She looks surprised by this development, raising her brows at her mother. “You do? Since when?”
“Well, my dear,” she says, “since yesterday.”
“Yesterday? But I just saw you on Thursday. What happened since then?”
“I took your nonna’s advice.”
Advice? What advice?
But Odette doesn’t seem as confused by this as I am. Instead, her eyes light with happiness. “Oh, Mom, that’s wonderful. Who is this mystery date of yours?”
“Ken.”
“Ken? Ken from Sunnie’s?!” Izzy explodes. “But he’s like a serial nondater.”
Elaine shrugs, a soft smile on her lips. “I guess he’s breaking his own rule.”
She looks happy, smitten even, and it’s a good look on her.
Smitten?God, I sound like such a fucking sap. If Ezra could hear me, he would probably punch me in the balls on principle.
I kind of want to punch myself too.
My mother reaches over, squeezing Elaine’s hand. “I’m happy for you, honey. I truly am. Ken is a wonderful man.”
Elaine nods, agreeing.
Then Odette reaches for her mother next. “That’s amazing, Mom,” she says. “I ... I hope it works out for you. I truly do.”
They exchange a look, and I know instantly what it means—the curse.
They’re both thinking that at any time the curse could strike, and all the happiness Elaine feels could be gone in a flash.
“You know, Odette,” my mother says, “you could always go with Noah. He doesn’t have a date either.”
“That’s what I said!” Izzy exclaims. “Can you imagine them sharing a dance together?” She snorts out a laugh.
“Yeah, I couldn’t possibly imagine that.” My dad chuckles beside me, and I shoot him a dirty look.
“Mom, Dad thinks you cheated at your marshmallow game,” I rat him out.
“I won that bet fair and square, Brian Stevens, and you know it!”
My dad gives me a look that tells me I’m going to regret that later, but I don’t care. For now it’s gotten the attention off me and Odette, and that’s all that matters.
When I look at her, I’m surprised to find she’s not already looking back. She’s still staring up at her mother, and there’s no mistaking the worry in her eyes.
She’s still nervous about the curse, and I wish there were something I could do to help her see she doesn’t have anything to worry about.
Especially not when I might be falling for her.
“I’m bored.”
“Then go home.”
Odette throws a cashew at me, and it brings me back to the day when Izzy sat here doing the same thing. That was when she tried convincing me to use my cidery for her wedding. Even though it was only two months ago, it feels like a lifetime somehow.
I laugh, pick the nut up off the floor, then fling it back at her.
