Series: Webs We Weave Series by Krista Ritchie
Total pages in book: 167
Estimated words: 162520 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 813(@200wpm)___ 650(@250wpm)___ 542(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 162520 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 813(@200wpm)___ 650(@250wpm)___ 542(@300wpm)
“To visualize Trent’s decaying dick?”
“Yes.” I nod heartily.
She laughs. “That might work.” After a deep breath, she sways back into the sink with a faraway smile. She’s blushing again.
“Oliver?” I ask.
“Jake.” Hailey grips the sides of the sink. “You know that two-tenant rule he had for the loft? The one he was adamant about us obeying when we first moved in?”
“I remember.” Jake had been a major stickler for the rules upon our arrival.
“Apparently, he didn’t really mind if we had a third roommate. He was just enforcing it a ton because when he first saw Rocky with us, he thought he was an abusive mark who stalked you here. He didn’t want him staying with us for that reason.” She tucks a piece of damp hair behind her pierced ear. “He was protecting us before he even knew us, Phebs. I didn’t think men like him even existed. I thought they were imaginary.”
My lungs swell. “He is a really good one, your Jake.”
Her face is fire-engine red when I call him hers. “He’s not mine.” I hear the uneasy tone.
“Sorry.” I shift uncertainly, seeing her get a little weird about it. “Would you rather be with Oliver then?” I love that for my brother, but this whole situation just feels too complicated to aggressively root for anyone.
“I don’t want to make the choice, and maybe the answer is no answer at all.”
My fingers slip off my blouse, letting it hang. “I don’t follow.”
“No commitments. No ties that bind. They can go fly free. I’m releasing them from being devoted to me.”
There is no way my brother can stop caring about Hailey in the same way that she can’t stop blushing at the mere mention of him. And Jake—if Jake didn’t love her, he wouldn’t look so tortured every time she has to hang out with his dickhead brother.
She plucks some luxe paper towels from the basket by the sink. The ones Katherine has told us explicitly are for members only. She uses them to squeeze out the water from the damp ends of her hair. Her eyes mostly on the floor.
“Hails,” I whisper. “I think you’re just scared. Maybe the next step is finally telling them what’s going on? I’m the only person who knows you’re pregnant, and that pool should open up, especially while you’re a principal on this type of job.”
“Carter knows,” she reminds me. “He’s been telling me to loop in the whole team.”
I raise my hands to the air. Thank you. “Yes, I agree with our beloved forger.”
“Of course you do. If you were me, you would’ve already told Rocky. You would’ve told your brothers and Trevor and Jake. You would’ve let them help you.” Her eyes well. “You’re so much braver than I am.”
I used to assure her that she’s smarter than me in comparison, but I don’t think it’s what she needs to hear anymore. “You’re just as brave.” I say the truth strongly. “Braver even.”
Her chin tries not to quake.
“You’re doing a hard task out of your mastermind wheelhouse while dealing with an unexpected pregnancy and a romance with two eligible bachelors. All in a town that gossips about literally everything, including a restaurant’s supposed shrimp burglar, which turned out to be a cat stealing prawns off the patio.”
She lets out a laugh, the sound softening into a smile. “I love it here.”
“Me too,” I murmur with the same tenderness. “Good thing we technically don’t have to leave.”
“Technically, yeah, we can stay if all goes to plan.”
We have to execute this job. “We will.” I nod, my ribs tightening.
I won’t screw up.
But I’m not a main player on the board. I’ve chosen to sit this one out. This isn’t going to come down to me anymore. All I can do is help Hailey. “You ready?” I tuck my decently dried blouse into my black slacks.
She crumples the paper towels. “I’m going to tell them.”
“Wait, what?” I have whiplash. My jaw slowly drops to the floor.
“I’m going to tell Jake and Oliver about the baby. Today.” She throws the paper towels in the trash. “They deserve to know. They need to know. I’m going to be brave.”
I nearly start crying at the strength in her voice, and I hug my best friend. Again, I remind her, “You already are.”
Tighter than tight, she hugs me back.
I wish we could spend the day together, but Katherine Rhodes sends me a rude text about mimosa duty. Soon, we go our separate ways. Hailey to serve the ladies at the pool and me to man the sunroom.
After I deliver four palomas and one Corona to Jake loyalists (aka the awesome ladies who wake at the ass crack of dawn to hit plastic balls), I enter the very empty dining room.
I can’t believe I’m saying this, but I miss the midday rush.