Page 51 of I Think He Knows
“Yeah. Other people. She’s dating other people.”
“Yet here we are, celebrating her engagement toyou.” Luke sighs, then adds “dumbass” under his breath.
“Need I remind you that the engagement isfake.”
“But are your feelings for her fake?” Liam raises a brow.
“I love her as a friend, and she loves me as a friend. End of story.”
But is it?
“Hmm,” Liam responds skeptically, then levels me with a dead-serious, dark-eyed look. His eyes are so like his little sister’s except… scarier. Way scarier. Where Lana’s eyes are melted dark chocolate, Liam’s are nuclear bomb casings. “Well, as her older brother, I feel the need to say this, and I’ll only say it once. My sister is an adult and I will never tell her how to live her life. But hurt her, and I will break every bone in your body.”
Luke claps his brother on the shoulder. “That was deep, bro. And a bit dark, even for you. But I like the sentiment. We just want what’s best for Lana.”
I look at them both and nod. “Me too. And believe me when I say that I would never, ever do anything to hurt her. She’s the most important person in my life and the best friend I’ve ever had.”
Which is the truth.
Yet the Donovan brothers’ declarations that she might see the potential for something more snags on my brain and won’t let go... Could she really have started dating again because of me? Is it possible that she, too, feels something she’s tried to squish down and suppress for the sake of our friendship?
Liam nods back at me, then breaks into a rare wide smile as he holds up his beer bottle in a salute. “Glad to hear it. Conversation over, then.”
“Conversationalmostover,” Luke corrects. “Because there’s something I do need to confirm: Mindy was telling me that the butt cake has to do with you doubling as a famous Chris’s butt in movies?” He grins at my gaping expression. “At least, that’s what Lana told her.”
It may be true that I will never hurt her. But I am going to kill her.
17
LANA MAE
Later, after Allegra has gone to bed, Mindy, Annie and I are cleaning up in the kitchen while my brothers and Carter straighten out the yard. It’s coming up on midnight, but the air breezing through the open windows and doors is still sticky hot and sweet as we stack the dishwasher, put leftovers in Tupperwares, and rinse glasses. All while stepping around a sleeping Chimichanga on the floor.
After the cremation of the steaks, my father and Constance decided that their visit was over. Thank goodness. Carter then ordered in a ton of Vietnamese food, and the rest of us spent the evening sitting outside eating spring rolls and vermicelli and sipping on champagne, our conversation and laughter carrying through the night as the world darkened around us.
I can’t remember the last time I felt so happy. I was surrounded by all my favorite people, and Carter’s arm was casually lying along the back of my chair, thereby giving me a delicious proximity to his warmth.
He was so sweet earlier, when we were speaking with my dad. I had to remind myself countless times during the evening that everything he said was for our ruse, and not because he meant it. But even still, his words gave me a thrill…
“I will try my damndest to make this woman feel safe, loved, and happy for the rest of my life.”
What a guy.
One day, Carter is going to get tired of casual dating and flings, and he’s going to settle down for real. Whoever gets to be Mrs. Carter James Callahan is one very lucky lady.
“That was a wild night,” Mindy says from where she’s sitting on the counter, stabbing a fork into the remnants of the butt cake. She scrapes up peach frosting and shovels it into her mouth. “And believe me, I know a wild night when I see one.”
I put the last plate in the dishwasher, then lean against the counter next to her and stick my finger into the cake, scooping up a big dollop of frosting for myself. “I still can’t believe that Allegra called you to organize this party.”
I already filled Annie and Mindy in on the little engagement arrangement, but I still haven’t gotten the full story about how and why on earth they all ended up here tonight with cake and champagne.
Annie looks at us from the sink and tuts at Mindy. “Don’t blame the child, you cruel creature!”
“Okay, fine.” Mindy rolls her eyes. “When I saw the story earlier today, I figured that it wasn’t real and you would’ve told us yourself if you were actually engaged. But then, you weren’t responding to any of us on the group chat, so I thought it would be hilarious to throw you an engagement party.”
“And you invited my dad?!”
“Uh, no.” Mindy scratches her ear. “That actuallywasAllegra. I get the feeling she knows what’s going on but desperately wants it to be real.”