Page 68 of The Bitterroot Inn (Jamison Valley 5)
“Uh . . .”
Where did I start? I totally should have told Gigi earlier about Hunter. My announcement was going to come out of the blue and hurt her feelings, especially because it wasn’t like I hadn’t had the opportunity to share. Gigi visited me for lunch breaks all the time and we talked at least twice a week on the phone. But I’d stayed quiet this whole time. I’d even backed out of our girls-only pedicure night because I hadn’t had the energy to deflect love-life questions.
But there’d be no more avoidance. Surrounded by a sea of people, I had chosen the worst possible time to spill the beans on my relationship.
How could I have thought this was a good idea a few hours ago? Stupid, Maisy Ann. Stu-pid.
It was too late to back out now, so with one deep breath, I blurted, “He’s coming with a guy I’ve been seeing.”
Gigi’s smile fell at the same time Felicity and Silas shuffled into my row.
“Hi!” Felicity said, interrupting my explanation with a hug. “I was hoping you’d be here. It seems like it’s been forever. We missed you at pedicure night.”
“More like wine night,” Silas muttered. “Hi, Maze.” Felicity stepped past me so Silas could give me a hug, then handed over Victoria so I could give her a fast kiss before she squirmed for her mama. Handing her over to Felicity, I reluctantly turned my eyes back to Gigi.
Her arms were crossed on her chest and her eyes were locked on me.
“What’s wrong with you?” Felicity asked Gigi, standing by my side.
“Oh, nothing.” Gigi flicked out her wrist. “I’m just waiting to hear about this guy that Maisy’s been dating. The same guy who she trusts enough to bring Coby to the rodeo.”
“What!” Felicity spun on me and I cringed. “Who?”
“I—”
“Hey, guys!” I looked past Silas to see Beau and Sabrina join our group.
Gah!
We all shuffled, taking the time to exchange greetings and scoot down the row so our whole crew could fit together. The entire time Gigi stood stoically staring at me, making everyone else move around her.
While the kids crawled around parents’ legs, the adults converged. Jess was glued to Gigi’s hip, also waiting for my explanation. Felicity refused to budge from the seat next to mine as Silas peered on from over her shoulder. That left Beau and Sabrina unsure why Gigi was wearing her unhappy face.
“Okay, what’s going on?” Sabrina asked.
“Spill,” Gigi demanded.
I took another deep breath. “I’ve been seeing a guy for a couple of weeks.”
“What?” Beau roared.
I flinched.
“Take it easy, Goliath,” Sabrina said, patting her husband’s puffing chest. “Let’s get the story first. Who is he?”
“He’s, um, new to town. He’s been staying at the motel while his house is being built. We hit it off and have been getting to know each other.”
“And why are we just hearing about this?” Beau clipped.
I ignored him and looked up at Gigi. “I just wanted to be sure. Before I brought him around, I wanted to be sure.”
I wasn’t ashamed of Hunter, not at all, and we really had been having fun just the two of us. But part of my reluctance to bring him around was because of more Everett baggage.
Everett had started getting weird right after I’d introduced him to Jess and Gigi. I knew now that his behavior had been because of Jess’s job as sheriff and Everett’s job as drug dealer, but old fears still lingered. I was scared that once I told my friends about Hunter, things between him and me would change.
Pain flashed on Gigi’s face but she didn’t speak.
“He’s great,” I said. “Really sweet and kind. He adores Coby.”
