Page 62 of The KING Review

“So, how is the wedding planning coming along?” I ask conversationally. “You know you have to let me help at some point, right? It’s supposed to be my job.”

Fia groans, her head tipping back against the back of the sofa. “We’ve not really got that far into it yet. But we were thinking early in the new year, at that nice country house in Aurora Harbor. We went there for a date night, and the food was fantastic.” She sips her drink. “We would want that as the main focus. A nice meal, a good wine flight, and some well-chosen cocktails.”

I snort a laugh, raising my glass. “I’m sure Cade will be all over that.”

Fia’s lips twitch. “So, tell me about this.” She knocks her knee gently into my moonboot. It’s t-minus six days until I can lose the damn thing—again.

I groan, downing the rest of my drink. I can’t remember what this one is called, only that it’s rum-based and tastes like maple syrup. “I was out with Vida and her partners when they stopped by on a layover before a game. I tripped on the way out of the bar.”

Fia sputters a laugh into her martini glass. “Your friend is a bad luck charm.”

I grin despite myself. “That’s what I told her. So… yeah, Wren ended up bodily hauling me to the ER.”

Fia’s brows fly up. “You were in the ER? On your own?”

I swallow hard. “Yeah. Vida and the guys had to get their flight, so I told them to go. It was… uh, it was the night I texted Cade about the rosé. There was no rosé. Or—well, there might be, but that wasn’t the point…” I trail off.

Fia is frowning now. “You were fishing.” Not a question.

“Yeah. I was panicking.” I avert my gaze.

“You should have just told him what happened. You should have told me what happened.”

“I didn’t want you to freak out.”

She fixes me with a glare. “I do not freak out.”

“Debatable,” Cade says from the doorway. When we both whip around to look at him, he raises his palms in supplication. “Sorry. I’m not trying to eavesdrop on sister time—I just came in to grab a beer.”

Fia eyes him as he passes, but he melts her easily with a kiss to the forehead. I borderline melt as well. They’re so cute it’s nauseating.

When Cade is gone again, Fia touches my knee. “What happened?” she asks gently.

I roll my lips in, debating whether I should tell the truth or lie, but she’s too good at body language for me to be able to get anything past her, so I bite the bullet. “When I found out you and Cade weren’t in town, I didn’t really know who else to call.”

Fia’s eyes narrow. “You’re hedging,” she points out.

“I called Grant.”

Those narrowed eyes go so wide I can see the white all around the outside of her amber irises, and her lips part in clear surprise she can’t hope to modulate or stifle.

“Well, actually, I sent a truly tragic voice note,” I correct before she can speak. “Then I tried to erase it, but someone knocked on the bathroom door, and I sent it on accident. By the time I was back in my sad little curtained cubicle… he’d heard it.”

“And?” Fia prompts.

This is the most rapt I’ve ever seen her over what I would argue is “gossip,” though I suppose she has a vested interest, with one party being her sister and the other party being her colleague and friend.

“He called,” I say quietly. “…And called, and called, and called. I ignored him until he sent a message saying that if I didn’t pick up, then he’d come to the ER and make a huge scene to find me.”

Fia’s lips roll in, but the rumor of a smile lingers at the corners.

“What?” I snap.

She shakes her head. “How have the simulated sessions been going?”

I sough out a breath. “Say what you want to say, Fia. Are you asking if I have a crush?”

She fixes me with her big-sister stare. “No. I’m asking if you’ve acted on it.”