Page 39 of Spreading Her Wings

I told her the story between gulps of wine, refilling the glass halfway through. “So, are you in love with him?” Her face was less amused, wearing a mask of skepticism.

Hesitation held my voice hostage. Was I? “I care about him a lot more than I realized I did.”

“Enough to be married to him?”

It was the voice of reason I needed. Even Aunt June took the side of the charming man who’d shown up at her house, probably sensing the chemistry between us. I couldn’t deny it was there. “I don’t know, Sasha, but Iammarried to him.” The words were almost sour on my lips, but they sent a flutter through my chest.

“You don’t have to be if you don’t want to be. You know that, right?”

I nodded. I did know, but the idea of not being married to Auston hurt just as badly as the idea of being married to him did. My eyes stung with tears I was determined not to shed, and I turned around to stick the pan in the oven.

“Those will be ready in twenty-five,” I said, trying to change the subject. Sasha watched me, pinning me with her eyes to my spot in front of the stove. “Ugh, what?”

“You love him.” She gave me a knowing smile, and I wanted to deny it, even as my heart raced. I refused to love Auston. It was too soon. We were just now starting to be something real.I think.

I rolled my eyes, trying to dismiss any feelings I had for him. “Of course not. It’s nothing more than a crush.”

“Then why are you making him brownies from scratch?” She lifted one eyebrow, an obvious gesture that said she didn’t need any explanation. “You’ll admit it eventually.”

I sighed, swallowing the last gulp of my wine, and when Sasha chuckled, a blush warmed my cheeks. “These aren’t for him, and I can’t keep talking about this. Can wepleasechange the subject?”

When there was a knock on the door, we both whipped our heads in that direction. My stomach half sank and half tightened with excitement, sure it would be Auston on the other side of that door. Sasha must have assumed the same by the way she looked at me from the side of her eye, leaning back and waiting for me to open the door.

I tried not to hurry across the living room, forcing myself to take slow, even steps that directly rivaled the racing of my heart. My hand shook around the knob, and when I turned it, pulling the door open, I let out a relief-laden breath.

“Simone?”

She flipped her blonde hair over her shoulder, putting her hands on her full hips and cocking her head to the side. “Were you expecting someone else?” She giggled, slipping past me and into the house. “Auston got stuck at work, so I told him I’d come keep you company.”

Sasha raised her eyebrow when Simone winked and dropped onto the couch. “Simone, this is my friend Sasha. Sasha, this is Simone. She works with Auston.”

Simone threw her head back and laughed. “Girl, don’t even. I was just your maid of honor. We’re basically family now.” When she cackled again, I couldn’t help but join her, remembering the way she’d tossed the faux bundle of flowers at me and practically skipped walking me down the aisle.

“You’re right,” I said, turning to Sasha with a small smile that begged for her understanding. “Do you want a glass of wine?”

With a deep inhale, Simone nodded. “I’d love a glass,” she said, “and I’d take one of those brownies when they’re done baking too.” She winked, and I couldn’t tell if she knew something I didn’t, but when Sasha laughed, my cheeks flushed.

“Oh, those are for—” My voice caught in my throat, and I had to cough to clear it.

Simone and Sasha looked at each other, sharing a knowing glance, and I groaned. “I thought you said they weren’t for him.” The way they smirked together made my stomach flip.

“Do I need to make you both leave?” I sighed, pouring wine in a new glass for Simone and refilling the other two.

“Good luck trying.” They giggled in unison.

My shoulders sank when the timer for the oven went off. “It’s too much, isn’t it?”

Simone grinned. “Too much? Not at all. He’ll love it.”

The afternoon sun was warm on my already warming cheeks, and I took a deep breath as I reached for the door with one hand, balancing the tray of brownies in the other. Simone’s words from the night before echoed in my ears.He’ll love it.

Quickly pulling the door open before I could change my mind, I stepped into the bar. Behind me, it slammed shut, drawing the attention from the small crowd my way. The bar was mostly empty. There were a couple of people settled on barstools against the high top, and there was a group of girls giggling over a stack of matching books.

Behind the bar, Simone smiled and excitedly tugged at Logan’s shirt sleeve, forcing a matching smile to form on hisface. I looked around the bar, not seeing Auston. The confusion on my face must have been clear because Logan jerked his head towards the small hallway leading back to the office. I laughed, looking down to hide the blush he wouldn’t be able to see over the dimmed lights anyway.

When I pushed the door to the office open, Auston dropped his feet from the desk to the ground and sat up. He grinned, and when he ran his hand through his hair, my chest fluttered. “Uh, hi,” I said.

“Hi, kitten. Come in.” He stood up as he said it, making his way across the room and meeting me in the middle. “Are these for me?” Taking the brownies from me, he set them gently on the desk behind him before putting his hands on my hips and tugging me to him.

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