“Yeah, it was a little weird,” Collin said.
“It all makes sense now, though,” Logan said. “Can’t be mad at him.”
Collin clapped my aunt on the back. “I wouldn’t have met Paget without the two of them meddling.”
The three of them seemed to agree. But my eyes didn’t leave Lauryn’s face. I could only see the guys out of the corner of my eye as they stood in a line, watching this unfold.
“But then…” I swallowed, glancing at Blade, who had stopped several feet away from all of this, arms crossed, watching like he wasn’t sure if he should come closer. Like falling in love might be contagious. “I knew Blade would be the hardest one to fix up. He loves his solitary life near the top of the mountain.”
I turned back to Lauryn. She still looked confused, but she was staring at me like she was open to whatever I had to say. I had to convince her. Failing at that wasn’t an option.
“There was something about you from the start,” I said. “I couldn’t stop talking to you. And I found myself opening up about my own background. You thought you were chatting with someone named Blade, but you were really getting to know me. Everything but the name and the picture was me.”
Her lips parted slightly. I couldn’t tell if she was going to cry or hit me.
“You were pretending to be me to pick up this chick?” Blade asked, his voice flat.
I bit back the urge to correct him. Lauryn wasn’t a chick. She was a lady. But that wasn’t the point.
Lauryn hadn’t said a word. Not since I’d blurted out my explanation. And not since she realized Blade was the face behind the profile, not the man behind the messages. Her arms were crossed tightly over her chest, her expressionstill unreadable. Her eyes weren’t angry—not exactly—but they weren’t soft either. And that scared me more than if she’d yelled.
“I know I should’ve told you sooner,” I said, stepping closer. “Before we kissed. Before…everything. But I didn’t know how.”
She didn’t respond.
“I just kept telling myself I’d say something tomorrow. Or after one more conversation. And then you were here, and I panicked, and I was so damn scared that if you knew the truth, I’d lose you before I ever really had a chance.”
“Trey.” Her voice was quiet, but steady. My name on her lips hit me square in the chest. She took a slow breath. “You lied to me.”
“I know. And I hate that I did. I was a dumbass. But every single word I said to you—every message, every feeling—that was me. Not Blade. Me.”
“I fell in love with someone I didn’t even know,” she whispered. “Or I thought I didn’t.”
I stepped even closer, heart in my throat. “You do know me. You do. I’m the guy who memorized your favorite childhood book. The one who knows you eat the cherry out of your milkshake first, not last. The guy who saved every picture you sent because I couldn’t believe someone like you was real.”
Tears shimmered in her eyes. She blinked fast, but they didn’t fall.
“Lauryn.” I took her hands gently in mine. “Give me a chance to earn you. For real. No more lies. Just me and you.”
For a long moment, she didn’t speak. Then, finally—mercifully—she gave the smallest nod. “Okay.”
I didn’t let out the breath I was holding. I sank into it.
“Thank you,” I whispered, bringing her hand to my lips.
Behind us, Bobbi clapped her hands once. “Well, that’s enough drama for one day.”
I turned, still holding Lauryn’s hand.
“Don’t worry,” my aunt added, throwing her arms up. “I’m officially retiring from matchmaking. Not a single mountain man will be roped into romance under my watch again. Scout’s honor.”
The guys chuckled. Jareth crossed the distance between us to give me a slap on the back.
“You’re an idiot,” he said, grinning. “But I guess it worked out.”
Collin nodded. “Still can’t believe you pulled it off.”
Logan looked over at Lauryn and smiled. “He’s a good one. Dumb, but good.”
