Page 45 of That Last Secret
Thomas and Peyton pull me from my thoughts when I see how my brother looks at her.
That’sthe kind of love I crave in my life.
Someone who looks at me the way my brother does at Peyton—full of love, want, and devotion. It happens every single time I witness them together, and I always think the same thing…
Everyone deserves their type of love.
“Can we, for once, not be a witness to this?” Logan throws his head back in the chair next to me. “There’s too much love here today.”
“Leave them alone, Lincoln Log,” I say as I swat his arm with the back of my hand. “They’re the only ones here oozing all the love. Get over it.”
“Nah.” He shakes his head before turning to look at me. “We got these two over here too.” He hikes his thumb toward Marc and Avery.
“Oh no. No. No,” Avery says, waving her hands in the air in defense. “You know this isn’t real over here. Get the idea ofloveout of your head.”
Marc says nothing back. They’ve been putting on a great show of being an engaged couple. It’s actually a little too good of an act. I can feel his resolve cracking with Avery, and I know with full conviction that he will fall head over heels in love with her.
Logan looks over at Marc and Avery. “You two are…” He pauses in thought. “Really good at your act. That’s for damn sure.”
“Man.” Oliver shakes his head from the other side of the fire. “I’ve been gone for way too long. I miss out on all the fun. I mean, I know you guys are doing the whole thing to impress the boss, but damn… I’m with Logan here. I can feel whatever you two have going on from over here.”
“I’m glad someone said it.” Thomas laughs over his glass of whiskey.
“Have you all bumped your heads?” Avery laughs, but I can tell it’s an uncomfortable one. She doesn’t want to show that side of her, and I don’t blame her. She isnotthe relationship type.
“Leave them alone,” I say, standing from my chair. “Let them worry about them. Let’s play a game of cornhole.”
“I’m down with that.” Marc jumps up quickly. Our eyes meet, and I can see he’s thankful I ended that conversation as quickly as it started.
“Girls against guys?” I say.
“I’m so down for that,” Marc says as Logan stands up and follows him to the open grass. “Me and Logan against Emiline and Ave.”
My steps falter, not because of the sangria coursing through my body, but because of the realization that girls against guys in a game of cornhole puts Logan or Marc on the same side of the game with me. Knowing Marc and what he has going on with Avery, he’s going to take whatever side she’s standing on.
Which leaves me in close proximity to Logan.
“You’re going down, Lincoln Log,” I say, playing off the nerves.
“You wish I was, Shortcake.” He winks before he starts off toward the cornhole setup.
I freeze in place, and my jaw falls open.
Everyone around me also stands frozen, and my brothers look downright murderous over the words that just came out of his mouth.
He did not just say that out loud.
Logan turns around and makes eye contact with everyone in the group. “Oh please,” he rebuts. “That’s not what I meant. I meant, like… she wishes we were going down. Not.” He stops his rambling and groans. “You all have dirty fucking minds.”
“Do we?” Thomas says.
“I didn’t take it the way you are saying it was meant to be taken,” Marc adds.
“This is gold.” Oliver laughs from behind the fire to break the tension.
“Let’s just fucking play,” Logan huffs, taking his spot on the side of the game.
This is going to be one interesting game.