and are obsessed with each other, so our families spend most holidays
together.
The game room smells like cinnamon from the gingerbread cookies
Gigi’s mom was baking all day and is lit only by the glow of the fixture
over the pool table, which Gigi and Luke Ryder are currently circling.
Wyatt leans against the wall, his hand curled lazily around a beer bottle.
When he chuckles at the taunt Gigi tosses her husband’s way, a little shiver
rolls up my spine. Even his laughter gives off a dangerous energy. Wyatt
Graham has always been hazardous to my heart rate.
If I wasn’t still riding the buzz from the red wine my dad had been too
distracted to cut off, I probably wouldn’t be openly ogling the guy. But it’s
impossible not to stare at those veiled green eyes and perfectly chiseled
features, just a hint of scruff on his strong jaw. His shirt is unbuttoned to
reveal a tight white tank that emphasizes his broad chest, and when he rakes
a hand through his messy brown hair, the silver ring on his middle finger
catches the light. He wears a few other rings too, including a chunky black
one that sort of looks like a wedding band. Hilarious, because Wyatt’s never
getting married. Fuckboy till he dies, Gigi always says.
“Speaking of playing hard to get,” Gigi calls, glancing my way.
I snap out of my thoughts, clueless about their conversation and how it
got to me.
“What?” I say.
“Diana told me Isaac asked you to be his girlfriend, and you told him
you’d—” She snorts, air quoting me. “‘Take it under consideration.’”
Ryder gives a soft chuckle while Wyatt sips his beer and watches us.
“Yeah.” I shrug. “I still don’t know how I feel about it.”
“You’ve been dating for two months,” she reminds me, her gray eyes
twinkling. “Seems like you should know by now if you like the guy.”
She’s not wrong. I should know. And it’s not that I don’t like Isaac. He’s
been pursuing me hard all semester. Or, if you listen to my father, “love
bombing” me. Isaac comes on strong, no doubt, but I don’t believe he’s a
walking red flag the way my father has declared.
The problem is I’m not sure I can picture us long-term. Isaac is
outgoing, goofy, and attention-seeking. I’m sarcastic, a lot more chill, and
not looking for the spotlight. I’m good spending the whole day listening to
a podcast or reading a book; he’s wired to constantly be doing something
exciting. Not to mention he’s going to the NFL the moment he graduates
