Page 84 of In Case You Didn't Know

“Look,” Skyler says softly, “I’m not trying to judge. Asher’s a good guy underneath all that buttoned-up repression. But I promised Autumn I’d take care of you, and I need to know that you’re okay.”

I blink a little too fast. I don’t know how to explain the way he made me feel, like I am something worthy. Like he saw all the parts of me I try to keep hidden and didn’t flinch.

Guilt washes over me at the mention of Autumn’s name. I’m standing in my best friend’s house. The one she so generously said I could stay in while I try to finish my book. And instead of writing, I spent last night in every position imaginable with her brother.

Tearing a corner from the croissant, I pop it into my mouth. The buttery pastry melts on my tongue, but it doesn’t quite chase away the unease curling in my stomach.

Skyler is looking at me like she knows exactly what’s going through my mind. There’s concern there, mixed with understanding. And maybe a little curiosity.

Okay, a lot. This is an island. Nothing exciting ever happens here, unless you count Mylene and Eileen’s eternal blood feud. Skyler loves to gossip. It’s not a sin.

And the truth is, I’m not sure if I can keep this inside me much longer.

“If Autumn finds out she’ll kill me,” I finally say. “Please don’t tell her.”

Skyler puts her own pastry down, her chamomile tea untouched, like I’m much more exciting than buttery layers of goodness. “Oh. My. God. You two did it!” She claps her hands together. “But why wouldn’t you tell Autumn? She’s your best friend, isn’t she?”

“Of course she is. And I will tell her. Depending on what happens between me and Asher. But I want to do it face to face. She knows me too well. She’ll know that it wasn’t just one night. There’s backstory. I need to find a way to break it to her that doesn’t have her thinking I’ve been lying to her.”

“I love backstory,” Skyler says. “Gimme.” Then she frowns. “Oh no. Maybe don’t gimme. If I find out any more, I’m going to end up spilling my guts to Hudson. Then everybody’s going to find out. Damn it.” She pouts like I’ve just ruined her favorite game.

“You don’t have to know everything,” I tell her, feeling sorry for her because I hate being left in the dark, too. It happened too many times in my childhood. I was too young and innocent to be involved in family business. It used to drive me wild. “Just know that I’m fine. Apart from every muscle in my body aching because Asher’s dick is completely addictive.”

Skyler chokes on her tea. “Jesus, Francie.”

I grin. “Sorry, did I say that out loud?”

Dabbing at her mouth with a napkin, Skyler looks me in the eye. “Don’t say sorry. I just wasn’t prepared for it from you. You have this innocent look about you.” She shakes her head. “Tell me, is he good?”

“Amazing.”

And then, because I’m a glutton for punishment and it feels like we’re bonding, I tell her about the book I’m writing. About my secret life and the way not many people know I’m an author.

“Oh god, I think I’m going to die,” Skyler says when she’s finished grilling me, and has promised me she’ll keep my secret. “This is the best thing to happen to me since I discovered Hudson’s high school yearbook. Let’s just say the man cannot rock a mullet.” She grins.

I laugh at the image that conjures up. “I don’t remember him having a mullet.” Though that was probably before I met Autumn.

“He didn’t. I just scanned the photo and photoshopped him one. Then stuck copies everywhere around the house.” She wrinkles her nose. “I might have wanted to trigger him into teaching me a lesson.”

“And did he?”

“Oh yes.” Her eyes go a little dreamy. “Angry Hudson is the best Hudson.”

Our gazes lock. There’s a knowing look between them. Because I’m pretty hot for furious Asher, too.

“You’re glowing,” she says. “I don’t know how you think you’re going to hide all these secrets from everybody. One look at you and they’re all going to know.”

“Good thing I’ll be staying here at the lighthouse and hiding away,” I say lightly. And possibly hoping that Asher comes back to check on my very real sex injuries this evening.

She frowns. “You can’t do that. You have to come to my dinner party this evening.”

“I’m what?” I ask. “What dinner party? I never agreed to that.”

Letting out a sigh, Skyler gives me a puppy dog look. “Hudson’s having guests over. Boring ones. It’ll be all business talk and repressed New York boredom. You have to come keep me company. It’s your duty.”

“I’m supposed to be writing my book,” I point out. And having sex with Asher. I don’t say that one out loud, but I think she gets the point.

“Okay, fine. I’ll tell Hudson you’re too busy rubbing uglies with his brother to spend time with the loneliest girl on the island.” She’s joking. At least I think she’s joking. But I get the point.