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Looking around at the mostly empty diner, I get annoyed that not everyone else in town feels the same way. This place has practically been an extension of our family’s dining room for decades. While we loved the former owners, Riley is good people and a welcome addition to the town as far as our family is concerned.

Speaking of my family, the sound of nails strumming on the tabletop reminds me that I’m still sitting at the table with my sister.

“I can feel you looking at me.”

She smirks and lets out an amused hum, grabbing her mug and continuing to strum her nails on it. “So, have you talked to Josie?”

“What?”

She tilts her head and gives me a knowing look that has me concerned. My sister is one of the few people who can see through my grumpy bullshit most of the time, and I’m worried about what she thinks she knows.

“Have you talked to Josie?” she asks again.

“About what? Her van? The tequila selection at The Hatch? Her spicy margarita recipe? You’re going to have to be more specific,” I deadpan, trying to steer this conversation away from where I think she’s going. Knowing Sisi, she’s still holding onto some hope that I can patch things up with Josie. As much as I would love for that to be a reality, nothing about us has changed.

Josie isn’t meant for this small town, and I’m not enough for her to stay here. It doesn’t matter that we fucked on the hood of my car last night, and despite what she said, I still believe I’m right—we both have feelings for each other.

I was wrong about one thing, though. Even after giving her everything I knew she needed in that moment, and the best sex of my life, there’s still some doubt about where we stand with each other. I might be right that she still has feelings for me because I know what I felt and what I saw in her eyes, but she’s fighting it.

Sisi looks like she’s about to pry into the specifics of where Josie and I left things. Fortunately, she doesn’t get the chance to because Riley gets back to the table with my to-go coffee and the check. She leaves, and my sister reaches for the tab.

I reach across the table and grab it before she can.

“No, you know the rule. Little sisters don’t pay.”

She shakes her head and huffs. “Mom and Dad aren’t here. Let me pay for my food for once.”

“If Mom and Dad were here, you know damn well they wouldn’t let either of us pay.”

“Fair point,” she says, letting go of the check.

I reach into my pocket and pull out my wallet. As I’m getting the right amount of cash, my sister clears her throat. “Um, Sly?”

“What?”

“What are those?”

“Again, Sisi, be more specific.”

I look up to find her pointing to the floor beside our booth. “Do you have a hobby I don’t know about, or did you… wait… noooo.”

I look down to where she’s pointing and go completely still. I don’t blush, but I’m thankful as fuck for my beard right now because I know my throat, neck, and cheeks are probably as red as the lace thong sitting on the floor.

I hurriedly reach down to grab them right as Sisi blurts out, “Ew! Panties? Here I’ve been the loving and meddling sister trying to reunite you with your soul mate, and you’re out sleeping with some rando again and keeping her panties in your pocket.”

This would be my luck. Getting called out in the diner, by my sister, when I’m still half-asleep, despite the almost certainly unsafe amount of caffeine surging through my veins. I must have left them in my pocket when I did my umpteenth load of laundry last night, and now I’m paying the price.

I stuff them back into my pocket and scowl at her. “I wasn’t fucking some rando.”

She gives me an incredulous look.

“Oh god no, not someone else from town. Need I remind you of how awkward it is with Meredith? Do I need to smack you upside the head? Because right now, those panties are telling me I might need to.” I need this conversation to end because even if there aren’t many customers, the few that are here, Riley too, are now looking at us. The last thing I need is the small town gossip mill focusing on me, or more importantly, on Josie.

She continues, “I swear, Sylvester. I will call in both of our brothers to knock some sense—” Leaning across the table, I reach up and cover her mouth with my palm.

“It was Josie, okay?” I whisper-shout. “Now, can you please stop saying panties?”

Her eyes widen, and I can feel her jaw drop before she mumbles into my palm. “Oh my god! You and Josie? Yes! But also, ew with the panties in your pocket.”