.“And on New Year’s Eve,” she added somewhat lamely.
Kelsey used the sleeve of her cardigan to wipe a smudge off the glass.“Well, I certainly wouldn’t fault you if you’d…talkedto him any other times.”
“Me neither,” Crystal said.“In fact, I hope you have.Talkedto him, that is.”
Crystal threw her hands up.“Oh, for heaven’s sake.You want to know how I know?Fine.We hooked up New Year’s Eve.And a few times since then.It’s no big deal.To either of us.We’re cool.We aren’ttogether.We’re just having fun.”
“Thatiscool.And I won’t say a word.”Brooke drew her fingers past her lips and made like she was tossing away an invisible key.
Kelsey copied Brooke’s movements.“My lips are also sealed.”She grinned, her eyes sparkling.“And I think it’sverycool.”
“It’s also nothing so don’t go pairing us off.”She scowled at both of them.“Or you’re no better than Angie.”
“Good point,” Brooke said soberly.“We’re just happy for you as girlfriends.We fully support whatever you want.Right, Kels?”
Kelsey nodded enthusiastically.“Absolutely.I’m glad you’re having fun.Those Westcott boys seem really good at that.”She laughed softly, and Brooke joined her.
Crystal smiled in return.“I can only speak from experience with Jamie, but yeah.He’sreallygood at that.”
Brooke’s brows vaulted up her forehead.“Awesome.I’d ask for details, but is that weird?”
They all dissolved into laughter again, and Crystal was glad she’d told them.She hoped telling Jamie about his family’s connection to the KKK went as well.
Jamie lethimself into his parents’ house, calling out, “Hello!”as he stepped into the entryway.The familiar smell of his mother’s roasted chicken filled his nose and made his stomach growl.
Dad waved from the dining room, where he was setting the table.“Hi, Jamie.Come on in.”
Jamie closed the door and went into the kitchen, where Mom was cutting up vegetables for the salad.
She glanced up at him as he set a bottle of West Arch Estate wine on the counter.“Hi, dear.Oh, you didn’t have to bring that.We have plenty.”
“I know, but I have more.”It was his winery after all.Rather, the one he shared with his brothers and Hayden.
Dad joined them at the island.He adjusted his glasses as he picked up the bottle and studied the label.“This is their first pinot, Ang.We only have a couple of bottles of that, and I’m saving them.”He set it back on the counter and pushed his glasses back up his nose, sending Jamie an inquisitive look.“This is a pretty remarkable bottle of wine.Is this a special occasion?”
Mom stopped chopping and stared at Jamie, her green eyes bright beneath the pendant lights.“Is it?I thought you said Crystal was just a friend who wanted to talk about historical something or other.”
“She is.Man, I guess with Cam’s and Luke’s recent behavior you’d think settling down was catching or something—I guarantee you it’s not.”He gave both of them grim looks.“I told you this is not a date.Can you both behave yourselves?I’m serious.”It might not be a date, but he couldn’t help thinking about getting Crystal alone later.
They’d spent some crazy amazing nights together the past few days.Not the entire night—she always went home sometime around two.Maybe tonight she’d stay until morning…
