I always loved spending time with the Lewis family, probably because they were the polar opposite of my own family.

Whenever they were together, there was lots of laughter, some arguing, and always tons of love. I’d spent every moment possible with Jazzy and her family growing up, and it had turned my lonely existence into a very happy childhood.

I’d be forever grateful for Jasmine for that, for sharing her family with me.

Luckily, they welcomed me with open arms, well, everyone but Dillon, and still included me in their functions to this day. When I lived in Houston, theirs were the houses I’d gone to visit over holidays, not my parents.

This was why I was at Gabe and Zoey’s house, ready to partake in brunch, when Dillon looked up at me from the conversation he was having with Gabe and frowned.

I shifted, uncomfortable under his stare, especially with thoughts of him leaving with that woman still fresh in my mind, and changed course to go back into the kitchen where I’d seen Jasmine talking with Serena.

“Hey,” I called as I walked inside.

Chloe and Zoey were at the stove arguing over whether to use garlic salt or garlic powder, and Serena and Jasmine were pouring mimosas. I walked toward the latter, holding my finger in the air, indicating I’d like one as well.

“A little hair of the dog?” Jazzy joked, but I wasn’t laughing.

I had waaay too many shots of Patron last night.

“Yes, please,” I begged.

“What’d I miss?” Serena asked, shifting her gaze back and forth between Jasmine and me.

“Just a night out at the bar, but this time it was Laurel pushing the drinks…”

“And Jasmine taking strangers home,” I added with a smirk. She’d probably thought I was too drunk to remember, but I’d definitely seen her slipping out the back with one of the guys who worked at the local auto shop.

“Ohhhh,” Serena sang, grinning at her cousin.

“He’s not a stranger,” Jasmine argued. “This was actually a repeat performance.”

“Really? Is it serious?” Rena asked, and I rolled my eyes.

“Pshaw, you know better than that.”

“What does that mean?” Jasmine asked, feigning offence, then shrugged and replied, “No, it’s not serious. He’s just a guy who’s good with his hands.”

“What are you ladies talking about?” I heard Dillon ask from behind me. I stiffened up, but didn’t turn, opting instead to play opossum.

“My love life,” Jasmine answered with a smirk.

“Gross. Stop it,” her brother said with a gag.

“I’m so happy to be back,” Serena said as she watched them. “Next time, I’m going home with a stranger. I can’t wait.”

“What? No, you aren’t,” Dillon argued.

Serena stuck out her tongue, picked up her mimosa, and walked over to Chloe and Zoey.

“What’s up, bro?” Jasmine asked, cocking her hip as she sipped on her mimosa.

“Not much, but I was hoping to talk to Laurel alone for a minute,” he said, causing my body to jolt and my stomach to clench.

Jasmine looked from Dillon to me. “You’re not going to ask her out, are you? Cause, not only did I see you leave with some woman last night, but the last thing I want is your skeezy hands on my best friend.”

“I think we all know Laurel’s virtue is safe with me,” Dillon answered dryly, and my heart plummeted to the ground.

God, when am I going to stop being hurt and surprised by the fact that Dillon doesn’t want me? Time to move the fuck on.

“It better be,” Jazzy replied, then told me, “I’ll be in the living room, listening really closely to the monitor for Evie to wake up.”

Needing the courage before turning around, I grabbed the mimosa Jasmine had left me on the counter and took a sip.

I turned slowly and took a deep breath before looking up into Dillon’s brilliant green eyes. God, I just wanted to look in those eyes all day. It was like rolling around in the grass, or gazing on a perfect gem stone.

Stop it, I ordered myself, then asked, “Did you want to talk about the business plan?” Because really, what else could he want to talk to me about?

“Ah, no, actually,” Dillon replied, running his hand through his auburn locks in what I knew was a nervous gesture, although I couldn’t for the life of me think of why talking to me would make him nervous. “Both Reardon and Serena made comments to me recently, and they both made it sound like you came home for more than just opening your business. Did something happen in Houston? I mean, is everything okay with you?”

I blinked as I looked up at him, knowing he was being totally sincere. I’d seen the way he protected Jasmine and Serena, and how he always had Gabe and Reardon’s back. He was extremely loyal, and would throw down in defense of his family.

Dillon’s reaction told me in no uncertain terms that he would tear Travis apart if I told him why I’d really come home, and I felt my heart finally shatter in two.

He thought of me like his sister, or cousin. Like family. And I needed to get it through my thick skull that he would never, ever, think of me as anything else.

It was time to let it go.