Chapter 13
Indy
Dylan was so much lighter the next two weeks. I loved that his brothers were finally giving him a chance, that they were beginning to see what I’d finally realized myself—that Dylan was an amazing man. He was nice and caring and thoughtful.
I don’t know why my dad was blaming Dylan for everything, but clearly that couldn’t be the case.
Dylan wouldn’t plant drugs on someone. Which meant my dad was the guilty one.
And he’d lied to me.
“So tell us the story,” Maddie demanded.
I was sitting in her and Nathan’s living room next door with Sabrina, Hope, and Rachel all staring at me in rapt attention. I’d somehow been roped into book club even though I didn’t know that was a thing and I definitely hadn’t read the book.
“Don’t worry about it,” Maddie had laughed it off. “Half the time we don’t even get to talking about the book. And you can join in with next month’s read.”
Apparently, they picked a new romance book to read every month or so.
I shifted on the sofa. “Oh you know, it’s a boring story really. We just got to talking in a diner and one thing led to another…”
“But you guys are like together, together, right?” Hope whispered dramatically.
“Oh no, no.” I shook my head. “We’re not a couple. He’s just helping me out. I got evicted, and Anne, the waitress at the diner, was going to take me home, but she doesn’t have a lot of room with her kids and roommate, so when Dylan heard, he offered to help me out.”
“Of course he did.” Maddie smiled. “He’s always had the softest heart. You know when we were in elementary school he wanted to take care of this squirrel that was living in a tree in front of my house. He kept feeding it and trying to get closer and closer so he could pet it.” She shook her head.
“And did he?” I asked.
“I don’t know. Wendy found out about his little hobby and freaked out. Gave us lectures on rabies and fleas and how you’re not supposed to feed wild animals.” Maddie shook her head.
So I was just on a long line of charity cases for him. Right.
I tried not to let the revelation deflate me visibly.
“Are you sure there’s not something there?” Hope asked with a frown.
I raised my eyebrows. “With the squirrels?”
“No. With you two. It’s just…” She sighed. “Ryan told me about how the whole lunch thing went down, and Dylan defended you so passionately…”
“Or do you not think about him that way?” Rachel asked before she took a sip of her wine.
I groaned. “Can we talk about something else? Please?”
Sabrina leaned forward. “Just one more question? Please?”
“No promises that I’ll answer,” I mumbled, shifting on the couch.
“Fine.” She smiled. “Do you think about Dylan that way? Are you interested in him as more than a friend?”
I narrowed my eyes at her. “That’s more than one question.”
“Technically it’s the same question,” Hope said as she pointed at me with her water glass.
“Dylan is a great guy. He’s helped me out so much, but we’re just friends.”
Hope groaned. “That’s a non-answer if I’d ever heard one.”
“Because you wish it could be more.” Rachel raised her eyebrows at me over her wineglass.
“Can we please, please, talk about something else?”
“Like wedding plans?” Sabrina nodded at Rachel.
Rachel lifted her wineglass. “We’ve picked the date. I think the save-the-date announcements will go out next week.” She pivoted in her seat and pointed at Hope. “As long as it doesn’t conflict with anything you have planned. We were thinking mid-June.”
An enigmatic expression passed over Hope’s face then she shook her head. “Nope. You’re good there.”
“Great!” Rachel grinned. “So that gives us eight-ish months to nail down the dress and everything else.”
Sabrina and Maddie chimed in with questions, but Hope stayed suspiciously silent, smiling to herself. I sent her a questioning look, but she just shook her head.
After the questions wound down, I looked at the group of women. “So are you all engaged? Is anyone already married?”
“Hope and I are engaged.” Rachel pointed between them. “Sabrina is waiting until she’s done with vet school. And Maddie—”
“I just moved in with Nathan,” Maddie cut in. “We’ve only been together a few months. We’re not there yet.”
“But they will be. And I will be too.” Sabrina tilted her head. “One day. Just not this day.”
“Cheers to that.” Maddie reached across the coffee table and clinked her glass against Sabrina’s.
I smiled at them, but I kinda felt like an island of one. They were all in relationships. They all had their lives figured out. Meanwhile, I was sleeping on a guy’s spare bed and relying on strangers for charity.
I’d never felt more alone.
“So Indy…” Hope smiled at me. “Ryan tells me you have a brilliant idea for the guys to finally get out from under James’ thumb.”
“Oh yeah!” Maddie grinned. “So smart.”
