Page 49 of The Lies Always Told (Baker Oaks #4)

“Oh.” I wish I could say yes to this sweet man. He seems like the type who would communicate and not keep shit from me, unlike Gus. Unfortunately, I don’t want this guy. I want Gus, and it wouldn’t be fair to Ben.

“I’m sorry, I…” I, what? I have a boyfriend? That’s not true. I have a complicated relationship. Also no. I’m in love with someone else? That’s the one, but how am I ever going to get over him if I don’t try? I can’t, though, for Ben’s sake. I can’t.

“I can’t, Ben. It’s sweet of you to ask, though. It’s not you?—”

“It’s you , right? I’ve heard it before.”

“Actually, it’s not me either. It’s my heart that’s unavailable. I’m sorry. ”

“Oh? Oh! I understand. The heart wants what the heart wants. See you around, Ms. Thompson.”

“If you didn’t cry, you’re dead inside,” I tell Roe, who keeps shaking her head no when everyone else is talking about how much this book affected them.

“I am dead inside, actually. I loved the book, don’t get me wrong. It was sad too, but like…I still didn’t cry,” she replies, shrugging her shoulders.

“Well, I couldn’t stop crying. Jake thought something had happened. This might be my new favorite book of all time,” Allie says, and everyone else nods.

“I’m so glad you all loved it,” Natalie states, hugging her arms around her chest and smiling fondly at all of us. “Nellie, since you’re new to us, you get to pick the next book.”

No pressure. No pressure at all. I just joined this book club for this month’s discussion, so I’m not sure what all they’ve read.

I know they prefer romance, but would they read anything else?

I love romance, but if they’re all avid and ferocious romance readers like both Allie and Cara, the chances they’ve already read something I suggest are high.

“Has anyone read Seven Days in June by Tia Williams or Heathen and Honeysuckle by Sarah A. Bailey?” I ask, and everyone shakes their head except for Allie.

“What? I love second-chance romance, so I will always try to hunt those down. Give me an emotional second chance with a dual timeline, and I want them all. I’m happy to talk about it, though. It doesn’t have to be an issue just because I read it,” Allie says.

“Maybe we can do Seven Days in June first and then Heathen and Honeysuckle ?

“If anyone has an issue with that, raise your hand,” Cara says, and when nobody does, she declares, “Alright, Seven Days in June it is.”

I smile fondly—maybe because of the friendship I see forming here already, or maybe because of the four glasses of wine I’ve had tonight.

“Are you and Manny moving in together?” Livie, another one of Cara’s friends, asks her, and when my sister’s eyes open wide, I giggle.

“What makes you say that?” Cara asks. We all laugh. Cara is the only person who still thinks we don’t know how down bad Manny is for her and how much she loves him too.

“Is he or is he not at your house right now, waiting for you?” Allie asks through a smile, her lips on her glass.

Cara wasn’t lying when she said we would not be able to stop drinking the wine.

I’m so glad that for once, I listened to my sister and didn’t drive here.

Because of it, I’ve been able to enjoy every second.

“Yes, he is, but just because the puppy needs company.”

“How often does he sleep over?” Allie asks again.

I love that she’s not holding anything back.

She’s just one hundred percent messing with Cara.

We all know Manny stays over there all the time, it’s just a matter of them pulling the trigger.

I stay quiet, because every time I hear Manny’s name, I think of Gus, and rage engulfs me whole.

“I mean…often, but it just makes sense,” Cara adds again.

“Are all the men hanging out at your house with Manny for boy’s night or whatever they want to call it?” Allie asks again, and Cara nods, rolling her eyes.

“I think you should just stop acting like you don’t want him to move in with you and just do it. It’ll be easier on both of you, cheaper too,” Roe adds at the same time the doorbell rings.

“Oop, time to go,” Cara says, changing the topic and starting to gather her things.

The boys were all hanging out together, according to Cara, and by boys I mean, Cara’s boyfriend, Livie’s husband, Natalie’s husband, Allie’s fiancé, and Roe’s partner.

I have no man to add to the combo. I’m just here for the book chats and the wine, single as ever.

We all say goodbye to Natalie before walking to the door to be greeted by the boys.

I smile as I see their faces, but then, another familiar face shows up next to Manny.

Same height, same smile, same eyes, but darker skin and shorter hair, plus a dimple I never noticed until a few months ago, when we started fooling around and I started falling for him.

Gus stands next to his twin brother, Manny looking as smug as ever. Fuck my life.

