Page 26 of WASP

“And don’t,” Annie said, her voice a little stronger now. “Don’t say you’re sorry. Same rules as that night at the club. I don’t want you feeling sorry for me.”

“I wasn’t going to say I’m sorry,” Max clarified. “I was going to say I would have done the same thing. Fuck her. That’s just cruel to say to someone’s face.”

“Right?!” Annie was smiling again.

“I’m also glad it was red wine. Maximum stainage is only appropriate for a comment like that.”

“It was luck that she happened to be wearing a light sweater. But man, was it satisfying,” Annie added.

The light turned green, and Max eased on the gas pedal, accelerating the car forward.

“So who are your friends I’m meeting tonight?”

Max turned onto the street Jack’s townhouse was on. A quiet, tucked-away neighborhood of cookie-cutter little rectangles designed to look like shipping containers—not exactly what someone thinks of when they think Connecticut real estate, but who was she to judge.

“I think the group is pretty small. My friend Jack, who I work with at the winery. His boyfriend Drew. And our friend Dani. They’re cool people. I think you’ll really like them,” Max said, parking the car in one of the two reserved guest spots in front of Jack’s townhouse.

They got out of the car, making their way towards the front door, Annie walking next to her, their shoulders bumping slightly.

“God, I feel like everyone around here has the same name. I know so many Jacks and Drews and⁠—”

The front door swung open and Jack appeared, floppy hair and all-boyish smiles, but that smile dropped as his eyes landed on Annie, his face paling.

Another voice came from behind Jack as Drew appeared over his shoulder, brassy blond hair and twinkling blue eyes. But like Jack, Drew’s smile dropped as he looked down the steps.

“Annie?” Drew breathed.

Max turned to look at Annie, whose features had twisted into utter confusion.

“Andrew?”

SEVEN

ANNIE

What the hell. No, actually, WHAT THE FUCK!

Annie blinked rapidly, trying to make sense of the onslaught of new information. Max’s friend Jack was Jack Norwich. The same Jack Norwich who, even now as an adult, was always hanging around her parents’ house, eating all the good snacks with her brother. This was Jack Norwich. Her brother’s best friend, Jack Norwich. Her brother’s boyfriend? Her brother?

Her chest rose and fell rhythmically in sync with the deep, calming breaths she was forcing herself to take. “What’s going on?” she asked, never taking her eyes off Andrew.

“Shit,” Jack mummered, panic still on his features.

Max looked from Jack and Andrew in the doorway to where Annie stood beside her. “Okay, yeah, I’m going to need an explanation too.”

Her brother shot a glance at Jack, a silent conversation playing out in a nanosecond before he looked to Annie. “You and I should probably talk,” Andrew said to her, reaching around Jack then stepping out onto the front step, his jacket in hand.

“Come on in, Max; the Dillinger siblings need some time to catch up. We’ve got wine calling our name.” Jack gingerly stepped aside, creating a space for Max to pass through the door.

Max glanced back, mouthing You good? Annie nodded, watching Max turn and climb the steps into the townhouse. Jack waved, closing the door behind them, leaving Annie and Andrew standing in the cold.

“Wanna go for a walk?” Andrew’s tone was eerily calm as he slid his jacket over his broad shoulders then retrieved a knitted Seattle Seahawks hat from his pocket, sliding it low over his ears.

Impulse fired before common sense kicked in as Annie swung her fist forward, connecting with Andrew’s bicep. “What the hell, Andrew?” She reached out with both her hands, shoving him. “Seriously, what the hell?”

Andrew grinned at her, stepping forward and pulling her into a bear hug she struggled against. But this hug wasn’t like any other hug she had ever received from her older brother. No, the pressure of this one calmed her immediately. Instantly quelling her desire to wiggle free—she loathed hugs, and he knew that.

“I’m so relieved you finally know this part of me,” he said softly into her hair, a deep sigh leaving his body in a way that made Annie feel the toll that the weight of keeping this secret had taken on him.