“That was you?” I shout.
Charlie and Olivia turn around. “What was him?” Charlie asks.
“The love letter,” I answer. “The one I thought was from Ben down the street.”
“Oh, man, you’ve had it bad a long time,” Charlie says in a pitying voice.
Wes looks at me. “I have.”
Wes and I spend the entire trip tucked into the backseat catching up on every little thing we’ve missed over the last couple of years. When we arrive in Dallas, this is already the best date I’ve ever had.
The music festival is held in a huge warehouse downtown, and there are six bands slated to perform up until midnight. We dance and sing along and eat and talk and I never want this night to end.
We see the Evil Joes throughout the night, and we all really try to get them to hang out with us, but I don’t think we’ll be the Fab Six anytime soon. I can’t help but notice Aiden and Mary Jo are back together. I hope this time it works out for them.
We’re all sitting around one of the tables, hot and a little tired. Randy is supposed to pick us up right after midnight, and the clock is winding down.
When a slow song starts, Wes pulls me to my feet. We sway to the music, his hands running up and down my back.
The lead singer stops singing and starts the countdown. With each number he yells, Wes rains kisses across my neck and cheeks.
When the singer gets to “one,” Wes’s lips fall on mine. It’s soft and sweet at first, but it deepens as people shout “Happy New Year!” all around us.
The band starts playing another slow song, and Wes pulls me in close. “So what’s your New Year’s resolution?” he asks.
I tighten my arms around him. “No more blind dates.”
By the time I stumbleto the kitchen, it’s past lunch.
“It’s about time you woke up.”
My head jerks up and then I’m running straight into my dad’s arms.
“When did you get here?” I ask.
He hugs me, then ruffles my hair. “Last night. After you had already left for your date.”
“There’s my girl,” Mom says as she walks into the kitchen.
She squeezes me and I squeeze her right back. God, I’ve missed them.
Dad nods toward the table. “Have a seat. Want some coffee?” he asks.
“I’d love some.”
“So tell me about that,” he says, pointing to the blind-date chart.
Mom sits down across from me and I tell them everything. Most of it they already know, thanks to that group message and Margot’s big mouth, but Mom says it’s not the same unless they hear it from me.
Of course, I gloss over the drive-in movie date.
“You’ve had a busy break,” Mom says. “How do you feel about it? Are you still sad things are over with Griffin?”
I shake my head. “Actually, no. That was for the best. He just recognized it before I did.”
Dad takes a sip of his coffee, then sets it down gently on the table. “And what’s going on with Wes? Nonna said you picked him last night.”
I blush. “Wes has been my friend for a long time. And now we’re going to see if there’s anything more.”
