Chapter 13
LEIGH
Iwas twenty minutes late in getting ready but I was at least not wearing the clothes I’d worn last night and instead had gone for jeans and a blouse I’d grabbed from my suitcase without really looking.
The SUV was already in the driveway, engine running, all four women staring at me as I hurried out the door.
I climbed into the back seat between Reece and Billie, trying to look normal. Casual. Like I hadn’t just spent the night in Dex’s bed, doing things that made me blush just thinking about them.
“Sorry I’m late,” I said, buckling in. “I overslept.”
Silence.
I looked up to find all four of them watching me with identical knowing expressions.
“What?” I asked, trying to go for innocence but already feeling the heat building in my cheeks. Dex was right. I was a terrible liar. I don’t know why I’d thought for even a moment that I could get away with this.
Blake turned around in the passenger seat, studying me with a grin on her face. “You’re glowing.”
“I’m not glowing.”
“You’re definitely glowing,” Reece said quietly.
“And your hair is wet,” Billie added. “Like you just showered.”
“I did shower. This morning. Because that’s when people shower.”
“Leigh,” Delaney said gently, meeting my eyes in the rearview mirror. “Where were you last night?”
My face was on fire. “I was... out.”
“Out where?”
“Just... out.”
“With Dex,” Blake said. It wasn’t a question.
I opened my mouth. Closed it. Tried again. “I…”
“Oh my God,” Blake crowed. “You slept with him!”
“I didn’t… we didn’t…” But I could feel my face burning at epic levels now, and I was apparently the worst liar in the world.
Delaney pulled out of the driveway, but I could see her smiling in the mirror. “How was dinner?”
“It was...” I gave up. “It was really good. Great, actually. We went to this Italian place in Riverside and talked for three hours and then he took me to this spot overlooking the valley and we...” I trailed off.
“And you what?” Billie prompted.
“And we decided not to take things slow.”
Oh my god, why was I saying these things? There was some kind of witchcraft going on in this SUV because the words were just coming out like these weren’t people I’d only just met a few weeks ago.
Reece squeezed my hand. “Good for you.”
“Really?” I looked at all of them. “You’re not going to lecture me about moving too fast or keeping it secret from the brothers? Or that this is a terrible idea because it’s going to end with us both with broken hearts?”
“Are you happy?” Delaney asked.
“Yes.”
“Does he make you feel good? Safe? Respected?”
“Yes. All of that.”
“Then why would we lecture you?” Blake turned around fully, kneeling backward in her seat. “Leigh, you’re both adults. You’re allowed to have a life. To want things.”
“But my brothers…” It still felt weird calling them that but I couldn’t be bothered to list off all four of their names every time I needed to mention them.
“Will deal with it when they need to,” Billie said firmly. “Right now, this is between you and Dex. And if you want to keep it private for a while, that’s your choice. And it would be totally normal to do so. No one wants that kind of pressure on a new relationship.”
“We’re not going to say anything,” Reece added. “But you should know... they’re going to figure it out eventually.”
“I know.” I leaned my head back against the seat. “We’re just... it’s just for the summer. I’m going back to Blue Point Bay in August. We both know this isn’t permanent.”
“Are you sure about that?” Delaney asked quietly.
“What do you mean?”
“I mean, feelings don’t always follow our plans. What starts as temporary doesn’t always stay that way.”
“We have an agreement. Clean break in August. No drama.”
Blake snorted. “Good luck with that.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“It means,” Billie said gently, “that you’re already falling for him. And he’s already falling for you. Pretending it’s just temporary doesn’t make it true.”
I wanted to argue. To insist they were wrong, that this was just a summer fling, that I wasn’t falling for anyone and they had no way of knowing otherwise.
But the words stuck in my throat.
Because maybe they were right.
Maybe I was already in deeper than I wanted to admit. And it had only been one date. One night.
And even knowing that, I had no intention of stopping. How could I? Dex and I felt so right, and even if it hurt when it ended, even if it destroyed me, it would be worth it. He was worth it.
“Can we please just focus on finding Delaney the perfect dress?” I pleaded.
“Absolutely!” Delaney said cheerfully. “But just so you know, we’re bringing this back up later. Probably with mimosas.”
Everyone laughed, and the conversation shifted to safer topics, the wedding, the guest list, whether Trace was going to cry when he saw Delaney in her dress.
But I caught Reece watching me with a knowing look, and Blake kept turning around to grin at me, and I knew this conversation was far from over.
#
The bridal boutique in Riverside was exactly what I’d pictured. Elegant, bright, with racks of white dresses that seemed to glow in the natural light streaming through tall windows.
A consultant met us at the door with champagne flutes on a silver tray.
“For the bride and her party,” she said warmly. “Congratulations! Let’s find you the perfect dress.”
For the next hour, I got lost in the experience. Delaney tried on dress after dress. Some too simple, some too elaborate, some that were beautiful but just not quite right.
We sat on a plush couch, giving feedback, taking photos, laughing when Delaney emerged in one particularly ridiculous ball gown.
“I look like a meringue,” she declared.
“A beautiful meringue,” Blake assured her.
“I’m not wearing this.”
“Agreed. Next!”
