I know it’s a stereotype, but it was sunnyonceduring the handful of days I spent in England.
“Too little you. I totally preferred skipping class to having to go to work though.”
I huff another laugh. I read some of her essays. Wren’s a much stronger student than she claims. And I’ve seen how excited she is, working at her aunt’s magazine.
“Also, you’re no longer allowed in theHauteoffices. There’s been a suspicious gathering of interns skulking around every time you stop by for lunch, and I think it’s unhealthy for me to dislike most of my coworkers.”
“Wren.” I groan her name, but I’m sort of chuckling too. “That’s ridiculous.”
“I agree. You’re turning into a workaholic, and you’re not even that good-looking.”
I grin. “Says the girl who told me I wasreally hoton our first date.”
“Only so you’d reassure me Iwasn’t ugly.” I can practically hear her eyes rolling.
Not my best line, but Wren should take that being the best I could come up with as the biggest compliment of all. My mind still goes blank when I see her mostly or entirely naked.
I squint as the sun glints off a nearby glacier. “Feels like a long time ago.”
“It was a long time ago.”
Eight years.
“Mmhmm.”
“You’re going to need gloves for the kayaking trip, you know.”
“I know. I’m ninety percent sure they’re somewhere under your tiny, neatly folded pile of clothes. I figured I should wait for you to wake up before touching that.”
“Wise move.”
I smile, then state, “Gus bought a ring.”
“Really?” Wren sits up, twisting so she can see my face. “Has he asked Lissa yet?”
I shake my head, shoving my hands into my own pockets before they have a chance to refreeze. “Nope. He’ll probably ask for your opinion on the proposal.”
“Do you think he’ll ask her in Boston?” Wren is clearly already scheming locations.
I shrug, but I’m not sure she can tell under the bulk of my jacket, so I add, “Dunno.”
“Is he asking her before Thanksgiving? We should bring them an engagement gift.”
“Not sure.”
Wren raises an eyebrow. “Okay. To recap, Gus told you he bought aring, and you said …”
“ ‘That’s cool.’ ”
“That’s it? No follow-up questions?”
“We’d been talking about work, and then he just threw it out there as an update. If he had a plan, he would have told me. We talked two weeks ago, and he didn’t mention it. Caught me off guard. I mean, they’re young. Our age.”
“Yeah.” Wren glances at the ocean, profile backlit by the sun.
“Have you thought about it?” I ask.
“Gus and Lissa getting married? Not really. And I don’t know Boston very well. I’ll have to research places?—”
