Chapter 12
CHAPTER TWELVE
Bray
What the fuck? Carly’s dating? The jealousy I’m feeling has my head spinning. I shouldn’t feel this way. She’s entitled to find her happily ever after. Hell, she deserves it. But hearing that she was talking to someone was like a sucker punch to the gut.
I throw back my second beer as Gray walks over to me.
“Uh, starting early?” he asks as he looks at the now two empty cans in front of me.
“Something like that,” I say as I wipe my mouth with the back of my hand. I may have broken into Vito’s beer stash in the main kitchen. I needed something to help calm me down. I shouldn’t be this upset about Carly dating, but I am.
Gray opens his mouth to speak, but then closes it again as his eyes widen. I turn to see what he’s looking at, and my mouth falls open.
Margie and Cornelia are legit doing the walk of shame from a car that’s pulled up at the property.
They tiptoe like no one will see them if we can’t hear them. They are wearing the dresses they had on last night.
“Fun night, ladies?” Gray asks as he fights a smirk.
Margie levels a stare at him. “You Goddamn know it was fun, Grayson. Ever fuck an Italian stallion?”
Gray nearly snorts his drink that he’s just taken a sip of while continuing to watch them.
“Damn, Margie. Hope you brought lube,” Hutch mutters as he walks past them and laughs.
“Oh, Hutchinson. You should know by now that I always bring the fun stuff because you never know,” she answers.
“Well, we’re off to shower and nap. You lads have a nice afternoon,” Cornelia says. Her lipstick is a mess, and she looks like she just got fucked by at least two Italian men. I open my mouth to ask, but decide maybe I don’t want to know.
We wave as Hutch continues to snicker like a teenage boy. Gray slaps him on the head, and Hutch glares at him.
Shaking my head, I decide I should switch to caffeine.
I go to grab a cappuccino from the kitchen.
The kitchen staff makes quick work of a very fancy machine and has me off on my way with a handmade mug filled with the best cappuccino within five minutes.
I walk back out to the side patio, wondering what it was like for Vito growing up here.
Gray looks me over once again. “Seriously, what’s up?”
It takes me a minute of contemplation to decide if I should tell him. I decide I should. If I can’t talk to one of my best friends, then who can I talk to?
“I think Carly’s on a dating app,” I murmur as I sip my drink.
“Oh? Aren’t you on one?” he asks.
I shrug. “Yes, but…I guess I was just surprised. I didn’t know she was ready to date again,” I explain.
“Maybe you should offer to help her swipe right, or is it left?” Gray suggests as he scrunches his brows.
“You think I should get involved?” I question.
I don’t tell him that deep down, I don’t want her dating anyone because that would mean I’ve admitted to myself that I want to date her.
And I know I can’t do that. I’d never be able to fully give myself to someone.
I’d always be thinking the other shoe would be dropping, and that’s not fair to her or Ava.
They deserve the best, even if the best isn’t me.
“Yes. You know her the best,” he says. Al walks up to us and looks from Gray to me.
“Who knows who the best?” he asks.
Gray points to me. “Bray knows Carly the best.”
Al smiles. “Of course you do.”
Gray smirks and looks at Al. “Carly wants to date again.”
“Oh?” Al replies as he studies me.
“Gray thinks I should help her find a date,” I explain.
“Well, what if you gave her a practice one. I could watch Ava tonight,” he offers.
Sighing, I look from one man to another.
“I don’t know if that’s a good idea. I mean, look at Kasen and Piper. They started out as practice dates,” I point out.
“Well, you want to help her, don’t you?” Al asks.
Fuck. Checkmate. The man has me cornered. He knows I’d do anything for Carly.
“I do,” I mumble.
“Great. I’ll pick Ava up at half past five,” he says.
“I don’t know. Let me talk to Carly first,” I say as I mull it over.
“You do that and then let me know,” he says as he raises a finger at a woman setting down a tray of eggs for Hutch. Everyone stops to stare at the three plates of eggs cooked in different ways.
Hutch looks up at us. “What?” he asks.
“Nothing,” Gray says with a smirk as he looks away.
Al chuckles. “Hungry?” he asks.
Hutch nods. “Famished.”
As if timed, Jocelyn walks up to Hutch and kisses the top of his head. He pulls her into his lap, and she giggles as she wraps her arms around his neck and kisses his cheek. He whispers something in her ear, and her cheeks turn red.
“Eat,” he says as he brings a forkful of eggs to her lips. She rolls her eyes but complies. I watch the intimate moment until the look between them becomes so fiery that I have to look away. God, what I wouldn’t give to have that.
Al sits down next to me. “Aww, those two are so in love, aren’t they?” he says. I can tell he’s smiling by the sound of his voice. I look over, and he grins at me. “Nothing like love, is there?”
I grunt and sip my cappuccino.
Al leans back and surveys me. I suddenly feel like a kid in the principal’s office. I level a stare at him.
He chuckles. “You need to let go more often, Brayden. You’re too in your head and not enough in your heart.
Life is going to happen regardless of what fortress you build around yourself for protection.
Live a little. As far as we know, we only get this one shot at it.
Might as well make it count,” Al states as he motions around us.
I survey our surroundings. Roxy has just walked over to Gray, and they are deep in conversation, talking as if the rest of us don’t exist. Jocelyn is still on Hutch’s lap.
Kasen has arrived hand in hand with Piper.
And Fletcher and Cam are walking into the kitchen, his hand on her lower back.
All of my good friends are with someone.
Hell, even Lanie got married a few years ago. Maybe Al is right?
Then I see Carly and Ava walking up the path.
Ava’s skipping while holding her mom’s hand.
The two are deep in conversation. Carly tosses her head back and laughs at something Ava has said.
Ava smiles up at her. I swallow back down the feelings that just bubbled to the surface.
I need to keep this a friendship. If things went wrong, it’d crush Ava and Carly, and I’d never want to hurt them.
But maybe Gray is right. Maybe I should help Carly out. I’m contemplating that as she approaches our table.
“Guess what?” she says as she looks at Al and me.
“What?” Al answers as he pats his knee, and Ava climbs into his lap. He pulls out some paper and a pen from his shirt pocket, and they start playing tic-tac-toe.
“The tasting room is having a food pairing tonight. If I can get someone to watch Ava, I think I might go,” Carly announces.
Al smiles and gives me side eye. It takes all of my concentration to keep my facial muscles neutral.
“I can watch Ava,” Al says. “I was planning on having a relaxing evening. I heard there’s a great pizza place in town. Ava and I can go check it out.”
“Really?” Carly asks.
“Sure. Maybe we can even find some gelato afterward,” he adds.
“What’s that?” Ava asks as she turns to look up at him.
“Italian ice cream,” he says.
Ava’s eyes light up, and her lips curve into a smile. “I love ice cream,” she announces.
Carly starts laughing, and I can’t help but join her. “You don’t say,” Al replies as he clearly fights a laugh.
She nods enthusiastically. My gaze meets Carly’s. “So…you want to go do the tasting room thing?” she asks.
I swallow hard. She looks so hopeful. Fuck it.
“Yes. Sounds great,” I say.
Her smile is radiant as she sits down and starts talking to Al.
I watch her for a long few moments. It’ll be nice to have an evening with her, but deep down, I’m freaking out because every day here seems to test my resolve not to date this extraordinary woman, and spending an evening alone with her is going to be like a final at the end of a semester.