“Oh, you’re right. Sorry.” This time she latched onto my hand and held on.
Now I couldn’t stop grinning like a fool. “I’m just so happy to see you, Nola. You look so good. And you’re married—to that!”
Nola practically bounced up and down in her seat. “I know. I can’t wait for you to get to know each other. You’re going to love him.”
“I’m sure I will.”
“And you’re here with—“ Nola’s eyes latched onto Nate, seemingly for the first time. “Louis Nathaniel Mercier.”
Nate tugged me a little closer, probably hoping I’d provide some type of barrier between him and his sister.
“Before you get too angry, remember the first time I met your husband was at your wedding!”
Nola scrunched up her nose. “I don’t like it when you use my actions against me.”
She turned her attention back on me. “Where have you been? What have you been up to?”
The front door flew open with a bang. “Why is Gabe parked in our driveway—oh.”
Wren stopped just inside the door. “I’m guessing that isn’t Gabe parked in the driveway.”
“Who’s Gabe?” Nola asked.
“She thought you were the Gunrunner,” Nate offered unhelpfully.
“What?” Nola laughed.
Bane scooted forward. “Are you in trouble?”
Wren’s eyes bounced back and forth between the four of us. “You know, I discontinued couples therapy sessions last month. If you’d called ahead, I would have given you the discount for extra-troubled cases.”
Nola smiled. “Who are you?”
Wren kicked off her shoes. “I’m the dirty little secret.”
I felt my heart flutter. Wren knew all about Nola and Nate. I knew she’d wanted to meet them. But now I only felt an incredible sense of guilt that I’d kept Wren a secret. The last thing I wanted was for her to feel like a dirty little secret.
“No. She’s not the dirty little secret. She’s my sister. And you’re going to love her, Nola. Just like I do.”
“Your sister? The one you always talked about? And snuck away to visit?” Nola asked excitedly.
I nodded.
Wren pulled out a chair from the kitchen table. “So. You’re the famous Nola.” She smiled at Nola then turned her attention toward Bane. “Who are you?”
“I’m the infamous Bane.”
“Well, at least you’re cute, so you have that going for you.” She shrugged. This was one of the things I loved so much about my sister. She was so good at making an awkward situation the most fun thing in the world. She could have probably made a root canal fun.
Bane cracked into a full grin.
Nola stood up and walked over to smother Wren in a Nola-sized hug. “It’s so great to meet you! Riley used to talk about you all the time.”
Wren patted Nola’s back awkwardly. “Yup. Nice to meet you, too. I’ve heard lots of stories.”
Nola let her go and wedged herself back on the couch between Bane and me.
“So, what are you up to these days? Your business degree coming in handy?” Nola asked as she glanced meaningfully around the trailer.
Well, that was a little snarky, but I’d let it slide. I’d literally disappeared without a word; she was entitled to some anger.
“Yeah, actually. I’m doing okay for myself.”
Nola grabbed my hand. “You know I didn’t mean it like that. I’m just curious.” She tilted her head to the side. “Okay, and a little mad. It’s been two years—almost three! I want to know all the things.”
I looked at Wren. She nodded as she stood up. “I’ll make us some coffee. This could take a while. Why don’t you guys go for a walk?”
She bustled around the kitchen, setting up the coffee pot, and I was reminded, once again, that maybe I wasn’t the one raising Wren. I stood up, tugging Nola after me.
“Why don’t we go stretch our legs a little?”
I had to tug extra hard to get my hand back from Nate.
“We’ll be back in a minute.” I met his eyes. They looked conflicted.
This wasn’t easy for him. He was reuniting me with my best friend—his sister—who had always been a priority in my life. She’d always been first, and Nate had only been the ‘little brother.’
Nola and I rekindling our friendship posed a direct threat to Nate’s and my relationship. In fact, I hadn’t even mentioned the fact that we were in a relationship.
Nola was tugging on my other hand. I let go of Nate’s and turned to follow Nola.
I stopped. Pulling my hand from Nola’s, I turned back to Nate and bent down, kissing him gently on the mouth. “This changes nothing between us,” I promised against his lips.
He grinned up at me. “Glad to hear that.”
I turned around to find Nola with her jaw practically resting on the floor.
“What?” she gasped. “Nate—Riley—what is that?”
Nate looked positively gleeful at his sister’s reaction; even Bane was fighting a smile.
“I should have known. Oh, I should have known! Nothing is as it seems! You’ve probably been dating this whole time!”
I glanced at Nate; he grimaced as we braced for what we knew could be a long tirade from Nola.
Wren made a face at us from behind Nola’s back.
Nola threw her hands up in the air. “How could you do this to me?”
“Well, I—"
“I had plans! Big plans! It’s taken me a long time to come up with them. They were so perfect, and now you’ve ruined it!” she continued.
And I was getting annoyed.
Nola stepped closer, shaking her finger at the two of us. “Do you know how long I’ve spent planning how to get the two of you together? To see that you’re perfect for each other?”
I opened my mouth with a rebuttal but sputtered instead. “Wait—what?”
Nate looked equally confused.
“You two morons couldn’t see past your stupid little plans in high school to see how perfect you are for each other. You were so caught up in your five-year plans, I figured I’d have to enact a five-year plan of my own to get you together! Do you understand what that means?”
Nate was
