Whipped (Hitched #2)(39)

***

When we get to our favorite bar, Tate, Kacie and Sebastian are already waiting for us. Kacie grins when she sees us walking in. "We thought you were going to bail on us."

"Nah, we just had to close up. Busy day."

"So business is going well?" Sebastian asks.

Zoe, studiously avoiding eye contact with Tate, nods. "Sure is."

"I'm glad to hear it," he says as he drops his hand on Kacie's knee. The two of them together are too cute for words. If I wasn't falling hard for my own hottie, I might gag a little.

Tate stands, and I can tell he's avoiding Zoe as well. "First round's on me," he says. "What's everyone's choice of poison?"

We put in our orders and, as he leaves to order our drinks, I nudge Zoe. "Why don't you go help him? He won't be able to carry it all."

She gives me her version of the evil eye, which comes across about as evil as a puppy trying to look fierce, and follows Tate to the bar. I can see them talking and hope that it goes well for them both and they can get over this awkwardness.

Kacie eyes me for a moment. "Do you know?"

"I know some things. What do you know?"

"I know my brother is freaking out, and I know why," she says.

"I know why Zoe is also freaking out."

Sebastian looks at the both of us. "What am I missing?"

Kacie grins and pats his arm. "I'll tell you later."

"Are they on the same page?" I ask, hoping for Zoe's sake they are.

"If that page involves friendship and a mutually satisfying one-time experience, then yes."

I sigh in relief. I was pretty sure I was right, but getting confirmation doesn't hurt. "I'm so glad."

Sebastian looks over at Tate and Zoe and then back at us. "Oh, I see. They slept together, didn't they?"

"I'm impressed, doctor," Kacie says, snuggling up to him.

"I'm not oblivious to everything, even if I am blinded by your beauty," he says, kissing her nose.

Tate and Zoe come back with our drinks, laughing and talking like old friends. Zoe leans over and whispers thank you in my ear, and I pat her hand and sip my cocktail.

"I feel like we don't get together enough anymore," I say. "I miss all your faces."

Kacie nods. "Me too. Things are just crazy. The babies, work, finding time for my handsome husband. It's a lot. All wonderful and fantastic but a lot."

"I understand," I say.

I look to Tate. "What's up with you, dude?"

He glances at Zoe and back at me. "Oh, you know. The usual."

I can't ask him about women because obviously there's no one new if he just slept with Zoe, but he beats me to the punch.

"After recent events, I've realized I need a time out from women. To figure out what I want before I mess up any important relationships in my life."

I can tell even Kacie is surprised. "So you're giving men a try?" she asks teasingly.

Playing along, I grin. "It's the Aussie Posse. They converted you, didn't they? No shame in that. They converted me. At least, one of them did."

Tate laughs. "No, I'm just… on a sex fast."

"That sounds awful," I say. "But I've been there, done that, though never deliberately."

Sebastian takes a drink from his beer. "I think it's a good move. Sometimes you need less distraction to figure things out."

Tate raises his glass to toast him. "Exactly."

Kacie looks back at me. "How are things with Lachlan? Boy can that man dance."

Sebastian gasps. "Do I need to worry, Mrs. Donovan? Perhaps I should take up dance lessons."

"You don't need to worry, but I'll never say no to seeing him dance," she says.

"Lach and I are doing great. Mostly. I mean, we have a ton of fun together. He gets along with my parents and they love him. I… I might even love him. But I don't know where we're headed. He may be leaving on another tour with his group for a year."

Tate frowns. "That seriously sucks."

"If you think you might be falling for him, maybe it's worth trying it long distance?"

I shrug. "Maybe. I don't know. I just don't like the idea of him leaving. And of not knowing one way or the other. That's the hardest part. The not knowing."

"Have you told him that?" Kacie asks.

"No," I say. "I don't want my feelings for him to affect his decisions."

"You need to tell him," Sebastian says. "Because in the end, it's his choice, but he should have all the information in order to make that choice. By not telling him, you're removing the choice from him."

I gulp down the last of my cocktail. "I hadn't thought about it like that."

Zoe nods in agreement. "A wise person once told me you should just tell him how you feel. That you'll both feel better for it."

Beaten with my own words! "You're right. You're all right. Tonight, when he gets home from work… I'll tell him."

"That you don't want him to leave?" Kacie asks.

I nod. "And… that I've fallen in love with him."