I photographed it all. Delaney’s expressions, the women’s reactions, the way sunlight caught on beading and lace. These were the moments that mattered, the ones that would mean something years from now.
Then Delaney emerged in a dress that made everyone go quiet.
It was simple but stunning. Flowing, romantic, with delicate lace sleeves and a back that dipped just low enough to be interesting. It fit her perfectly, made her look like she was glowing.
“Oh,” Reece breathed. “That’s the one.”
“That’s definitely the one,” Billie agreed.
Blake’s eyes were shining. “Delaney. You look…”
“Like a bride,” I finished, my camera clicking. “You look like a bride.”
Delaney turned to look at herself in the three-way mirror, and her expression transformed. “This is it,” she said softly. “This is my dress.”
We all started talking at once, crying a little, hugging. The consultant brought more champagne. Everyone was taking photos, and I captured all of it. The joy, the love, the sense of family that filled the room.
This was what I’d been missing my whole life. This sense of belonging. Of being part of something bigger than yourself.
While Delaney changed back into her regular clothes, the consultant finalized her order and we made our way to a nearby diner for lunch.
“Okay,” Blake said, settling into a chair and fixing me with a direct look. “Now that we’ve found the dress, we need to talk.”
My stomach dropped. “About what?”
“About you and Dex.”
I looked at each of them. These women who’d been nothing but kind to me, who’d welcomed me into their lives without hesitation.
“There’s not much to tell. We went on a date. It was nice. That’s all.”
“Leigh.” Billie’s voice was gentle but firm. “We’re not trying to make you uncomfortable. But we care about both of you. And there’s clearly more than just ‘nice’ happening.”
I took a long drink of water to try and buy myself some thinking time. “Okay. Fine. It was more than nice. It was... really good. Like, really, really good.”
“And?” Blake prompted.
“And we agreed to see where this goes. Just for the summer. When August comes, I go back to Blue Point Bay and we both move on with our lives. No drama, no complications.”
Reece looked at me with those quiet, knowing eyes. “Do you really think it’s going to be that simple?”
“It has to be. My business is in Blue Point Bay. My whole life is there. And Dex’s life is here. This is temporary. We both know that.”
“But feelings…” Delaney started.
“Aren’t part of the equation,” I said firmly. “We’re adults. We can have fun together without it becoming some big thing.”
Even as I said it, I knew it wouldn’t be that simple.
The four of them exchanged looks that clearly said they didn’t believe me.
“What?” I asked defensively.
“Nothing,” Blake said, but she was smiling. “Just... good luck with that.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“It means,” Delaney said gently, “that the heart doesn’t always listen to logic. What you plan and what actually happens are often very different things.”
“I can handle it.”
“We know you can,” Reece said. “We just want you to be prepared for it to be harder than you think.”
“And we want you to know,” Billie added, “that whatever happens, we’re here for you. Both of you.”
Something in my chest tightened. “Thank you. That means... thank you.”
“One more thing,” Blake leaned forward. “The brothers are going to figure this out eventually. They’re not stupid.”
“I know. We’re just... we want to enjoy this without the pressure of everyone watching. Without having to explain or justify or deal with their opinions.”
“That’s fair,” Delaney said. “But when the time comes to tell them, you should know… they’re going to be okay with it. They want both of you to be happy.”
“You think so?”
“I know so.” She smiled. “Trust me.”
#
The drive home was lighter, easier. We talked about the dress, about wedding plans, about everything except Dex. But I could feel their support, their acceptance, wrapping around me like a warm blanket.
When Delaney dropped me off at Jasper’s, Blake rolled down her window.
“Leigh? One more thing.”
“Yeah?”
“Don’t overthink it. Just feel it. Sometimes that’s enough.”
I nodded, my throat tight.
Inside, I went straight to my room and pulled out my phone. Multiple messages from Wren, all demanding details about “garage guy.”
And one from Dex.
Dex: How’s dress shopping? Have they interrogated you yet?
I smiled, typed back.
Leigh: They know. All of them. They figured it out the second I got in the car.
Dex: And?
Leigh: And they’re surprisingly okay with it. Supportive, even. Though they don’t think we can keep this temporary.
Dex: What do you think?
I stared at the question for a long moment.
Leigh: I think I’m not going to worry about August right now. I’m just going to enjoy this. Enjoy you.
Dex: Best answer you could have given. When can I see you again?
Leigh: Monday. Florist meeting. But that’s two days away.
Dex: Too long. Tomorrow? Lunch?
Leigh: At your place?
Dex: Wherever you want. I just want to see you.
My chest ached with how much I wanted to see him too.
Leigh: Your place. Noon. I’ll bring sandwiches.
Dex: Perfect. See you tomorrow, Leigh.
Leigh: See you tomorrow, Dex.
I put the phone down, my heart full in a way I didn’t quite know how to name.
And then I ran myself through what was apparently my new mantra in life. This was temporary. This was just for the summer. This wasn’t going to last.
But lying in bed that night, thinking about his hands on my skin, his voice in my ear, the way he’d held me after like I was something precious, I wondered if I was already lying to myself.
Because this didn’t feel temporary.
This felt like the beginning of something I wasn’t sure I’d be able to walk away from.
And that terrified me more than anything else.