Page 101 of While You Were Trending

Declan goes still, his large hands still palming my ass, still pushing me into the wall with his body and his boner.

“Shit,” he whispers, and then I’m on the ground, my clit whimpering at the sudden lack of Declan against me, the rest of me horrified at what I’ve done.

I kissed Declan.

I kissed my ex’s best friend.

A man I shouldn’t trust after the years of disdain he demonstrated around me, but a man whose approval I crave like normal people crave chocolate or coffee.

And I would’ve done so,somuch more if Heath hadn’t interrupted us.

I pat my dress down, cheeks burning.

“Ginny?” Heath calls again, closer.

“In the gift shop,” I call back, my voice high and wavery and wrong.

He’ll worry if I don’t answer, and stars know he worries about enough.

Though if he’s hearing what I’m hearing in my voice, he’ll worry anyway.

He comes into view in the doorway. “Cricket said she saw you coming—oh. You’re not alone.”

Heath’s been here almost as long as I have. He arrived with his terminally ill wife and their almost four-year-old daughter, and he stayed after his wife passed.

Partially for the privacy—their viral story makes my heart ache—and partially for the help, since his in-laws immediately tried to take Lavender from him, claiming he was a terrible father, when he’s actually the best.

He’s been here over three years.

Not as long as I have, but long enough that my heart would break a little if he ever left.

It would be like losing a sibling.

A sibling who knows me entirely too well.

His gaze ping-pongs between Declan and me and the dog, who—are you fucking serious?

Flow’s on the floor with a paw over her face.

Like she, too, is horrified at having been a witness to what just happened.

I say a silent apology to the dog, which she clearly doesn’t hear.

Dog treats.

I owe her dog treats.

Walks.

Pets.

If she hasn’t lost all respect for me.

Heath growls low in his throat as he studies Declan. “Something going on here?”

“Cricket told me it’s a good place to find wine,” Declan replies, calm as calm can be.

Heath shifts his gaze to me.