“—Ash”
We both laugh nervously. I’d be surprised if he can’t hear my heart hammering in my chest. “You go,” I say, rocking back on my heels.
“No…you.” His eyes lock to mine, the weightlessness of being pulled back into his orbit wrapping around me.I’ve missed you.I’m sorry.I love you.
His phone buzzes, and he glances at it immediately, the way he used to before we made a mess of things.
“You’re popular…” I grimace at my awkward teasing attempt.
“Naw, it’s my mom…”
“Yourmom?”What happened in the last few weeks that has him talking to his mom?
He shrugs, typing something out on his phone before slipping it in his pocket. “Yep. We’re…working on it.”
“That’s a big development. Is it a good thing?”
“Eh.” He chuckles, tipping his hand back and forth. “I don’t really know yet, but it’s something. My therapist told me to take it slow.”
My head juts back in surprise. “Therapist?”
“Yeah. Turns out I’m not so great at talking about my feelings….” His face pinches, his gaze dropping to the ground.
Yeah, me neither. “That’s really great, Hunt.”
His eyes slowly find mine until they’re boring straight through me. “Things change.”
“Yeah…” I whisper. The uncomfortable tension between us is almost too much to bear. This isn’t us. Small talk, nervous laughter—it feels unnatural. We’re talking, sure, but the longer we do, the harder it is to address the fact that I messed everything up with him. Taking a deep breath, I clench my fists to ground myself, hoping the right words will come out when I open my mouth.Do it scared, Ashlie.
“Ashlie!” Willa calls from downstairs. “Did you find them? Everyone’s waiting.”
Whatever confidence that deep breath just gave me flies right out the window. “I should go…” I say without looking at Hunter. I feel his gaze, but the thought of looking back into those green eyes when I just chickened out feels too embarrassing right now. Slipping past him, I hurry down the stairs, chasing after the courage that fled as soon as I saw his face. I think I need to take Kayla up on her offer.
Affirmation: I have friends who support me when I ask for help.
The weathered woodaround Patti’s Place gives a rustic feel to the cheery blush place settings. We’ve finished the rehearsal part of the evening, and now everyone’s mingling while enjoying dinner at the diner.
Willa sidles up next to me at the punch bowl, camera slung around her neck. She eyes Hunter across the room. “Have you talked to him yet?”
This is the third time she’s asked me today, and it’snotmaking this any easier. Keeping my eyes on the sparkling drink in my hand, I play dumb. “Who?”
“You know who.” She squints at me, then tosses another look over her shoulder. “The guy whoshouldbe your date tonight. The one we spent all morning coming up with a plan for.”
“Oh, him. Nope.” I shake my head and take a sip.
“Why not? And why is Trevor staring at you too? I thought that was done with,”she whispers, looking back and forth between me and the guys at the table.
“Because I’m scared, okay? You happy?” Scared doesn’t come close to describing how I feel right now, especially after losing my nerve this morning. I failed. But I’m learning failure isn’t the problem. It’s what you do afterward that defines who you are. Ready or not, I need to have this conversation tonight or I won’t do it at all.
“This is messier than it was befo?—”
“Trevor’s just a friend. And he’s not looking at me, he’s looking atyou,” I say, enjoying the way her eyes bug out of her head. He asked me a week ago if I’d be okay with him pursuing her, and I wished him luck. “He’s been trying to talk to you all weekend.”
“Me? Why the hell is he looking at me?” Willa scrunches her face and takes another furtive glance at the table, snapping her head back so fast her hair whips my arm. “Is that why he keeps asking for a chess game rematch? I’m not his typeat all.”
One peek at Trevor’s eyes on her has me giggling. “But is he yours?”
She shakes her head, but her mouth pops open and closed like a fish gasping for air. I leave that planted seed to fester and walk across the room. Willa finally broke up with her douchey boyfriend. She’s long overdue for a good man in her life. One who moves slowly and doesn’t get discouraged easily. After watching Trevortryto chat her up all day, I can see the two of them happening. With Willa’s independence, I doubt she even noticed all of his effort. But I bet she’ll notice now.
