“Why do you have dog food?”
“What are you doing here?” he asks instead of answering my question. “I thought after our talk atElectric VibesI wouldn’t see you for a while.”
“Lennon made me come,” I mumble.
“I’m sorry. What did you say?”
I throw my arms in the air. “Lennon made me come. Are you happy now?”
He chuckles. “Happy to have you in my home? Yes. Happy you had to be blackmailed by Lennon to visit me? No.”
“He didn’t blackmail me.”
I collapse on the sofa and Diva whines and claws at my feet until I pick her up and set her in my lap. The dog has certainly earned her name Diva.
“Are you hungry? I made chili.”
I feign indifference but my stomach growls and gives me away. “I could eat.”
To Cedar’s credit, he doesn’t remark on my noisy stomach. He prepares me a bowl and sets it on the coffee table in front of me before lifting Diva from my arms and setting her on his lap so I can eat.
“Outside of Winter Falls, I go by the name Archer.”
I motion for him to continue since my mouth is full of spicy goodness.
“Cedar isn’t exactly a common name. Combine my unusual name with my resemblance to Rowan and everyone figures out awful quick I’m the brother of a Super Bowl hero.”
I chew as I consider his words. “Aren’t you proud of him?”
He cringes. Huh. What’s the story there? I want to ask, but if I do, I’m opening myself up to him asking all kinds of questions about me. Questions I have zero plans to answer. Ever.
“What I’m trying to say is I didn’t mislead you about who I am on purpose. It’s natural for me to hide my relation to Rowan.”
This is getting serious. My appetite disappears and I place the bowl of chili on the table. “But we were friends for months. You had plenty of time to explain who you were.”
“I should have.”
I wait but when he doesn’t continue, I prod him. “But…”
“But I didn’t think it mattered?”
“Didn’t think it mattered?” My voice is dangerously close to shrieking. I hate shrieking.
“I didn’t expect to stay here as long as I have.”
I narrow my eyes as I study him. “You thought you’d be gone before I figured it out.”
He glances away. “I guess. I don’t know. This is all new territory for me. I’ve never wanted to stay anywhere for as long as I’ve been here.”
“I’m not buying it.”
“Excuse me?”
“I’m not buying it. There’s something more.”
His grunt tells me I’m right. I cross my arms over my chest and stare at him. I can wait him out all night long.
He sighs. “Would you have believed I wasn’t staying in the area if I told you Rowan’s my brother?”