“I don’t get it,” Genevieve said to Ben. “If Leah can’t see how amazing you are, she’s nuts.”
Ben glanced at Sebastian, gauging his reaction.
Sebastian met his friend’s eyes levelly.
“It’s not that Leah can’t see how amazing I am.” Ben focused on the sisters. “She can. I mean, my amazingness is pretty hard to miss.” In this group, Ben was the one who lightened everyone’s mood. He was trying to fulfill his role, but none of them was buying it tonight. “She told me she wishes she could feel that way about me. But she just doesn’t.”
“That might still change,” Natasha said.
Sebastian clamped down on the edge of his tongue.
“I can’t expect that, though,” Ben said reasonably. “She’s made herself clear, and I have to respect where she’s at.”
“Of course,” Genevieve replied. “I’m justsobummed. For you and for her, too. You’d have been good for her.”
“So, what’s your plan?” Natasha asked. “Are you going to start going out with other people?”
“In theory, yes.” Ben took a bite of his zucchini stick. “But I’m still hung up on Leah, and I don’t know how to change that.”
“Aww.” Natasha linked her arm with Ben’s.
“And you?” Genevieve asked Sebastian. “Dating anyone new?”
“No.”I’m also hung up on Leah.
“How many promotions have you earned since we saw you last?” Natasha asked. They liked to rib him about his professional success. “Five?”
“No promotions since I saw you last.”
“Slacker,” Natasha said affectionately.
“Good evening.”
The four of them turned toward the voice, which belonged to Eli, a friend of Sam’s. Eli, a fighter pilot, had married Penelope, a Misty River local, last December, shortly before the Air Force sent them to Germany. As far as Sebastian knew, this was their first visit back to Georgia.
Genevieve thrust the tray into Sebastian’s arms in order to give the newcomers hugs, tell them how great they looked, and how glad she was that they’d come.
“How’s life in Germany?” Natasha asked.
“It’s excellent for me, because Penelope’s there,” Eli said. “So long as she’s with me, I’m good.”
Penelope slanted a look of appreciation toward her husband. “Overall, I’m really enjoying living overseas,” she told the group. “Until I had the chance to travel, I didn’t realize how much I enjoyed experiencing new places.”
“‘You are never too old to set another goal.. .’” Natasha tapped her sister’s forearm.
“‘...or to dream a new dream,’” Genevieve finished. “That’s a—”
“C. S. Lewis quote,” Sebastian said.
“Well done, Sebastian!”
How long was he going to be stuck holding the appetizer tray like a waiter?
“I’m just glad that you kept Polka Dot Apron Pies open here in Misty River,” Ben said. Penelope had converted a 1950s camper trailer into a food truck. For years she’d sold pie from her spotnear Misty River’s downtown square. “I’m a huge fan of your apple pie.”
“Thank you! Does it taste the same as it always did now that Kevin’s managing the pie truck for me?”
“It does.”
