Page 28 of Forever in the Country

“Ugh!” I cover my face with my hands. “Yes. And yes.”

“I knew it,” Hannah says and Isla high-fives her.

“Would have been such a letdown otherwise.”

“Can we focus?” I all but snap and Hannah holds her hand out, motioning for me to continue. Clearing my throat I say, “I need to move on. I told him I was done.” Lowering my voice I add, “I told him someone asked me on a date.” Dinner with Colt wasn’t a date, but I’d still felt guilty agreeing before things had blown up with Sorren.

Isla’s eyebrows are in her hairline before she laughs. “Oh, I can’t wait.”

“What am I supposed to do?” I wave my hand around. “Am I supposed to hide out here forever and be a hermit? I just can’t be Waylon’s sad little sister pining after a guy who has just transferred all his overbearing bullshit on me because he can’t suffocate his sister anymore.”

“You know damn well he’s still fussing over her.” I don’t say anything because try as I might, I don’t hate him enough to betray his trust. “And I don’t think he sees you like that at all.”

Now it’s my turn to snort. “Of course he does.”

Hannah raises her hand like she’s waiting for the teacher to call on her. “I’m also going to have to disagree. I saw the two of you at the bar, remember? After we did the boudoir shoots? You can’t fake that kind of chemistry.”

Hannah had offered to do the shoot for each of us. Marlee had wanted to surprise Waylon with something for their anniversary, and somehow I’d been roped into it too. My pictures, while beautiful, sit hidden in my closet. I don’t have anyone to show them to and at the rate my life is going right now, that won’t be changing anytime soon.

Dropping onto the nearest stool, I slump against the counter. “Y’all aren’t helping.”

Isla looks to Hannah. “I didn’t think that was why we were here, did you?”

“Nope.” Hannah pops thep,and I throw a stray Cheerio from the counter at her.

“I’m here for the entertainment and pity party,” Isla says, and it’s delivered with so much sass I can’t help the laugh that bubbles out of my throat.

She grins and I hate my sister-in-law a little less.

“What am I going to do?”

“What do you want to do?” Hannah asks and I shrug.

“I want to be happy and I want to be someone’s first priority.” I swallow hard and unsuccessfully blink away the tears. “I just want to be happy like y’all are.”

“Oh sweetie,” Isla says and then both she and Hannah are wrapping their arms around me. I’m not sure how long they let me cry, Isla cradling me against her chest and Hannah whispering words of encouragement and offers of burying his body in turn.

And I appreciate both of them more than I can possibly say.

“I don’t want to make this weird,” I start as I look at Isla, “but your boobs are really great.”

She stares down and then cups them with her hands. “Right? Pregnancy and breastfeeding have made them out of control, but the babies like them.” Her expression turns mischievous. “And so does your brother.”

I laugh and even though my heart is heavy, I know that no matter what happens, these girls won’t let me fall.

“So, just to clarify, no to the body burying right now?” Hannah asks sweetly and I snort.

“For now.”

“Well, the offer stands,” she says with a wink and I nod with a smile.

A real one.

And even though I’m mad at him, I hope Sorren is okay.

14

SORREN

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