Page 56 of Heart of a Rebel

“What is it with you two and all this pink shit?” Merry cocks an eyebrow, looking at the bubble gum pink packaging.

Cassie tosses her hair over her shoulder. “Don’t knock it ‘til you try it.”

Merry snorts a laugh but opens the package, humoring Cassie.

If they hadn’t become friends in college, I’m not sure they ever would have, given their different personalities and interests. But the closeness they built during that time is palpable. Enough to make me want their kind of friendship in my own life.

“You better get used to all this girly shit, future Mrs. Hayes.” Cassie winks at Merry.

“First of all, I haven’t decided if I’ll be taking Noah’s last name.” Merry leans forward and rolls her eyes. “My name is perfectly fine as is. And second, who says my wedding will have any of this girly shit. If I had it my way we’d run off to the nearest courthouse and just get it over with.”

“Romantic.” Cassie frowns.

“I don’t need romance.” Merry leans back and grins. “Just give me a hot-as-fuck honeymoon, and I’ll be happy.”

Cassie throws her head back in a laugh, and I feel the blood rushing to my cheeks at the thought. The way they’re so open about their sex lives is bad enough considering it involves my brother and a guy who might as well be. But add in the fact that it’s been far too long since I’ve been with a man, has my insides spinning at the thought.

“Speaking of sexual tension.” Merry’s gaze slides in my direction. “Adrian’s been awfully close and protective lately.”

“He’s my manager.”

“Mine too.” Merry’s eyes narrow. “I don’t see him sleeping on my couch.”

“I blame my overprotective brother for that.”

Cassie grins. “Except he’s not the reason why Adrian’s doing it.”

“What are you talking about?”

This is why I avoid getting buddy-buddy with people on tour. I don’t need more people dipping their fingers into my life and making stories out of things. But as Cassie and Merry sit there with mischief in their eyes, I can’t help but want to know what they’re thinking.

“What?” I ask again, trying not to sound frustrated.

“Eloise.” Merry stands up and walks over to me, reaching out to hold either side of my arms. “The man is in love with you.”

“Adrian?” I laugh, but it doesn’t stop the knot from forming in my throat.

Merry looks over her shoulder at Cassie, who shakes her head and walks up to us.

“It wasn’t Sebastian’s idea for Adrian to stay with you,” Cassie says with softness in her expression. “At least, not at first. Sure, Sebastian was fully onboard once Adrian mentioned it because there’s no one he trusts more with his sister, but it wasn’t your brother who came up with the idea.”

“It’s his jo—”

“No way.” Merry shakes her head. “Don’t even say it.”

“It’s his job,” I finish.

Merry frowns. “His job would be hiring you better security.”

“Not sleeping on your couch,” Cassie adds.

They’re both looking at me like I’m not thinking straight, and I can’t help but wonder what’s in my head and what’s reality staring me in the face. After Adrian started dating Becca last year, I stopped trying to convince myself there was ever going to be a second chance for us. Burned bridges don’t rebuild on their own. But what if that’s what we’ve been doing, slowly, without realizing it?

Me, staying at his house.

Him, being here for me.

One plank at a time strung across this six-year-wide canyon that’s stretched between us. How dangerous is it to think we could?

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