Page 29 of The Lies Always Told (Baker Oaks #4)

THIRTEEN

MINDING MY OWN BUSINESS

JUNE— A WEEK LATER

Fantasias by Rauw Alejandro Cara didn’t even know Allie and the other girls were coming.

Jake wanted to keep it all a secret from them to help make the moment more magical for her.

Manny and Cara have also been on a road trip for two weeks, and apparently all the girls have wanted to visit Nashville forever together.

It was one of the stops on the trip, so Manny and Jake made it happen.

They also made Allie think it was her idea so she wouldn’t suspect that all along, Jake was going to propose to her.

For the past week, Nellie and I have seen each other nearly every day.

She’s spent the night a few times too. We had a routine going.

We went swimming and then ate breakfast. Afterward, I ate her for dessert, and then we continued with our day.

This went on for almost the entire week until she needed to do some training and state tests for her counselor certification.

Now, I’ve decided that after Allie and Jake have their moment, I’ll talk to Manny and see where his mind is at.

Manny and I have a connection that’s hard to explain.

We’re brothers and twins but also best friends.

We’ve been through everything together, and we were also thick as thieves growing up.

It was us against the world. When my first diagnosis came, it was like that connection was severed.

He thought he would feel there was something wrong with me.

He started feeling like it should have been his responsibility to notice the slow progression of HAE.

It affected him way more than we both like to admit.

Sometimes, I can’t help but worry about him.

It’s hard not to when all he does is work.

He shows up at events or family dinners, but that’s it.

He needs a break, and seeing how much this trip has helped him realize that has me happy and grateful—grateful to Allie for forcing him to go and to Cara for needing him.

I watch Jake show that cocky grin of his, his eyes practically glowing with excitement as Allie walks up, the girls trailing behind her, hands over her mouth as she reaches him.

We all step closer but still give them the space they need.

Something about the way Jake turns serious when they reach the perfect spot—right between the rows of vines—makes me pause.

The whole scene feels almost like it’s happening in slow motion, but before I can think too much on it, he has dropped to one knee, shared with her why he wants to marry her, and then, it’s over.

Allie says yes, all the girls squeal, and all the men clap.

A good moment, and I’m so happy I got to be a part of it.

I watch from afar as everyone congratulates them before I take the space to do so too.

“Felicidades, hermanita. Te lo mereces? 1 .” I pull Allie in my arms for a hug and wipe her tears away from her face. This girl is always crying—happy tears, sad tears, angry tears, all the tears.

“Gracias, Gusti. I can’t believe you’re here,” she replies, sniffling and smiling at me.

“I wouldn’t miss it for the world. Felicidades, bro, y bienvenido a la familia? 2 ,” I tell Jake as I pull him for a hug too.

“I’ll give you two another moment alone.

” I walk back to where I was standing, grab my glass of water, and enjoy the moment.

These two finally are getting their happily ever after.

I can’t wait to see what the future holds for them.

I look around the vineyard, and I spot Manny and Cara talking, so I walk their way.

This would be a great opportunity for me to maybe ask about Nellie or something, to see how Cara reacts, see if Manny can tell where my head is at.

Maybe his twin sixth sense will pick on the message, and then we can talk.

“You two have always been my favorite girls, Cara,” Manny says, completely infatuated with Cara. I’m assuming he’s referring to her and Allie. He’s had a crush on her all his life, and it’s always good to see how lost in her he can get, even if it’s just for fun.

“Fancy seeing you here,” Cara says as she turns around to see me.

“Only once in a lifetime, your sister gets engaged, Carita,” I reply, kissing her cheek and trying to ignore Manny’s eyes on me.

Whatever that’s about. He’s been overly broody today, almost guarded, and I have no idea why.

I’ve asked him twice, but he says I’m imagining things, so I try to brush it off as a reflection of myself.

Maybe I’m nervous about the whole Nellie situation, and I’m looking too much into things.

“Don’t call her that,” Manny snaps, his voice sharp. What the fuck? Carita is the nickname we’ve always used for Cara. Yeah, sure, Manny uses it more, but who does he think he is now?

“She’s our Carita. Of course, I can call her that.” I wink at Manny and pull Cara closer, hugging her tight, but she tenses under my hold. Interesting.

Manny steps forward, his jaw clenched. “She’s not, and I said not to call her that.

” Oh, shit. I know this tone. This is jealousy, raw, deep in your bones jealousy, more than I have a crush on my sister’s best friend jealousy.

I look between both of them, and then it clicks.

They’re sleeping together. Manny shakes his head when he sees it in my eyes and tries to say something, but I stop him, raising my hand.

“I’ll leave you two alone so you can figure out whatever the hell it is you have going on.” It comes out harsher than I expected, but shit, this just complicates everything.

Cara starts to speak, rushing to say something, I’m sure to deny what’s happening, but I cut her off. I need to get out of here and call Nellie. I need to breathe and clear my head, and I can’t do that with those two looking at me and each other like that.

“Don’t, Cara. Not my business. I have enough of my own to be minding someone else’s. Just be careful, both of you.” How hypocritical of me when I know damn well what’s going on with me and Nellie. What a mess.

I shake my head, walking in the other direction, pulling the phone from my back pocket to text Nellie.

Me:

We have a problem. Call me when you can.

Nellie:

Is everything okay?

Me:

Unclear. Call me when you can.

Nellie:

Ok

I drive back to my hotel once we all have dinner and drinks.

I try hard to focus on my sister and her night, but all I keep repeating in a loop is how I really want to tell Manny about Nellie, but the whole situation just got a little bit more complicated.

We’re both adults; it’s not like they can act like we aren’t.

Still, this is turning into a knotted mess, and we need to be on the same page before anything can be said.

“Hey,” I say to Nellie, who’s walking to my car with a bag in hand.

She’s wearing a black, one piece bathing suit with some sort of net dress over it, sandals with small bows, and her oversized sunglasses.

Her hair is wrapped in a bun over her head, and she’s flashing me the biggest smile I’ve ever seen.

“Hey, handsome,” she replies, opening the door and sliding in. “God, I love this car.” She touches the door and the dashboard like she always does, slow and determined, taking it all in, always seeking to feel, wanting to control the how and when. I find myself wanting to be under her touch.

“So do I, baby girl. So do I.” I bought this Barracuda at an auction three years ago, and it has become my most treasured possession.

I’m very mindful of where I drive this car, and I definitely don’t take it out every day, but after Nellie loved seeing the first time, I find myself wanting to find as many excuses as possible to take her in it.

We head down the road, taking the quickest way out of Baker Oaks to the highway, trying to avoid too many people seeing us. Leave it up to me to drive the flashiest car there ever was, but with it being so early, I’m confident most people are sleeping.

“That coffee’s yours.” I point to the iced coffee in the cup holder, and she grabs it immediately, taking a sip and fluttering her eyelashes.

“Heaven in a cup.” I chuckle at her words and continue the silent drive. She’s quiet, which is not common for her, and I don’t like it. What’s going on in that smart brain of hers today?

“Are you ready for today?”

“Did you take your meds?” I flinch at her question, and she immediately softens her features. “I’m sorry, that came out wrong. I’m just a little worried about today.”

“What are you worried about?” When I got back from Nashville, I asked Nellie if she’d like to go sailing with me, and she said yes so quickly.

Our siblings will be here tomorrow, and things will get a little bit more complicated, so I want to soak in all the time I can with her.

But if I’m being honest with myself, I just want to come clean.

I want to tell everyone how much I like Nellie, but I need to talk to my brother first. He’d never forgive me if he found out from someone else.