My eyes widen, and she smiles. “I’m very protective like that.”
“Is it because of Naomi?” I ask her.
“Cooper is careful with her. So I’m sure you can respect that.”
“I can.”
“Good. So what are you going to do?” she asks excitedly.
I huff. “June, it’s been thirty seconds. I don’t know, and again, he hasn’t asked me out.”
“So youareinto him,” June grins.
My eyes roll before I can stop them. “I mean … he’s pretty hot.”
June makes a gagging sound and shakes her head. “Please don’t. Please keep those comments to yourself.”
I grin. “How old is Naomi?” I ask June.
June eats a couple more spoonfuls and says, “She’s seven. But that’s not my story to tell. That will have to come from him if the time ever comes.”
“And he’s not married and never has been?” I ask her again.
“Nope,” she pops the P. “I’m obsessed with this soup or stew or whatever. Can I have the recipe?”
I nod absently.
Maybe she’s right. Maybe Paxton isn’t just my place to reset, but it’s an opportunity to try again.
“Wait, why would you not take your own advice?” I ask her.
June smiles softly. “You caught that, didn’t you?”
I raise a brow.
“There’s always been a someone, but if I try, it wouldn’t simply be my life affected. It would be my family’s, and I’m not sure I’m ready to take that … leap yet. And I know he isn’t, so I leave it alone.”
I look at her profile a minute longer. We’re being honest with each other, but this feels like I shouldn’t push. It feels like something with history that might need to stay in the past.
“So, what are you going to do?” June asks.
I giggle and shake my head. “I don’t know, but right now I want to finish my dinner. We should watch—”
“If you sayYellowstone,I’m walking right out that door.”
I grin. “I was going to say,Dirty Dancing.”
“Ooo, I love that movie!” June says and scoops the rest of her food into her mouth before taking the bowl to the sink.
“You don’t have to do that,” I tell her.
“Nonsense, I can put a bowl in the dishwasher.”
I smile and finish eating. “Thank you, June. I think you’re my first friend here in Paxton.”
She grins. “I’m sure I won’t be your last,” she says, wiggling her eyebrows.
I shake my head, and we turn on the movie, using the DVD player because streaming anything out here is borderline impossible.
