Only Him (Only One 1)

Sucking in a deep breath, I grin. “She pretends I’m not there, so it’s going as expected.”

“Not surprising. What about Jerry? I’m sure he’s happy you’re there.”

“He’s a good boss. Doesn’t micromanage. Gives me tasks and lets me figure it out without hovering. It’s a godsend of a position in this godforsaken town.” I throw her a wink.

“If it doesn’t work out, you can always come work for me,” she sing-songs.

I roll my eyes. “Shut up and keep dreamin’.”

“Don’t worry, I will.”

“But seriously, it’s nice to feel like I have a purpose again and something else to focus on.”

“Any more surprise visits from Gemma’s fiancé?” Everleigh asks, and I stiffen. Though the blood seems to move quicker through my veins, I keep my breath steady, not wanting her to notice the slightest change in my behavior. I overcompensate and put my feet up on the coffee table as if I’m uninterested.

“Nope.” I shrug, keeping my opinions about the guy to myself because they wouldn’t be very nice.

“I only ask because Gemma mentioned you two met at the garage the other day.”

“Yep,” I confirm.

“Between you and me, I don’t think Gemma’s ready to marry the guy. She’s my best friend, so I’ll support her no matter what, but I’m wondering if she’ll go through with it or not.”

Stay. Calm.“Wow, that’s pretty bad, Ev,” I say, keeping my eyes on the TV.

“I know, I know, but seriously! They’ve been engaged for eighteen months and just recently set a date. If you’re madly in love with someone, you don’t wait that long unless there’s a good reason—like a death in the family, or someone’s sick, or you’re saving up money—and those are definitely not the reasons.” My throat tightens as she rambles on. I feel bad talking about Gemma like this, but it seems my sister needs to vent to someone, so I let her continue. “She’s stalling. At first, I thought it was nerves, and some of it still might be, but there are other issues now.” Everleigh drinks half the glass of wine she must’ve poured when I was in the bathroom. In about five minutes, she’s going to have loose lips and tell me everything I already suspected.

“Gemma’s a grown ass woman and can make her own decisions. Marriage used to be a big deal to her, so I doubt she’d jump into a relationship just to do it,” I tell her, though I’m not convinced either after meeting the guy.

Everleigh finishes her drink, then leans back against the couch and looks at me. I can feel her eyes peeling back my flesh as though she’s ready to open me up and dissect my thoughts.

“Do you still have feelings for her? Like you used to?” She narrows her eyes as if she already knows my answer.

“What’s it matter? Even if I do, it wouldn’t change anything. She’s planning a wedding, and I won’t ruin that. After fucking up her life enough already, I promised myself I’d stay away.”

Everleigh grins. “You didn’t say no.”

“I didn’t say yes, either,” I counter. “I’m Switzerland with my answer, completely neutral,” I say.

“Oh bullshit.” She scowls. “You’ve been an opinionated badass my whole life. You aren’t fooling me.”

“Nope, I mean it. She can marry the Prince of England for all I care, and I wouldn’t say a thing.”

Everleigh snorts. “That’s not dramatic at all. Plus, how would she meet a prince in small-town Alabama?”

“I don’t know, you tell me. You’re the one who watches all those Lifetime and Hallmark movies.”

She laughs with a nod, then her lips fall into a frown. “Well, I’m just frustrated with the whole thing, even more now that Gemma’s told me some more personal details.” I don’t want to know, but she continues before I can ask her to stop. “When a man is too tired to have sex with someone as hot as Gemma and throws her to the side like she’s some play toy, there’s an issue.”

Well, I didn’t expectthat. What the fuck? So Robert’s oldandunable to satisfy her?

“When a man tries to buy my best friend’s love instead of showing it, I know something’s wrong. What’s even more annoying is I can’t be the one to save her. She has to save herself and admit he’s all wrong for her, but I feel like she’s already too tangled up with him. The whole town knows they’re engaged. She’d rather go through with the wedding than disappoint her father.”

“Well, then let her make that decision because she’s the one who has to live with it,” I say although I’m boiling inside. Gemma pretends everything is picture-perfect on the outside, but according to what she’s telling my sister, it’s all fake.

Everleigh shakes her head. “It’s not supposed to be like this for her, though.”

“There’s nothing you can do except be there for her and support whatever she decides,” I say firmly, though I’m screaming the exact opposite on the inside. I want to shake some goddamn sense into her and help her realize she doesn’t love him the way she once loved me. She’s jeopardizing her own happiness to make others happy.