Page 10 of Into the Woods

She sighed again. “I get it. I mean, needing the break. But I miss you.”

“I miss you, too.” My lips turned down in a sad sort of pout.

She sucked in a deep breath and forced a smile. “Okay, tell me all about your life.”

“We just talked two days ago!” I reminded her with a laugh.

She looked offended. “And in that time, you could’ve been swept off your feet by a sexy Parisian man with an eight-pack and a black beret who bakes you fresh croissants daily.”

“That’s oddly specific.” I grinned as someone spoke off camera.

Maddie’s gaze flicked above the screen, her mouth dropping open and her cheeks turning red. “Ryan, I was kidding. I don’t give a shit about sexy guys in Paris or anywhere else.” She paused and winked at me. “Don’t get married until you’re forty, Bex. Husbands are highly overrated.”

I giggled as her eyes went wide. A second later, Ryan appeared in part of the screen. He shot me a wolfish smile before lowering his lips to her ear and whispering something that made her gasp, her jaw falling open.

Smirking, Ryan drew back and traced the outline of her parted lips with his finger. “I accept, baby. But finish with your friend first.” To me he added, “See ya later, Bex.”

Still flustered, Maddie looked back at me, but I could see the lust glazing her eyes. “I swear, that man…”

“Still don’t wanna know,” I reminded her.

“Whatever. My question still stands.”

Now it was my turn to shift uncomfortably. “Not really, no. I’ve been hanging with my grandparents and reading a lot.”

She gave me a look. “Bex, if you’re blowing me off for the next six months to live out your French fantasies, then I demand you at least go on a date.”

“I don’t date,” I hedged.

“No, you didn’t date here because of… Well, because. But you’re in a whole new city. You’re an amazing person,” she informed me.

“Isn’t amazing person code for homely and meek?” I snorted.

She arched a brow. “Fine. You’ve got a great rack and an ass you could bounce a quarter off of.”

My jaw dropped.

“Want me to call Linc over for his opinion, too?”

“No,” I spluttered. “Linc likes anything that has boobs and a willing hole.”

“Valid,” she said with a sage nod. “Now why don’t—” She was cut off by an excited yell, and then grinned as a tiny human landed on her. “Hey, sweets. You have fun with the boys?”

Corinne pulled back with a brilliant smile and a nod. “Yup! Royal helped me catch the biggest fish. Rook got a smaller one, and Court didn’t get any.”

There was no denying the kick to my heart at hearing his name. God, would it always be this way?

Seeing the phone, Cori turned to me. “Hi, Bex!”

“Hey, Cor,” I greeted, waving a bit.

Corinne turned back to Maddie. “Is that lady gone? The mean one that was in Court’s bed this morning?”

Maddie shot me a stricken look before turning back to her sister-in-law. “Uh, yeah. She’s gone, honey.”

“Good. And who sleeps naked?” Corinne went on, completely unaware that she was carving into my heart with a rusty razor. She looked disgusted by the naked shenanigans, and I was right there with her. “It was so gross.”

“Cori—” Maddie tried.

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