Lou rolls her eyes, which are bloodshot from lack of sleep. “You’ve only been out of the hospital for a couple of days. You have to be careful.”
“I’m fine.” I pick at a loose thread on the inside seam of the leggings I’m wearing. “Good as new.” Where I want to beis in the ICU with Farmor, whose swelling and pressure has returned to normal, but who’s still in a coma. But Mom made me go home so I don’t risk getting sick again. We’re taking turns running the bakery again, and since I got released, we’re trying to keep it open for normal hours; we can’t afford to keep it partially closed any longer. Especially with all the medical bills piling up.
Lou’s phone beeps. She glances at the screen, and her whole face lights up.
“Is it the hot banker?”
“He has a name, you know,” Lou says as she opens the phone and taps out a response, a smile playing at the corner of her lips.
“Sorry. Is itChris, the hot banker?”
“Maybe.” She’s grinning when she glances up at me. “We’re going out again tomorrow.”
“Ooooh, this is, what ... a third or fourth date?”
“Um ... yeah, third,” Lou says, distracted by their continued text conversation.
The kettle starts to whistle, so I leave her to whatever is making her blush and get a sleepy-time tea bag, then pour the boiling water over it to steep. The truth is that I tried to go to bed an hour ago, but I’ve been lying there awake, my mind racing. I finally decided to give up and make some tea to see if I could calm myself down enough to drift off.
After adding some honey to the mug, I sit back down by Lou at the table.
She clicks her phone off and looks up. “Speaking of second or third dates ... have you decided if you’re going to go on one with Austin yet?”
I groan. “No.” The mug is hot between my hands, the fragrant herbs wafting up on the steam that brushes my face.But it’s doing little to calm me when I think of the text I got from Austin a few hours ago, asking if I’m feeling well enough to go to his fancy restaurantthisweekend, because he changed the reservation after I was admitted to the hospital. “I don’t know what to do. Plus, I already have so much on my plate with Farmor and the bakery ... I can barely handle thinking about tomorrow, let alone a date this weekend.”
Lou shuts her computer and pulls both of her feet up onto her chair, encircling her legs with her arms and resting her chin on her knees. “Okay, let’s figure this out. What are your reasons for going out with him again—or telling him no?”
“Well ...” I stare down at my tea. “My reasons to say no are mostly because I’m afraid of his motives. And I’m not sure how much of a spark there is for me. I mean, Ilikedkissing him and everything, but his touch didn’t drive me crazy, you know? Plus, I don’t get all giddy when he texts me. I feel ...stressed.”
Louhmms. “Those are good reasons to say no. Are there any for you to say yes?”
I lift one shoulder and take a sip of my tea. “Well, he was nice. And funny, intelligent, generous—”
“Gorgeous,” Lou adds.
“And gorgeous,” I agree with a laugh. “When I list his positive traits, I think maybe I should give him one more chance.” I take another sip.
“If you’re not sure, maybe it’s worth it to give him one more date? What’s the worst that could happen—you get an amazing dinner and one last kiss from his luscious lips?”
I almost choke on my tea. “Wow. Okay, when you put it likethat...”
“Hey, I’m just sayin’.” Lou shrugs with a wicked smile.
“What is it that you’re saying?” Hunter’s voice from behind us makes me jump.
Heat instantly floods my neck and cheeks. When did he walk in, and why didn’t we hear him?Oh, please, tell me he wasn’t listening to all of that ...
Lou opens her mouth to answer, but I shoot her a warning glance.
“I, uh ... that I’m super excited to go out with Chris again!” she improvises.
Hunter pauses on his way into the kitchen, looking down at Lou, eyes narrowing. His gaze flickers to me but quickly returns to his cousin.
She holds her grin.
“That’s great,” he says at last. “I guess I need to meet this guy and make sure he’s worthy of my Little Louise.”
“Haha,” Lou deadpans. “Thanks,Dad.”
