"You mean the fact you're seeing me on the sly?"
"It's not on the sly," she said, trying for another laugh. "I just haven't mentioned it, that's all."
"Right." At first, I'd seen the logic. With Harper so cranked about Tango, a cooling-off period had made some sense. But that period should've been over, and I wasn't liking the idea of acting like we were doing something wrong.
In the passenger's seat, Gwen sighed. "Okay, here's the thing. Lexie is seeing someone who Harper doesn't like. But Lexie doesn'tknowthat Harper knows, assuming Harper reallydoesknow, because it's not like she has proof. So anyway, until Lexie comes clean, it just seems simpler for me to stay out of it, you know?"
I was a pretty smart guy – but not nearly smart enough to make sense ofthat. "No. I don't know. So explain it to me."
"But I just did."
"So try again."
She frowned. "That sounds awfully bossy. I mean, you didn't even say please."
"Alright," I said in a tight voice. "Please."
She gave a me long, skeptical look as if doubting my sincerity. But then, with another sigh, she said, "Okay, fine. Let's say I march back to the house and announce that you and I are seeing each other. What happens if Harper freaks?"
I shrugged in the driver's seat. "If she freaks, she freaks."
"That's easy for you to say." Gwen sat up straighter. "Or what if she calls Aunt Celia?"
"So? What if shedoes?"
"Well…the way your grandpa talks, they're arch-enemies or something. It seems tomelike it would cause a whole lot of stress for nothing – for Aunt Celia, I mean."
Nice story."Sonowyou're saying it's about your aunt?"
"No. I mean, yeah, that's part of it."
I felt my jaw clench. "Right."
Gwen visibly stiffened. "Will you please stop saying that?"
Already, we'd reached the main gate to the neighborhood. As I drove through it, I considered what I'd planned for this evening.
It was supposed to be a good time, but itwouldn'tbe if I kept hammering on something that Gwen wasn't ready to change. Plus, I wasn't without sympathy.
Gwen was a nice person, a shade nicer than her cousin, which made Gwen's hesitation more understandable.If I kept hammering the point, was I any better than Harper?
Gwen and I had plenty of time.No need to rush.Hell, I'd been holding off on other things just fine, so it was no hardship to back off for now and let Gwen figure it out on her own.
Finally, I said, "Alright."
"Alright?" Gwen gave me a wary glance. "What doesthatmean?"
"It means I'm done hassling you." I smiled. "At least for today."
Her shoulders relaxed, and she leaned back into the seat. "Thanks. And just so you know, Iamgoing to tell them. I'm just waiting for the right time, that's all. I mean, it's not ahugedeal, is it?"
"It doesn'thaveto be," I said. "At least, not today."
Gwen turned sideways in her seat to face me. "So…about the Murphy thing – is that somethingyou'drather wait on – to talk about, I mean. Because if it is, I totally understand."
She looked so earnest that I had to laugh. "No, it's no secret."
"It isn't?"
