I laugh quietly. “I’m on the tenthMagic Tree Housebook. They are full of adventure.”
Mae smiles and sets the phone up so it’s like she’s looking at me next to her in bed.
“Tell me more about her,” she says.
I hum, going through the list of things. “I think you already noticed she’s really good at math.”
“I did, she reminded me of myself when I was young. I was ahead of most kids in math.”
My heart spins at the fact Mae and Naomi have anything in common.
“She’s getting interested in baking. I blame June, though. They bake things when she babysits. I’m afraid a monster has been created and I’ll be surrounded by terrible-tasting cookies for the next three months, and it won’t be because of Naomi. It will be because of me. I struggle to make sure she has dinner that includes a vegetable.”
Mae smiles, her eyes glowing in the light. “I think you’re doing an amazing job,” she says.
A strange sense of relief falls over me. I don’t know why. It’s not like we’re married and doing this together, but hearing Mae, who hasn’t been in all the drama, tell me that is overwhelming, but in a good way.
“Thank you,” I tell her.
“Mae?”
“Hmm?” she says, her eyes sleepily.
“How is it possible you haven’t had a relationship before?” I ask her. Not that we are together, but on our next date I’m certainly going to ask to make it happen.
She sighs and looks at me sadly. “I don’t know … I thought it was because there was something wrong with me. I know I can hold on to control a little too tightly. But I never thought I wasthatbad. I take care of myself. I have a good job. I’m emotionally stable. I don’t know what else to improve about myself.”
I snort. “Nothing, literally nothing,” I tell her.
“That’s why I like you,” she says.
“And I finally get the truth.”
She smiles sleepily and says, “I do. I really like you, and it scares me, but it’s also so exciting. I’ve never experienced any of this before. And I hate admitting it, but I know you’re not going to judge me like others have.”
“Other men have judged you for this?” I ask her. My jaw ticks, and if I knew who these guys were, I’d go after them. I don’t know why, well no, I do know why, but what kind of man would judge a woman for inexperience? An insecure boy, that’s who. He’s not a man at all.
“Yeah,” she sighs.
“But maybe that’s over, and maybe one day we won’t have to do this over the phone,” she says, and it melts something in me.
“Maybe we won’t,” I say quietly.
Her eyes are closed and her face relaxes as she falls asleep.
I stare at her peacefulness until I fall next to her.
Chapter 26
Cooper
It’sSundayandwe’reall eating at my aunt’s. I figured June invited Mae. And when I found out she wasn’t, the disappointment proves to me how far gone I am for her.
We finished dinner, and we’re all sitting and chatting. It’s just me and the family. Sterling is out on a fire, and Gracie had a show in Texas with my cousin Dallas.
“I need to talk to y’all about something,” I say, sitting up a little straighter.
“Is everything okay?” Aunt Dixie asks.
