“I’m a friend?” I couldn’t help the eager question.
“Close enough. I’m not home watching quiz shows and crawling out of my skin, that’s all that matters.”
“Is that so bad?” It wasn’t my idea of a good time but it didn’t sound too terrible for one evening.
“Don’t get me wrong—I love my parents. It’s just that they are so hyper focused on me that coming home feels suffocating.”
“I can’t say that I understand that. I like having family around.”
Courtney sipped her wine thoughtfully. “I do, as well. But it’s different as an only child. I’m so used to being independent that having that level of scrutiny is challenging.”
“So you took a chance on escaping with me, only to end up snowed in.”
“I could think of worse ways to spend the evening.”
I picked up my glass to sip my own wine, even though I wasn’t really thirsty. “So, what now?”
Courtney popped a bite of cheese in her mouth and considered my question. “Well first we snack and drink our wine. After that—who knows?”
My brain unhelpfully supplied lots of ideas of what we could do to pass the time. I doubted that she had similar thoughts although the way her eyes roamed from my lips to my torso had my skin heating.
I cast around for topics of conversation, settling on a continuation of our conversation about families. “What was it like growing up?”
“About what you think growing up in a small Connecticut town would be like. Everyone knows everyone so there’s no getting away with anything. Although I certainly tried.”
Her relaxed laugh warmed me. “I’d love to hear those stories.”
She mimed zipping her lips. “No way. I have not known you long enough to spill my secrets.”
“Just one—please.”
Courtney’s cheeks flushed and I couldn’t tell if it was from the wine or the secrets she wasn’t spilling.
“Hmm, this is one I shouldn’t tell you but I’m feeling a little rebellious tonight.”
“Your hometown bringing out the rule breaker?” I teased.
“Maybe.” She took a large sip of wine before she confessed her secret. “I like you even though I shouldn’t.”
My gut swooped at her confession. The truth was I liked her a hell of a lot too. The knowledge that she shared my feelings had me ready to shout with joy.
Instead, I chose the teasing that seemed to bring out her playfulness. “Why not? I’m inherently likable. At least according to my senior superlatives.”
“Oh really? Voted most likely to charm an older woman?”
“You’re not that much older—and it was most likely to be friend zoned,” I admitted sheepishly.
She laughed in earnest now. “God, that must have sucked at the time, but now it’s so ridiculous it’s good for a laugh.”
I gave her my most pitiful expression. “What do you mean? Still the story of my life.”
“No way.” She waved her hand up and down my body. “You’re seriously built and super sweet. Plus those glass you wear are hot as hell.”
“You’re the first woman to say that to me.”
I wasn’t exaggerating. I did okay in the dating department but no one had ever expressed such enthusiasm over me except Courtney. My own cheeks flushed at her compliments.
“Well, they’re missing out. If I were closer to your age?—“
