Page 44 of Sin With Me

“Who’s sayin’ that?”

“Uh…everyone.”

Great.

“Well, they can fuck off. It’s none of their business anyway.”

“I’m your sister! Tell me.”

“No! You didn’t tell me when you were hookin’ up with myex-boyfriend…” I remind her. “In fact, I found out by walkin’ in on you two makin’ out in the tack room.”

I mimic a gagging reaction.

“So now you’re gettin’ back at him by sleepin’ with his twin brother? Bold. I like it.” She snickers.

“It has nothin’ to do with Waylon. Or you.”

“You’re really not gonna tell me?” she huffs, leaning against the counter and sticking out her lower lip. That used to work on me once upon a time.

But she’s older now and I’m not buying it.

“Nope, but Wilder and I are just friends. He has enough goin’ on in his life, as do I, so I’m not lookin’ to mess it up even more.”

Which is mostly true.

But I also don’t want to relive the embarrassment by telling her the story because as soon as I tell her we kissed, she’ll want all the details the way Mattie did.

Wilder might have reciprocated the kiss and other stuff, but starting something between us would add a complication neither of us has time for—on top of what people are saying about the whole situation. The timing isn’t right.

“Why would it get messy? I think you’re just makin’ excuses because you’re scared.”

“Okay, Miss Nosy…” I groan, grabbing the hangers of the lingerie pieces and walking out to put them on the racks.

“Tell me I’m wrong, then!”

I can’t because she’s somewhat right.

I’m not scared to be in a relationship, but I’m scared to get hurt. By him, especially. I’m scared that it’d ruin our friendship and then I’d miss what we had.

“I’m workin’, Harlow,” I singsong. “You need to go if you’re not buyin’ anything.”

The store’s been empty for the past hour, and I only have ten minutes left of my shift until Harper arrives.

“Ugh, you’re not fun anymore. Is that what happens when you get into your thirties?” She aggressively chews and it makes my brain twitch.

“Very funny,” I deadpan. She loves cracking jokes about my age since I’m so much older than her.

When the bell above the door goes off, we both look, and my eyes widen when Jonah walks in.

He’s early.

And was supposed to meet me at the café, not here.

I didn’t want to do dinner and drinks since I don’t know him. That way if shit gets awkward, I can leave quickly.

“Hey,” he greets, smiling wide. “I got here sooner than expected because I was worried I wouldn’t find a parkin’ spot. Guess that’s not really an issue in this town.”

“No, not usually.” I smile awkwardly. “I’m almost done.”