Page 43 of Blame it on the Bet
“How’d you like his outfit?” Bailey asks. “That’s one I picked out for him. Brings out his dark features, right?”
I sit up and gawk at her. “Are you saying you went over to the Inn and actually helped him pick out his clothing?” I suddenly feel queasy.
“What? Ewwwww! No way! He’s like ancient. Besides I’m not stupid, I don’t go to men’s hotel rooms. God, Henny, Pops raised me, too, ya know,” Bailey reminds me indignantly. “It was one of the outfits he bought from me at Campbell’s.”
My alarm dissipates, and I experience a pang of guilt for thinking something like that about…who? My sister…or him? Thankfully, Walker jumps in before I can examine that question too closely.
“You never did say, Bailey, what was he like with you?
Was he a total jerk or what?” Bailey shakes her head.
“No, he was really nice, actually. But he did try to pump me for intel.”
“Intel about who?” I ask, a little too quickly. “Did he ask about me?”
A broad, knowing smile crosses my sister’s face. Crap.
“Oh, I get it. You wanna know if the cute guy was talking about you,” Bailey teases. “Yes, in fact, he did ask a few questions. And, I’ve gotta say, Henny, you could do worse.”
“She has done worse,” Walker groans. “And that’s not saying much.”
“I have no idea what you’re talking about,” I reply flatly.
Jameson is watching me closely. A little too closely… and it’s making me nervous.
“You know, Henny, I forgot to tell you…” she says, effectively ending further commentary on Bryan Truitt.“You had a call earlier at the pub. Guy said he was your neighbor. He wanted to let you know your plants were okay.”
Damn. I shouldn’t have ignored FWB’s last few texts.
He’s just checking in on me to make sure I’m okay.
“Oh yeah. I’ll give him a call in the morning,” I say, not offering any further details. Not that that keeps my nosey sisters from asking.
“So, is he like a friend?” Bailey asks. “No. Like Jameson said, he’s a neighbor.”
She sighs in exasperation and looks at me as if I’m dim. “Not that kind of a friend,” she explains. “A special friend. A friend with benefits…”
All three of our heads spin to stare at her.
“What? God! I’m not a baby,” she protests. “Plenty of girls at school are already…you know. And I hear things.”
I glower at her.“I hope hearing is all you’re doing, Bailey Irish O’Halloran.”
“Puhhhh-lease. The boys at Mayhem High are so gross.
Besides, I’m waiting till I’m in love. Really, really in love.”
“You are?” Jameson asks, sounding pleasantly surprised and more than a little impressed.
“Duh,” Bailey says with a roll of her eyes. “So what about the neighbor guy?” she persists. “What did you say his name was…?”
I laugh and shake my head at the same time.
“I didn’t. Now, I don’t know about you guys, but I’m going to sleep. James and I will share the big bed, and you guys can take the twins, okay?”
They nod.
“You were great. Pops would’ve been so proud of all of us,” I say, giving each of my sisters a kiss on the head before staggering off.
