“Let me guess, Tracie called you?” I ask, and she winces. “I don’t know what I did to deserve such sweet friends, but I am thankful.” After that, we change the subject, and she tells me all about living in Moonlit Pines. The places she wants us to check out together and where to eat if I want to get take-away.
“So… I know this thing with Jake just kinda happened, but is there any chance you noticed the way Eli couldn’t seem to lookaway from you?” she sneaks in. I roll my eyes, but there’s no way I can ignore my face getting red.
“He asked me to dinner tonight,” I confess, and her eyes widen.
“Shut up! He did?” she squeals, and I know what’s going through her head. Me hooking up with her future brother-in-law makes me her officially family.
“Is that crazy?”
“Why would him asking you out be crazy? You’re amazing, and I’m glad the man sees that. I always knew he was a smart cookie!”
“Is it crazy I said yes? I shouldn’t, right? I mean, I just moved here and?—"
“Breathe, honey,” she orders. I do as she says, calming my overanxious heart down. “He’s a good guy, Stell,” she shares. “Both my future brothers-in-law are great. I mean, Owen is a little quiet, but they’re amazing. Sweet and caring. Genuine.” I chew on my lower lip as I let her words process in my head. “And from what I have seen and Reed has shared, they would never play with a woman’s heart. Their mom would kill them if they did.”
“I just… I’m me, you know?” She blinks, waiting for me to elaborate. I roll my eyes. “I’m nothing special, Cam. I mean, not in the big picture of things. Tu sabes, I’m just… you know. I’m just me.”
“Stella.” My name is said in a soft tone I know is filled with nothing but love as she shifts on the couch to hold my hand. “We both know you’re amazing.”
“You have to say that.” I smile. “You’re my best friend.”
“I am. But that also means I know the best of you and the worst, and even then, I can tell youanyman would beverylucky to have you by their side.” I lean into her.
“You’re really sweet, Cam, but Eli… he’s like…. Wow.” I try to elaborate, but I can’t find the correct words.
“What I’d tell you? They grow them different here. Am I right?” Her eyes are wide as her head bounces.
“You were not kidding.” We both break out into a fit of giggles, and when we grow quiet, we look at one another, and I know she’s about to say something that’s going to shake up my world.
“Follow your heart, Stella. Follow your heart when it comes to Eli. He is a really good guy.”
“What if my gut’s wrong?” I whisper, feeling seriously exposed and vulnerable in a way I only ever felt comfortable being around Cami. “What if he…” I shake my head and look away. “Jake was a dork. A goober. And look what happened there! Eli is in a whole other league. Way out of my?—"
“Don’t,” she clips seriously. “Don’t go down that road, Stella Marie Torres. Do not go there. You cannot cut yourself down and make someone else bigger than they are.”
“I’m not. He’s literally a jolly red giant,” I sass, trying to lighten the mood, not that she will let me.
“I’m being serious. You have a lot to offer, and you’re beautiful, way more than you give yourself credit for. And what’s this about you being boring? I never laugh more than when I’m around you,” she points out, and I shrug, looking away.
“No one has ever…”
“Has ever what?” I look at my sister from another mister and press my lips together. Her brows bunch up. “No has ever what?” she repeats, pushing me to finish my thought.
“No one’s ever just laid it out like he did.”
“Laid what out?” she whispers loudly as she leans in closer.
“He asked me to dinner, and I suggested I’d pay as a thank-you for helping me find my way here because I got all turnedaround, and he said he didn’t want me to get it twisted. That he wanted me to be clear about his intentions.”
“What?! Shut up! Intentions?” she squeals, covering her mouth with her hands. I could feel her excitement. “He said that? Intentions?”
“Yeah.” I nod. Her excitement is contagious.
“What did you say?”
“I said yeah. We’re having dinner together.”
“Oh my god! Stella!” She jumps up, and I follow as she walks around. “This is HUGE!”
