She turns her head back to mine. “What?”
“Why did you look away when I talked about Oliver?”
“It’s nothing. Let’s talk about you.”
I lean back in my chair, but the baby makes it look less like leaning and more like a balloon tilting. I may not have shown until much later, but I more than made up for it in the last two months. I’ve not just popped, I’ve expanded like a blimp.
Each day it’s as if someone is inflating my stomach a bit more.
“There’s not a chance in hell I’m letting this go. Do you know what my last month has been like? Boring. Completely lacking in gossip or anything fun. Sure, Declan … entertains me … but since Ellie is on total bed rest until she gives birth, I get a few video calls or whatever Dec relays, which is horrible. He’s truly bad at telling me the town news.”
She laughs. “There’s no news. Nothing about anyone in this town at least.”
I narrow my eyes. “Is it about Sean?”
Her lips part just a bit, and I internally smile. I knew it. He was here this week to drop off some stuff before he has to stay for six months. I got to see him for a minute or two, but then he and Declan went downstairs to talk. I don’t know what it was about, but it was clear that Sean was not his normal, happy-go-lucky self.
“Sean?”
“Yes, your best friend. My boyfriend’s brother.”
Devney sinks down, head falling forward into her hands. “Syd …”
Concern fills me and I get up, move around the desk, knocking some papers off as I go, and settle into the seat beside her. “What’s wrong?”
She looks back to me, tears brimming. “I don’t know what happened.”
“Did you guys fight?”
“I wish. I mean, we did … after … but, now? What am I supposed to do?”
The anguish in her voice makes my stomach hurt. “I don’t know what you’re saying, Dev. You have to tell me something. What does after mean?”
I really hope it isn’t what I think it is. Although, it would be well overdue. Still, their friendship will never be the same, and Sean needs Devney as much as she needs him. They have been best friends forever.
“He kissed me.”
I bite back the smile that threatens to form. Finally, the man has done something to give her pause to think the feelings are there.
“Like a friendly kiss?”
She shakes her head quickly. “No, we were drinking and … I don’t know … I said something about how hot he is and he said something about how he is always attracted to girls who look like me. We laughed, and then I said, ‘Well, it has to be tough kissing your best friend, right?’”
Yeah, I don’t think it’s all that difficult for him. She’s ridiculously beautiful. “And?”
“And then he cupped my face with one hand, and it was like one of those movie frames where you know they’re going to kiss. He said, ‘I don’t know, but I’d like to see if it’s tough to kiss you.’” She plays with the hem of her shirt, and I can hear the confliction in her voice. “I looked up at him, and at that moment, I needed him to do it. I wanted him to kiss me. And God, when he did, I thought I would die. How can a man kiss like that? How can a woman ever be the same after feeling that way? It was like I couldn’t think, breathe, or focus on anything but him. I was so lost that I didn’t care about anything else.”
I take her hand, offering her some support. “The Arrowood boys sort of do that to you.”
“I have Oliver, Syd. He’s great, and he loves me so much. He’s been … so good to me. He doesn’t play ball and run all over the country, fucking God only knows how many girls. Sean does. Sean is my best friend who I bitch about Oliver to. It doesn’t make sense, but …”
Oh, this poor girl. She has no idea what she’s in for. However, I know better than anyone that you have to talk it out sometimes. “But?”
“Since that kiss, all I want is to see him. I want to kiss him again and see if it was the drinks or … more? And yet, he’s called, but I can’t talk to him. I love Oliver. I love him so much, and he doesn’t deserve that. Oliver makes me happy.”
I’ve never loved anyone else other than Declan, so I don’t know if can I empathize, but Oliver does love her, and I know she loves him.
“What are you going to do?” I ask.
“I’m going to have to tell Oliver. I owe him that, and … he was talking about marriage the other day. I was telling Sean that he was going to propose soon.”
Jesus. Is that what finally pushed Sean over the edge? I wonder if he knew that, once she was married, he’d never have a chance with her.
“What would you say?” I ask her.
Devney releases a heavy sigh and shakes her head softly. “I don’t know …”
I would bet my ass a week ago, the answer would’ve been clear as day.
“Maybe take some time,” I suggest.
“There’s more, Syd. I mean, not with Sean, but more that I need to tell him and you and everyone really, but I can’t.”
“Why?”
“Can you just give me some time?”
Of course I can, although a part of me is champing at the bit to know what she has to tell us. “Can you assure me you’re okay?”
Devney nods. “I am, but it’s … hard to talk about, and I’m not ready yet.”
“I have no room to push anyone to admit something before they’re ready.” My hand moves to my stomach where my secret hid for quite a while.
“Thank you. I need to sort out whatever I’m feeling for Sean and then I can deal with everything else.”
My hand reaches out
