“Relax,” Gabe told me. “Zoey’s in the middle of writing a new romance, and she’s got stars in her eyes.
“Oh, la-de-da,” she said in a sing-song voice. “I’ve been shipping Dillon and Laurel waaay before I started writing this book. They’ve known each other since they were kids, and Laurel’s been in love with him forever. It’s better than a book.”
There it was again. Zoey was confirming what Reardon and Serena said about Laurel and her feelings for me.
Crazily enough, the thought no longer had me reeling with panic. Sure, Zoey’s meant to be comment had scared me a bit, but that’s just because I hadn’t thought of Laurel and marriage in the same sentence. I was still trying to get a handle on us being in an exclusive relationship.
But, now that the thought was there, I was finding that Laurel fit into my picture quite nicely. Almost perfectly, in fact.
“In love with him forever, are you drunk?” Gabe asked with a laugh. “They’ve always barely tolerated each other. I mean, after Laurel coming in to the office in that dress, which, by the way, baby, you need to find out where she got that, I definitely saw him look at her in a different light, but you’re acting like they’re in some sort of second chance romance.”
&nbs
p; “Second chance … dude, it’s preseason. I think you need to turn on a game once in a while,” I joked.
“No, I’m not drunk … I only snuck one shot of patron after finishing that sex scene,” Zoey informed him.
I shook my head at Evie and whispered, “Your parents are nuts.”
“Quit trying to change the subject,” Gabe said. “What’s going on with you and Laurel? For real.”
Just then the doorbell rang.
“Speak of the devil,” Gabe said, as Zoey rose to go and let Laurel in.
“Hey, don’t say anything to embarrass her,” I said quietly. “Yes, we are together, and I’ll tell you all the gossip later.” I rolled my eyes at that. “Just, be cool.”
Gabe held up his hands, as if in surrender.
I looked up as Laurel walked in, smiling at something Zoey had said, and took in the sight of her.
I hadn’t seen her since she left my house that morning, wearing her clothes from the day before. With her hair pulled back, wearing a tight skirt that hit right below the knee and a sheer button-up blouse, she looked nothing like the tousled vixen I’d had in my bed this morning.
“You look beautiful,” I said without thinking.
I heard Gabe snicker, and saw Zoey turn to me, pleased, but my eyes were on Laurel.
So, I saw her cheeks redden with pleasure, and her lips turn up.
“Thank you,” she said softly.
“So, I hear you and my cousin are star-crossed lovers,” Gabe said, in that maddening way he had. “I gotta say, it took me totally by surprise. Reardon, Serena, and Zoey seemed to know something was brewing, but I was blindsided.”
Laurel watched him warily, obviously unsure how to respond.
I was about to tell him to shut his mouth, but he stood up, crossed to her and pulled her in for a bear hug.
“It’s the best news I’ve heard since Reardon knocked up Chloe,” Gabe told her.
Seriously, I have to get a football in my cousin’s hands again. Zoey’s turning him into a sap.
34
Laurel
I’d been touched by Gabe’s hug and sweet words, heart warmed to have his blessing.
Afterwards, he’d taken Evie from Dillon to put her down for a nap, while Zoey, Dillon, and I went into Zoey’s kitchen to sit down with tea and snacks and talk shower(s).