Anna wrinkled her nose. “Okay, when these guys start talking about vomiting, that’s my cue to cut out.” She turned to me with a smile. “Want to get some air?”
The cool evening breeze hit my skin as we stepped onto the porch. I glanced over at Anna, marveling for a moment at how effortlessly stunning she was. Her waves of brown hair glinted in the light. She looked like she should be on the cover of some glossy magazine, yet she was so easy-going, the kind of woman you could share a pizza with while binge-watching terrible TV. Not at all like the wife of a movie star. Way cooler, actually.
“How are you doing?” Anna’s voice was gentle, but with a hint of curiosity.
“I’m fine. Just glad Josephine’s doing so much better.”
Anna smiled slightly, tilting her head as if she knew something I didn’t. “You don’t have to pretend with me.”
I raised an eyebrow. “Pretend?”
“I know the whole romance between you and Topher isn’t real.”
My heart skipped a beat. Was it that obvious?
“Topher told Luke,” she explained. “Those two can’t keep anything from each other.” Then Anna leaned in just a bit, as if she wanted to share a secret. “Topher might be saying that it’s fake, but I’ve never seen him act like this before.”
I tried to laugh it off and shook my head. Sure, Topher had done thoughtful things—like bringing me my favorite coffee and remembering little details I’d casually mentioned. But wasn’t that just part of keeping up the act? He was playing his role perfectly, just like I was. Right?
And then there was the way he’d started talking about my future. Social work school, putting together a plan for me. But that wasn’t love. It was logistics. He was simply ensuring things went smoothly when this charade came to an end, tying up loose ends.
But Anna’s next words made my heart flutter with something I hadn’t been ready to feel. “You may not see it, but I do. He’s letting his guard down with you in a way he hasn’t with anyone else.”
Could Anna be right? Could all those small, seemingly insignificant moments add up to something more? My heart thumped, the excitement bubbling up inside me before I could even process it. I hadn’t let myself hope that this could be anything beyond an act, a charade to help his mother feel better. But now, standing here with Anna’s words hanging in the air, I started to wonder. Had he been dropping hints all along?
Just as the thought began to take shape, the door creaked open, and Topher stepped outside, Luke following behind him. They were mid-conversation, but Topher’s eyes found mine instantly. And there it was—that look. The one I hadn’t allowed myself to read into before, the one that felt soft and focused, like he saw something in me that no one else did.
My pulse quickened, and every word Anna had just said echoed in my mind.
“Kathleen,” Topher said, his voice calm but carrying a warmth I hadn’t expected, “I was just telling Luke about the social work program at Tulane. How perfect I think you’d be for it.”
I blinked, completely thrown. He had been talking about me? Even when I wasn’t around? The idea sent my thoughts into a spiral, something electric unfurled in my chest.
Suddenly, everything Anna had said hit me all at once. The soft glances, the thoughtful gestures, the way he always seemed to want to make sure I was okay. It wasn’t just about fooling his mom or keeping up appearances. Topher’s feelings weren’t just part of the act. They were real. And the more I thought about it, the more undeniable it became.
The excitement built inside me, my mind spinning with possibilities I hadn’t allowed myself to imagine before. And now that I was starting to see it, I couldn’t unsee it.
I couldn’t stop smiling, my heart swelling with a hope that had been buried for far too long.
For the first time in a long time, I let myself believe in the possibility of something good. And it felt amazing.
“Alright,” Anna said, glancing at her phone. “We should probably get going. Early flight tomorrow.”
Luke nodded. “The pilots are sticklers for takeoff times, even with a private plane. They like to keep things running smoothly.”
Anna rolled her eyes, linking her arm with his. “Yeah, smoothly until we’re sitting on the tarmac because someone forgot something importantagain.”
“Hey,” Luke replied, a hint of a smile on his lips, “one time I forgot my passport. One. Time. And I told you, it wasn’t even that important.”
Topher grinned, shaking his head. “Not that important, huh? You might want to rethink that strategy if you plan on ever leaving the country again.”
Luke gave him a playful shove. “That’s what private planes are for, my friend. They let you get away with that stuff. But Iguesswe should get there on time, just to be nice.”
“Generous of you,” Topher teased. “Don’t want to upset the pilot. Wouldn’t want him holding up takeoff because of, you know,poor planning.”
Luke groaned dramatically. “Man, you hold onto one little thing…”
“Little thing?” Topher laughed. “Forgetting your passport is huge, Luke. I’m surprised Anna even lets you pack your own bags.”
