I look back and forth between the pile of blankets and Andrew. “Are you serious?”
“Yeah, I’m serious. I remember how excited you were when I told you the story last summer about building a fort to read in. I thought it’d be fun to do together sometime, and seeing how theweather outside is absolutely crummy, there’s no better time than now.”
I give him a big smile and a tight squeeze before rushing to attack the pile. “Okay, you go grab some chairs, and I’ll grab some chip clips to hold the blankets up,” I say, hardly containing my excitement.
He kisses me on the forehead before rushing to the dining room.
CHAPTER 25
Summer 18
“I’ve been thinking about the speech I’m going to give at your wedding when you and Andrew get married.”
I nearly choke on a piece of brownie from my ice cream, but Rebecca is completely unfazed, her focus on the road ahead, as it should be I suppose.
“I just think as your maid of honor, and the groom’s sister, I can give a lot of great insights into the way your friendship blossomed into an eventual relationship.”
“Becs, I love you, and you will of course be my maid of honor one day?—”
“Awwww!”
“ButAndrew and I are not together, and we are not even remotely close to being together. I love that you have so much confidence in us, but I think it’s time to drop it. I can’t take thinking more about something that will never happen.”
“But it will!” she insists. “You need to work on your confidence, girl. You’ve got a kind heart and a sense of humor that catches many people off guard. Your big green eyes and freckles arestunning. When you walk into a room, people stop what they’re doing to notice you because you just radiate light.”
I open and close my mouth, unsure how to respond. When the shock finally settles, I answer, “Becs. You just described yourself… minus the green eyes and freckles part.”
“Well, you’re that way too. Andrew sees that. I see it in his face every time he looks at you. He’s a goner for you!”
I churn my spoon in my ice cream, putting all my focus into getting the perfect bite. “Thank you. I appreciate the pick me up. I just want to be realistic. Andrew and I have been just friends since we were nine years old. If that was going to change, I think it would’ve by now.”
“No! I’m going to prove it to you. Andrew just needs a nudge because he’s scared of telling you how he feels, but if he saw there was a chance of losing you, I guarantee you things would change. You just have to let me prove it to you.”
“The floor is yours,” I tease.
“Well, I don’t have the proof right now, but coming soon to a theater near you. Don’t you worry!”
She pulls into the driveway behind Andrew’s truck. I guess he’s finally back from the gym. It’sonly1:30 in the afternoon! We hop out of the car, and I’m still clinging to my ice cream cup, enjoying each cool, creamy bite.
“I will never understand how you manage to make your ice cream last theentirecar ride home! That’s at least twenty minutes!” Rebecca muses. She polished her cone off before we even started heading back.
I shrug. “I just like to savor it.”
“Well, it shows both talent and patience. You should put that on your resume.”
“Oh yeah, I’m sure employers wouldloveto see that I can take more than twenty minutes to finish a couple scoops of ice cream.” I chuckle.
As we saunter in through the Martins’ front door, we find Andrew standing in the kitchen, wearing gymclothes and shaking up his protein shake. He still has a slightly sweaty sheen to him.
“Hey!” He nods at us as he takes a sip of his shake. “What’re you two up to?”
“We just went and got ice cream. Can you believe Emma made hers last the entire car ride home?”
“Yes,” he deadpans. Andrew has gone to get ice cream with me enough times to know better. Rebecca knows better too. She just gobbles her ice cream up in five minutes flat, so she can’t comprehend it.
With a distasteful glance in Andrew’s direction, Rebecca continues. "How was your workout? I can’t believe you and Brendan spendthatmany hours working out. How do you not pass out?”
Andrew raises a brow at her. “It’s what athletes do.”
