Her words cause aloud whooshing sound in my ears. I blow a shaky breath throughpursed lips. “No. Just that I’ve always loved him.”
Someone comesalong then to talk to Mom, and I get drawn into the conversation.This goes on for the next half hour or so—people who hadn’t spokento me before come up to wish me a happy birthday, many of themhanding me small wrapped gifts or envelopes I’m certain containmoney. They ask how my job is, if I’m dating anyone, what I’ve beendoing in my spare time.
I feel like abroken record repeating the same answers to different people andswallowing my shock and dismay over how forward some people arewith their questions. It’s like they think they’re entitled to knoweverything about my personal life just because my parents invitedthem to this party. Mom’s the one who finally makes excuses on mybehalf so I can break away from the steady stream of well-wishersto seek out my friends.
Except my friendsare busy having conversations of their own. Stella is talking to awoman our age who I recognize as one of my dad’s coworkers; I’djoin them, but Stella’s flirty body language makes me hesitant tointerrupt. Hollie and Wesley appear to be listening intently tosomething a vaguely familiar older gentleman is saying. It takes mea minute to find Louisa in the crowd and, when I do, a smile breaksout across my face. She’s standing next to Fergus, her cheeksadorably pink and her head thrown back in a laugh as he tells hersomething. Louisa’s white-knuckled grip on her water glass is theonly indication of her nerves, but she’s holding her own, and Icouldn’t be prouder.
With my friendsoccupied and no one else vying for my attention, I sneak toward thefront of the house and slip outside for some fresh air. A coolbreeze hits me, making me instantly regret not grabbing a jacket onthe way out. I’m about to return inside when the dooropens.
Jonathan stepsoutside, pausing partway through buttoning his coat. “Oh, hi,Evelyn.”
“Hi.You heading out?”
He nods as hefinishes fastening the buttons. “Now I know why I couldn’t find youin there when I sought you out to say good night. Are you hidingfrom the crowd? Can I bring you a coat?”
I wrap my armsaround myself to ward off the chill. “I’m okay, thanks. Maybe I’lljust sneak upstairs for my moment of solitude; it’s warmer and Ican kick off my shoes for a minute.”
He chuckles. “Goodthinking. It was great meeting you tonight. Your mom sure knows howto throw a party, and I’m glad I was lucky enough to score aninvite.”
“I’mglad too.” I’m surprised to discover I mean it. Jonathanreallyismy type.It sucks that my mom finally chose a guy I could actually picturemyself dating right when my head and heart are tied in knots overWesley.
“Well,I should let you get back inside before you freeze,” Jonathan says.“I hope to see you around. Maybe we could go out for coffeesometime, although…I’m guessing it could only be asfriends?”
A small sighescapes me. “Yeah. I hate to sound like a Facebook status, but it’scomplicated.”
He laughs underhis breath. “I had one of those situations recently myself. Ihaven’t been in town long and I could always use more friends,though.” He pulls a business card from his coat pocket and hands itto me. Our fingers brush, and he lingers for a moment beforebending to place a light kiss on my cheek. “Happy birthday,Evelyn.”
I remain where Iam, watching him make his way down the long driveway toward thestreet, where he must be parked.
“Am Itoo late?”
I spin around atthe sound of Wesley’s voice. He approaches me slowly, sliding hissuit jacket off and draping it over my shoulders.
When I don’t sayanything, he jerks his chin toward the driveway. “That was JonathanKaminski, right? He and I had a few classes together in university,and I heard he’d moved to town recently. I’m assuming your momtried to set you two up?” At my nod, he ducks his head, thrustinghis hands into his trouser pockets. “You two would be greattogether.”
I make anon-committal noise paired with a shrug. The movement sends asubtle wave of Wesley’s cologne up from his jacket. With hisattention still firmly on his feet, I close my eyes and breathe itin. When I open my eyes again, I say, “There’s only one smallproblem.”
Wesley lifts hishead to meet my eyes. “Oh? What’s that?”
“He’snot you.”
Wesley’s eyebrowswing up in surprise. He opens and closes his mouth, but when nowords come, he snaps it shut and presses his lipstogether.
I studyhis face.Reallystudy it. It’s as familiar to me as my own. Over the years,the sight of him has brought me comfort, made me laugh, made me crywith frustration, turned me on. There have been times when I’vebeen hopeful Wesley would or somedaycouldfeel the same kind of love Ifeel for him, although I’ve been afraid to let myself hope toomuch.
The way his eyesand mouth soften as he observes me in return makes hope surgeinside me now, despite my best efforts.
“Kissme, Wesley.”
He laughs lightly,stepping forward. “You always were so bossy.” He leans in andpresses a light kiss to my cheek like Jonathan did a few minutesago. Before he can pull away, I grip his tie, holding him in place.“Kiss me for real. I want to see something.”
The surprisedamusement in his blue eyes is replaced by heat. He closes the smallspace between us and cups my face, tilting it up as his lips slowlydescend. His eyes remain open and trained on me until a secondbefore his lips ghost over mine. It’s the barest touch, just a hintof contact, and it has me resisting the urge to haul him closer.Wesley’s never been the type to rush, though. He’s also never beenthe type to do anything by half measures.
His lips brushover mine a few more times, a slow back and forth sweep. When asoft sigh escapes me, he finally presses his mouth fully to mine.My knees wobble when I get my first taste of him: whiskey and ahint of the French vanilla cake I saw him eatingearlier.
I release mystranglehold on his tie so I can grip his shoulders in an attemptto keep my balance. His hands remain on my face, gently holding mein place as he kisses me slowly and thoroughly.
When he pullsaway, I’m dazed and breathless. I was definitely right about Wesleynever doing anything by halves. When he laughs softly as he lowershis forehead to rest against mine, it dawns on me that I said thewords out loud. I’d be embarrassed if I wasn’t feeling a myriad ofother emotions right now.
