Page 133 of Holiday Friend Zones
He’s right, but I’m not going to admit that I see his point.Saylor is hurting.She’s still dealing with the fact that the love of her life abandoned her.She gave Tyler everything and loved him, only for him to discard her when he got where he wanted to be.
“I see those wheels turning, and I’m telling you, if she truly felt nothing for you, she wouldn’t be dodging you.She would have addressed the kiss, and you two would have moved on.There’s a reason she’s trying not to spend time with you.She’s scared of what she feels for you.”
“I’m not sure about that.”
“Well, you can thank my wife on your wedding day for being the reason you guys fell in love.”
Shit, I’m already in love with her.Have been since I hit puberty.She’s always been the one for me even when she was thousands of miles away.
“I’m supposed to thank her for forcing me to run the kids’ craft table?”
Brooks laughs again.“She just wants to see Saylor happy.Be grateful she thinks you’re the one who will make her that way.”
He pulls into a parking space at the courthouse, and our conversation ends.
Maybe he’s right.Maybe it’s time to stop letting Saylor avoid me.
ChapterThree
SAYLOR
“Iknow what you’re doing,” I tell Lottie as we gather the supplies for the kids’ craft table.
Luke’s supposed to show up soon, and I can already picture Lottie finding some excuse to “help” elsewhere on the ranch.
Plain Daisy Ranch’s Christmas Festival is a big deal in Willowbrook.I haven’t been since before I went to college because Tyler never found it worthy of coming back for.
“Me?I’m not doing anything.”Her innocent act gives her away.
“You’re trying to push us together.”
She’s absolutely trying to push Luke and me together.I’m pretty sure he regrets our kiss.I do, too, but only because I was still tangled up in my feelings for Tyler at the time and I was just looking for comfort.It wasn’t fair to Luke.But now, I can’t get the kiss with Luke out of my head.Sometimes I catch myself wondering… if it had been Luke and not Tyler all those years ago, where would I be now?
She hops onto the counter beside me.“Take it from someone who was in her own way for years.Don’t give someone else the chance to have him.”
“I’m in no place to be in a relationship.I’m fresh off my relationship with Tyler.”
“It’s been six months now—” I open my mouth to voice a rebuttal, but she continues.“I know it’s not a ton of time, and everyone works through things at their own pace.But I wouldn’t push it if every time he comes into the store with Brooks, you didn’t blush and keep sneaking looks at him.I’m not saying marry the man.I’m just saying… open yourself up to the possibilities a bit.”
The bell over the front door dings.It’s after hours, so it’s probably Luke and Brooks.
“Did you ever give yourself some grace and think maybe you were already getting over Tyler while you were still with him?I doubt he just surprised you one day and said, ‘I’m done.’”She quirks a brow, then slides her hand down my arm before heading out front.
Cue her squeal when she spots her husband.“She’s in the back, Luke.”
My stomach tightens.I keep my focus on the construction paper shapes I’m cutting, anything to avoid looking at him when he comes in.The two of us are doing prep work for the event tonight.
“Hey,” he says, moving to the other side of the table.“What do you need me to do?”
Before I can answer, Lottie is in the doorway.“We’re heading out.You two are good, right?”
“They’re fine,” Brooks answers for us.
I glance over my shoulder.“We’re good.Go.”
“I’ll lock the front door on my way out.You’ll get my girl home, right, Luke?”she winks.
I roll my eyes.“I have my car.”