Sabrina looked from one woman to the next. “Wait, what? What’s going on? I’m out of the loop since I’m not working at the shop anymore.”
Hope raised her eyebrows at me.
I sighed and filled in Sabrina on my idea for the guys to make a web series.
“That makes so much sense. And Austin has—how many followers on social, Rachel?”
“Over half a million on one platform alone.” Rachel groaned. “But mostly women. At least in his DMs that is.”
“Oh, I heard about the last receptionist.” I leaned forward. “Are they going to make that whole interaction part of the show?”
Rachel’s lip curled. “Pretty sure. Austin said a cameraman was there before he could even push her off him.”
“Almost like they had it planned.” Hope tipped her head in sympathy.
“Exactly.” Rachel sighed. “I know Austin is getting sick of production’s manipulations.”
“Indy’s idea sounds like a great way to pivot.” Sabrina smiled at me. “You never said, what are you studying in college?”
And the focus was back on me. Again.
“Marketing and communications,” I mumbled.
“So, um, we should probably talk about the book, right, girls?” Hope asked the group before turning to me. “If that’s okay with you, Indy. I know we all kinda sprung this on you tonight. But you can thumb through it while we talk. And you can help us pick out next month’s read.”
I nodded and accepted the book she held out to me. Sinking back into the couch, I let their conversation flow over me as I read the back cover blurb. A soccer romance. Huh.
For the next while, I listened with half an ear while they debated the heroine’s likeability and lamented over the single POV style of the book. I found myself smiling and laughing at the different takes and kinda feeling like one of the girls even though I didn’t have anything to contribute.
“What do you think, Indy?” Hope asked me several minutes later.
Looking up, I cringed. “Sorry, I wasn’t listening. I was busy reading chapter one.”
“Woot! We converted another one,” Maddie crowed, holding her hand out to Hope for a high-five.
Hope slapped her hand with a laugh.
“Sorry.” Maddie shrugged. “I’m a librarian, so I’m kind of like a drug dealer when it comes to hooking people on books.”
Likening sweet, bookish Maddie to a drug dealer was hilarious. Especially since she was the one doing it.
Hope rolled her eyes. “I was asking if you have a book in mind you’d like the group to read.”
“Does it have to be a paperback?” I asked.
Maddie clutched her chest in feigned pain. “You heard the part where I said I’m a librarian, right?”
I cringed. “Sorry.”
“You’re fine.” Hope waved a hand. “Ignore her. Most of the time we do ebooks.”
“You all do,” Maddie retorted with a huff before taking a drink of her wine. “I happen to like holding the actual book in my hands.”
“Ho-kay. I think the drinking portion of the meeting is over.” Sabrina laughed and shook the end of the wine bottle into her glass.
“Uh, Indy? Did you have a book you’d like to nominate?” Hope asked again.
I shook my head, hunching back into the sofa. The mood was kinda weird, and I once again felt like an outsider.
Hope sent me a sympathetic look then turned back to the group. “Anyone else?”
They ended up going with Rachel’s pick of a mafia romance I’d never heard of. But given that it was only $4.99 online, I could afford to swing it now that I had a somewhat stable job.
As the rest of the women said their goodbyes and helped pick up plates and glasses, I did my share then inched toward the door.
“Indy, wait up!” Hope called right as I slipped outside.
Closing my eyes with a muttered curse, I pasted on a fake smile and turned to face her.
She shook her head. “I’m so sorry for that.
You missed the first part of the night, but Maddie is going through something with her new job.
I guess her boss laid into her for something someone else did, and it was a whole thing.
Anyway, I’m sorry if she made you feel uncomfortable. It wasn’t about you.”
“Oh, she was fine. I just didn’t really—I’m not really an extrovert or whatever. And you all are so close…”
Hope smiled. “I know this family is a lot. But everyone wants you to know we’re happy you’re here.
I hope you’ll come to the next book club.
And, um, my daughter is turning one in a few weeks, and I’d love it if you came to her birthday party.
But no gifts, please. That girl has more than enough toys and junk to last a lifetime already.
We just want you and that wonderful man you live with to come.
It’ll be at Aunt Wendy’s house. In her backyard. ”
Her babbling was so endearing, I found myself smiling before I knew it.
Of everyone in the group, I’d felt closest to Hope, and I really wanted to make an effort to foster this friendship—I had so few of them.
“Sure. And maybe you, Ryan, and your daughter can come over for dinner one night. If it’s okay with Dylan. ”
“Given how much he’s taken from our fridge, he more than owes us a dinner. Just name the night.”
