Page 94 of Take My Love

“You’re invited anytime.” Aunt JoJo pats his shoulder. “Go get some food.”

Once he returns and we have our drinks, they get on the topic of Silas and his viral videos, and every time I try to change the subject, one of them brings it up again.

“I signed up this week just to watch him myself.” Aunt JoJo smirks. “Think he’s into cougars?”

“Oh my God,” I groan, stabbing a sausage link. “Not you too?”

“I am!” Bodie smirks. “They’re hot and always freaks in the sheets.”

Mom’s eyes widen in horror.

I snort. “Is this your way of tellin’ us you’re bringin’ an old lady to the weddin’ as your plus one?”

He frowns, messing with his already disheveled hair. “I wish…”

“I’ll be your date.” Aunt JoJo winks.

“Just what every bachelor wants to be known for…datin’ his aunt.”

Laughter echoes around us as we continue chatting, eating, and drinking. It’s exactly what I needed after this past week, but I still feel guilty with Teddy missing.

“Before I take you home, can we have a serious talk?” Bellamy asks when we walk to her SUV.

“I knew this was comin’…” I murmur, hopping into the passenger’s side. “Fine.”

“You two like each other…and don’t ya dare deny it,” she says pointedly, pulling out of the parking lot.

“We have history from years ago. There’s always been somelingerin’ feelings even though I tried to push ’em away, but with him in my house and at the farm, it’s hard to ignore ’em.”

“So, don’t. Dad will get over the no employee relations policy if you’re upfront and honest about it.”

“It’s not just that…” I fidget with my fingers, contemplating how much I want to share. “I’m afraid if I let him back in, I’ll get hurt again. And after repeated datin’ failures, I wouldn’t be able to go through another heartbreak from him unscathed.”

“You won’t know until you try, and who knows, y’all older and wiser now, so it might be different this time. Do you think he feels the same?”

I lift a shoulder. “I think so, but he just got out of a long-term relationship with a woman who treated him like shit. I don’t wanna be his rebound or be with me out of convenience ’cause we live together.”

“That’s your insecurity talkin’, Posey.”

“Okay, Miss Know-It-All,” I tease, finally looking at her and she’s grinning like she knows she’s right. “Didn’t realize you had so much datin’ experience to share.”

“Just ’cause I don’t want the husband, babies, and white picket fence doesn’t mean I can’t offer my advice on relationships. You want those things but you’ll never get ’em if you hold back at the fear of gettin’ hurt.”

I sigh because I can’t even argue with her logic.

“You might change your mind, ya know?” I say when she gets to my house.

“About what?”

“Gettin’ married, babies, white fence…you’re still young.”

She shrugs. “Maybe. But for now, I’m thrivin’ in my single girl era.”

I snort, then lean in for a hug. “Thanks for the ride. Love you.”

“You’re welcome, and love you too.”

Before shutting the door behind me, she adds, “And I now require updates on you and your secret roommate boy toy.”