Keegan, however, picks that exact moment to choke on her own bite of food, belying my words. She coughs and drinks her beer, offering a quiet apology that has Trace looking from her, to me, then finally, to his sister.
“What am I missing, and why do I feel like my darling Keegan knows more than she’s letting on?”
“Who? Me?” Keegan blurts, her voice cracking on the words.
Willow groans, tilting her head back to direct the sound toward the universe above us. When she straightens, she shoots Trace a blank look.
“Gavin and I were friends for about six months, then it grew into more. We dated for a while. When the last movie wrapped, we ended things. The end.”
Undeterred by her blasé tone, Trace stiffens, his eyes wide. “You dated him? How did I not know this?Whydid I not know this?”
I find myself clearing my throat, mentally scrambling for an appropriate response, but Willow reaches over to grip my forearm. Her touch renders me mute as old feelings rush through my body, setting me on fire.
“Because it was none of your business, brother,” she says, shutting down the conversation before releasing me. “Now can we please just enjoy this fine dinner? I’m starving.”
I can still feel the heat of her touch, and I swallow thickly against the lump in my throat as I wait for my racing heart to settle.
“I concur. Let’s eat,” Keegan says, bumping her shoulder against Trace’s.
He’s staring at me, hard, so I finally lift my averted eyes and meet his gaze, head on. I’m not ashamed of my relationship with Willow. It’s as important to me today as it was all those years ago. Trace might be inclined to beat me to a pulp, and if he is, so be it. She’s worth it.
And so is the smile I can see in my peripheral vision. Turning my head, I meet her eyes and return it. That smile warms my soul and makes me think I can face any hurdle. Even her brother.
That smile iseverything.
ChapterFifteen
Willow
Gavin:Hey, are you busy tonight? I thought we could hang out and catch up some more without you-know-who breathing down my neck.
Gavin:As friends, of course.
My smile is bright as I read the text messages. Last night’s dinner was a bit of a fiasco, at first, but Trace finally managed to reel in his nosy suspicion long enough for us to enjoy the food after myTLDRexplanation of our relationship.
The bells over the shop’s entrance jingle before I can reply, and I look up to see Trace and Keegan walking through the doorway, hand-in-hand. I set my phone on the counter and offer them a smile and a wave as they approach. Trace is wearing his normal, grumpy, I-haven’t-had-enough-coffee-yet expression, but Keegan’s face is twisted into a know-it-all smirk as her gaze flits between me and my phone.
Like sheknowsI was reading a message from Gavin and alsoknowsit excited me more than it should have.
She gives me an exaggerated eyebrow waggle for good measure, and a laugh bursts through my lips, unbidden.
“What?” Trace asks, his brow furrowing with confusion at my outburst.
“It’s girl stuff,” Keegan says quickly, pulling him down for a kiss while I pour him a cup of black coffee.
After he straightens, he looks back and forth between us, shakes his head, and takes the cup from me. Kissing Keegan again, he mumbles a goodbye before leaving for work. He owns and runs The Quarter Moon Inn, Evening Shade’s only motel, as well as owning several short-term rental properties in town, most of which were left to him by our grandfather when he passed.
As soon as the door closes behind him, Keegan whirls on me, stabbing a finger in the direction of my phone.
“Was that a text fromGavin?” she asks, sing-songing the last word.
“Real mature, Keegs,” I grumble, then call back an order for two ham and cheese croissants with added mushrooms.
It’s become kind of a tradition for us since the first time we met, eating the sandwiches and drinking coffee while we catch up. Keegan heads straight for our usual table while I make our drinks. I call out for my morning barista to cover the counter for me as I carry the two steaming mugs over to the table, and just as I slide into my seat, my cook, Chuck, delivers our food.
After we thank him, and Chuck shuffles away, Keegan points a finger at me. “Spill.”
I roll my eyes with some extra drama, saying, “Yes, it was Gavin. He asked if I want to hang out tonight…as friends, of course.”