“You’re ridiculous,” I say, shaking my head even though she can’t see me. “This is just…nice. It’s casual.”
I say it like I believe it. Like my stomach didn’t just flip thinking about him. Like my brain isn’t already replaying every stolen glance and almost-touch.
“At least tell me your night hit first, second,andthird base. Maybe even a home run,” she says shamelessly.
“You’re relentless.”
“So?” she presses.
I hesitate for half a second. “Yes to first base. Maybe halfway to second?”
The squeal that follows is loud enough to make me regret telling her.
“Was it amazing? Earth-shattering?”
I laugh. “All of the above? It wasn’t like kissing someone because you think you should, or because it’s the next logical step. It felt like…”
“Like what?”
“Like coming home to a place I’ve never been before,” I admit, surprising myself. “Does that sound completely insane?”
“Not insane. Romantic as hell,” she says. “And exactly what you deserve after wasting years with James’s dull ass.”
“James wasn’tthatdull,” I protest weakly.
“James color-coded his sock drawer and thought cilantro was too spicy.”
I half-heartedly roll my eyes, but I can’t deny she’s right.
“Okay, fine,” I concede with a laugh. “But to be fair, Knox’s socks are probably color-coded, too. His house is immaculate.”
“But does he think pepper is spicy?”
“He makes his own whisky. I’m pretty sure his taste buds can handle more than salt.”
She hums approvingly. “Look at you, Jules. Two weeks in and you’re kissing hot Scotsmen in their mountain hideaways. I’m proud of you, you know that?”
“It’s just one date, Bree.”
“It’s not just one date. It’s you choosing yourself. It’s you being brave enough to want something real.”
Before I have a second to reflect on that, she continues.
“If you don’t marry him and run away into the sunset, I just might.”
I snort. “What are you talking about? You have Dillon, who is basically as amazing as they come.”
“Yeah…” She falters for just a second before recovering. “But the thing is, he doesn’t have an accent. And I’m realizing now, that’s totally the missing piece of the puzzle.”
This time, we’re laughing together. Andgod, I miss her.
I didn’t expectto still be smiling about it this morning, but here I am, replaying every word and every glance. There’s a kind of lightness in my chest I haven’t felt in a while.
Aunt Rose peers at me from her desk, suspicion already written all over her face. “You look dangerously cheerful for someone who’s allegedly sworn off men.” She swivels in herchair, sipping her coffee like she’s not preparing to interrogate me. “I didn’t hear you come in last night. How was the date?”
Her smile saysI already know, but she wants me to say it out loud.
I drop into one of the dining chairs next to her desk with a sigh. “It was really great. I had such a good time.”
