Lucy did not drop it.
“What were you doing in our neighborhood that late, anyway?” she asked sweetly. Too sweetly. “It’s just a bit serendipitous that you justhappenedto be there at the right time.”
“It was just a lucky coincidence,” I said.
Yeah… there was absolutely no version of the truth that didn’t make me sound like a stalker.
Oh, I was just slightly tipsy and thought I’d drive by my cute nanny’s house to see if her car was there.
Yeah. No.
Lucy’s lips curved slowly, as if she’d just solved a puzzle. So, to keep her from seeing too much in my eyes, I looked down and adjusted my Rolex, hoping the move came off as calm and collected instead of being caught red-handed in catching feelings for her best friend.
But when I looked back up, my sister was still watching me with her eagle eyes.
“Well,” she said lightly, “thank goodness for random late-night drives.” Then, because she apparently enjoyed testingme, she added, “Nora looks gorgeous tonight, though, don’t you think?”
“Yes.” I swallowed, my heart rate ramping up just from a split second of eye contact with Nora. “She does.”
Lucy’s smile sharpened as if she could actually hear my heartbeat. Then, with a satisfied smirk, she added, “Miles must feel so lucky to have such a beautiful girl on his arm tonight.”
“Lucy.”Nora hushed her, color climbing up her neck.
And I tried not to think about where Nora currently stood with her feelings for Miles. Because in our previous conversations about him, she’d always sounded open to seeing where things might go with him.
But a lot could shift in twenty-four hours, right? The past day had certainly shifted something in me.
I shook the thought away.
Was I glad Nora was okay? Obviously.
Did I think she looked beautiful tonight? Yes. The girl was gorgeous. Anyone with functioning eyesight could see that.
Had I flirted with her more than usual this afternoon? Probably.
But it was okay to flirt with my sister’s best friend every once in a while. I didn’t need to dissect any of that.
“Anyway, I’m just saying that you look beautiful tonight,” Lucy said, seeming to decide to let me off the hook as she turned back to her friend. “And I’m so glad you are safe.”
“Thank you,” Nora said. “You look gorgeous, too.”
A second later, Miles appeared at Nora’s side again. “Shall we go find our seats?” he asked, offering her his arm with an easy grin.
“Of course,” Nora said, slipping her arm through his.
They settled in their seats two rows in front of me, beside Nora’s brother Ky and his date.
When the bridesmaids started walking down the aisle tothe string quartet playing “Bless the Broken Road,” Miles leaned in close as he murmured something in her ear. And while I couldn’t tell what he’d just said, whatever it was made her giggle and tip her face up toward him with a huge smile.
And though I knew this had been the plan all along—to make it look like they were a real couple enjoying a romantic night at a wedding—it didn’t stop my jaw from tightening. Because whatever he’d whispered to her… she liked it a little too much.
30
THEO
“Isthat woman I saw you dancing with earlier your date?” I asked my friend Brendon.
We were standing at the edge of the dance floor at the reception, watching couples sway beneath the warm glow of the string lights while the band played something slow and romantic. The whole place hummed with that easy, celebratory energy that came with weddings. Laughter. Champagne glasses clinking. People leaning close together like the rest of the world didn’t exist.