“Gusti!” Allie shouts, walking past everyone to hug her little brother.

I’m always happy to see how strong their sibling relationships are.

Cara and I are close, but because we’re eight years apart, it’s hard for us to share the type of bond the twins and Allie share at only two.

She genuinely looks happy to see her brother, unlike me.

All I want to do is smack him over the head.

Yell at him. Kill him slowly. Maybe kiss him.

He might be talking to his sister, but every few seconds, his eyes briefly meet mine.

I narrow my eyes, but it doesn’t stop him from doing the same thing over and over again.

“All the girls are here, and Nellie joined us today too. Isn’t she so grown up now?” Allie asks.

“Oh yeah, that she is,” Gus replies, walking my way and kissing my cheek. “Hola, Nellie,” he whispers. I wish I could hide the goosebumps that crawl up my back or the way my knees weaken at the smell of his cologne. Him being so close makes me want to squirm.

“Hi!” My voice sounds lively, like I’m trying overly hard to say the words, but if anyone notices, they hide it well.

Everyone is too focused on their own love lives with light in their eyes to notice the way mine leaves my eyes the minute Gus is around.

Once he brought it to life; now, he just let it die.

“I’m sorry to rain on your parade, but it’s a school night, and I really have to go. ”

“Oh, no problem. Let’s go,” Cara says to Manny, who kisses her forehead and guides her out to his car.

“I can take Nellie home. It makes sense, since I just have to drive home, and all of you have work tomorrow,” Gus says nonchalantly.

“No!” I spit back quicker than I can stop myself. All eyes are on me instantly, so I probably have three seconds to come up with a reply.

“It’s not a big deal, really,” Gus says, smoothing over my outburst.

“Are you sure? Cara and Manny can take me.” Please dear lord, let this man read between the lines.

“It’s no problem. Come on.” Why is he even here?

Did they all just drive separate cars? Well, Allie and Cara live a couple of blocks away from each other, so maybe that’s why only Manny’s here.

I live on the other side of town, so it does make sense for someone else to drive me, and Roe lives closer to the forest area.

Baker Oaks is small, but because each house has acreage, it feels bigger.

Cara just bought a house in the same neighborhood as Allie.

“Bye, see you guys soon!” I wave. My hand is a little unsteady as I follow Gus to his car. The Barracuda. His special occasion car .

I stumble slightly, still feeling the buzz from way too many glasses of peach wine, and Gus grabs my arm before I can make a bigger fool of myself.

“Easy there, Trouble.”

I mutter, “Stop it,” and reach for his arm so I don’t lose my footing. “What’s wrong with you? Why are you even here?” I can barely get the words out, the alcohol muddling my thoughts. He opens the door for me and helps me slide in.

“I will never stop,” Gus whispers as he fastens my seat belt with a snap, his fingers brushing my skin and awakening all my senses. Then, he circles the car and slides into the driver’s seat, glancing over at me with that damn smile .

I roll my eyes, feeling the weight of his grin. “There are zero reasons for you to be smiling at me.”

His smile only widens. “I can think of at least one. The most important one.”

“What?”

He smiles again before he says, “I finally have your attention.” He winks at me, shifts the car into drive, and pulls out of Natalie’s driveway. “Maybe this is the only way you’d actually talk to me.”

“Nope, I don’t have to talk to you. You can talk, but I don’t have to reply. I can just sit here quietly and wait for you to drive me home. It’s late, remember?”

“It’s ten o’clock. You’ll be fine.”

“Unlike you, Mr. Rich Man, Forbes thirty under thirty most eligible bachelor ever, I have to go to work tomorrow.”

He scoffs as he changes the music and plays an old song I can’t put my finger on. “Ten is not that late. We have time to talk.”

“Was this your goal all along? Get me alone so you can use secrets and lies to, what? Try to fuck me again?” Maybe the middle schoolers are getting to me, because what the hell was that? I’m twenty-one years old, damn it, not twelve. How do I go from chill to infuriating with this man?

“No, Nellie. Jesus. Get you alone so I can finally explain things. You don’t have to reply, but you will listen.”

There’s no point in fighting him over this.

There’s nowhere for me to go, nothing for me to do other than sit here and listen to whatever bullshit he’s going to tell me.

I’m actually a little curious to see what he has to say, since I’ve been avoiding him or snapping at him at every turn. “Fine, go ahead. Explain.”

Part of me expects him to go straight to the girl situation, or at the very least mention it, but the words out of his mouth surprise me more than a lot of things have this year.