“You were hurt, I get it.”
“But there is a part of me that wants all this, you know. How could I not? But I have to get my business off the ground and the thoughts of getting back out there dating.” I fake a shiver. “It gives me a rash.”
She laughs and loops her arm in mine again to lead me to the kitchen. “That I can understand. But you don’t have to get back out there, you’re married.”
I roll my eyes because we both know it’s a farce. She grabs a bottle of white wine from the fridge and holds it up. I nod. “Yes, please.”
She pours two generous glasses and slides one across the kitchen island to me. I take a sip, and consider her brother, all the nice things he’s done and said to me. “Can I ask you something?”
She tucks a curl behind her ear. “Sure.”
“Has Cason ever been serious before?”
“No, not really. He dated my friend once, and I thought they might turn into more, but they didn’t. After that, he came up with some two-week rule. I’m assuming you know all about that.”
“Yeah, he actually mentioned it to me.”
She frowns. “He did?”
“He just wanted to let me know not to expect more.” I laugh to make light of it. “Not that I ever would.”
“Is that right, Kinsley?” she asks like she can see right through me.
“That’s right.”
It’s a lie. A great big, stupid, fat lie, and maybe coming here really was a bad idea.
13
Cason
“Who wants to go fishing in the morning?” Cole asks, and all the kids jump up and down. Well, everyone except Daisy—Zander and Sam’s daughter.
“Eww, I am not touching a worm,” Daisy says. I laugh. Daisy might be eight, but she’s going on sixteen and her Mom and Dad are going to have their hands full when she really does hit her teen years. I glance at all the kids, and there’s an odd little ache in my heart. Do I want this? Fuck yeah, I do. I want it. I want all of this with the sweet girl beside me. Maybe I have to convince her she does, too—and try not to fuck it up, by giving her what she needs emotionally, and not saying the wrong goddamn thing.
“What about you Kinsley, do you want to go fishing?”
“I’m with Daisy,” Kinsley says, as Daisy pulls her marshmallow from the fire. The little girl steps up to Kinsley and offers her the gooey treat.
“Thank you,” she says as she pulls it off.
“Mommy,” Daisy says. “Tomorrow can we make my hair pink?”
Kinsley’s gaze flies to Samantha’s, like she’s actually worried her free nature might cause conflict between mother and daughter.
Samantha shrugs. “Sure, why not. It’s summer vacation. We can do something fun.”
Daisy claps and grabs another marshmallow, as Kinsley smiles at Samantha. The two don’t know each other well. They only recently met at the wedding. Zander and Sam live in Boston, but fly out to their summer cottage here every chance they get.
“We can have a girl’s day,” Katee says, and scoops up her tired little girl, Khloe. “But right now, I need to get this little one to bed.” Luke jumps up and we all say goodnight as they saunter off.
“I want to stay at uncle Cason’s tonight,” Brandon says, and Cole jumps up.
“Maybe tomorrow night. It’s their first night here and they are probably tired. Need a good night’s sleep with no kids jumping on them at the crack of dawn to wake them.” He shakes his head. “Wait, what am I saying?”
I laugh. “Tomorrow night, Brandon. You and Casey can stay over.” I turn to look at Kinsley. “Are you okay with that?”
“Of course. I’d love to get to know my nephews better,” she jokes. Even though right now they really are her nephews. “I grew up with all sisters. A house full of boys will be a refreshing break.”