“I’ll talk to Dylan and let you know.”
“Oh! We should exchange numbers. Let me—”
“I, uh, haven’t turned my phone back on just yet.” I shrugged and looked away. “It’s on the list of things to do.”
“That’s fine.” Hope gently touched my shoulder and gave me a smile. “I’ll text Dylan until then.”
“Thanks,” I whispered. “I’m just gonna—” I gestured lamely at Dylan’s front door.
“Me too. It was great hanging out with you. And I’m always here if you need anything.”
“Thanks.”
“I mean that, Indy. I know a lot about shitty parents. One parent in particular, actually. So if you ever want to talk…”
I nodded again and gave her another real smile. “Thanks again.”
We exchanged waves, then I walked the short distance to Dylan’s. The second I closed the door behind me, I collapsed against it with a sigh.
That had been a lot.
I’d been so alone for so long—even living with my dad, I hadn’t felt like I could ever relax really. I wanted him to like me—ached for him to love me.
More fool me.
“Shit, I’d hoped it would’ve gone better for you.”
I flinched.
Opening my eyes, I found him walking down the hall toward me, gray sweatpants low on his hips, his hair wet from the shower, and absolutely nothing covering his chest.
Wow.
“I-I-I…” My breath left me in a stutter. I couldn’t make my brain work. It should be illegal for this man to ever wear a shirt.
“It’s okay.” He shrugged. “I don’t think what they read is for everyone, but I was hoping they’d make you feel included. Is it the age difference?”
How had I never noticed how absolutely gorgeous Dylan was?
I blamed the girls. They put these thoughts into my head with all that talk about me and Dylan being together.
“Indie? You okay?”
I blinked a few times. He was talking about book club and his cousin and his future sisters-in-law. I blinked again. “Um, I guess it didn’t help that I was late. Apparently Maddie had some drama at work, and the whole mood was just…off.”
Like me right now.
Shaking my head, I pushed away from the door and headed for the kitchen. Not because I was hungry. I just needed to do something with my hands and distract myself from the way I wanted to follow that line of muscle that veed into his waistband.
Only the sink was empty.
And so was the counter.
Not a dirty dish to be found.
The dishwasher whooshed, clueing me into the fact that I couldn’t even put the clean ones away.
“I already washed them.” Dylan walked into the tiny kitchen and rested his hip against the counter near me. So close I could reach out and touch all those muscles that were teasing me.
“I, uh, see that. Thanks.”
He tipped his head. “Only seemed fair, since you cooked.” He sighed. “Sorry that didn’t go better. I thought you’d hit it off with Hope at least since you two are closer in age.”
Laughter burbled out of me. “You sound like you’re trying to set me up on playdates. I am an adult, you know.”
His lips quirked and I could’ve sworn his cheeks flushed. “I know.” He shook his head.
“And it was fine. Mostly. Um, Hope invited me to her daughter’s birthday party. I guess it’s coming up.”
He nodded. “Yeah. Little Fliss is going to be one. I can’t believe it. Should be a rager.”
“I’m sure. Everyone said the same about my first birthday.”
His muscles flexed as he crossed his arms over his chest. “Really?”
I jerked my fascinated stare away from his lickable skin. “What? No.” I shook my head. “Seriously?”
“What? I’m known for being gullible. Ask my brothers.” A frown marred his previously smooth forehead.
“Speaking of your brothers, I, uh, invited Hope to bring Felicity and your brother over one night for dinner.”
Dylan’s loud clap made me flinch. “I KNEW IT!” And then his arms came around me as he pulled me in for a hug.
My arms instinctively went around his naked torso, and I had to close my eyes. He even smelled good. Spicy. Orange-y. Manly.
God.
My heartbeat pounded in my ears, and my breath left me in shaky gasps. I just knew he could feel the way my nipples were straining against my thin t-shirt.
He had to know I was attracted to him.
Right?
But he just patted my shoulder and gave me a calm smile as he stepped away, breaking our hug.
Lesigh. Right.
“I, um, I’m just going to take a shower,” I mumbled, jerking my thumb over my shoulder like he didn’t know where the bathroom was in his own condo.
“Sure. There should be some hot water left.”
I bolted from the kitchen so I couldn’t tease myself with the visual that was all of him.
Like it wasn’t already imprinted permanently on my brain.
Like I wouldn’t be thinking about it in the shower in a few minutes.
And later tonight, when I was alone in bed.