Page 52 of Lost in You (Flirting with Forever 1)

Hadleigh: If not, at least you got to get with that at least once.

Zoey: OMG, Had, what are we going to do with you?

Me: Sophia, don’t say anything to Heath. I need to work this out for myself first.

Sophia: I’d never. Listen, we want the best for both of you. I’ll keep quiet.

Hadleigh: Okay, enough talk with us. You’ve got a man in your bed.

Hadleigh: Go let him tickle your fancy.

Me: Pretty sure I already did that.

At least my friends can make me laugh even when shit could be seconds from hitting the fan. I giggle and power down my phone.

Shawn pokes me in the side. “What’s going on? What’s funny?”

“Oh, nothing. They just make a lot of assumptions about what goes on when you get stranded somewhere with a guy.”

“Are they wrong?” He rolls me back toward him, his hand finding my breast and giving it a squeeze.

“Oh, um, not really. That’s why I’m laughing.”

Chapter 28

Shawn

“So, you … told your friends that we’ve …” I wiggle my eyebrows at her from where I lie next to her on my side.

She glances over at me with a sly smile. “Well, not in so many words.”

I chuckle. “What does that even mean?”

“I told them we aren’t just friends. They are doing rather nicely at drawing their own conclusions from that, complete with some of Hadleigh’s sex euphemisms, which is what had me laughing.”

“I see.” I clear my throat. “So, when you guys are together, is it, like, no holds barred, or what? You all just discuss anything and everything?”

“Pretty much.” She rolls toward me. “What are you worried about?”

“I don’t really know.” I give her a scared face. “Should I be worried?”

She licks her lower lip, her eyes flicking over my features like she’s trying to figure out if there is a way to see right inside me. “No. You have nothing to worry about at all. Do you not share things with your friends?”

I scratch my head. “I mean, I do to a certain degree. It’s a little awkward as an adult when your best friend is your brother, though, you know? I really haven’t bothered forming too many other close relationships.” I let that hang in the air, not saying that my experience with Chase soured me on the idea of having many real friends outside of my family. I’m sure she knows well enough what my hesitation would be. “I trust my brother and that’s about it.”

“Oh. Right. I understand.” She reaches over and brushes her hand through my hair. “So, what’s Shawn’s big secret, then? Something you’ve never told anyone else. Got one of those?” She gives me a broad smile and blushes. “This is payback for your epically embarrassing ‘where do you like to be kissed’ question.”

I throw my head back, laughing. “Well, finding out the answer was the best part of my day.”

She blushes and swats at me, shaking her head.

We’re both quiet for a few seconds as I let myself think about her question. My jaw works back and forth. I don’t ever want to be anything but honest with her. “Um. Well, I guess it would be that I’m a bit jealous of Heath and Sophia and what they have.” I roll to my back so I don’t have to look directly at her. “I thought maybe I’d have that with Dana. I actually assumed I’d be married by now. I thought—” My voice hitches and I just stop. She doesn’t need to hear all of this.

Madison sits up on the bed, facing me. She has a wild look in her eyes like she’s about three seconds from a major breakdown. She clears her throat, tucks her chin to her chest, and lowers her eyes. Her lashes flutter over her cheeks. It almost seems like she’s trying not to cry. “I have to tell you something.”

I scramble to a seated position, facing her. I reach out and tuck my knuckle under her chin, guiding her face up so she’ll look at me. “I’m sorry. I upset you with the Dana talk. That was rude of me. I shouldn’t have brought her up.”

She shakes her head almost violently. “No.” She swallows visibly. “Don’t you see? It’s me who should be apologizing to you. Me. It was me, Shawn.”

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