“And then he walks into your studio, and gets his sister’s wedding ring?—”
“—his sister’s husband-to-be’s,” I correct.
“Semantics. Either way, a ring got stuck on his hand.”
“Yes.”
Eva, whose head has been snapping left to right like she’s at a tennis match, presses her lips together, clearly trying not to smile. “And you’re going to be seeing him again, aren’t you?”
“Funny story,” I begin, taking a moment to pause for a desired effect. “I will be. Every Saturday for the next six weeks.”
My turn to catch Lucy mid-sip. She nearly spits her drink out. “How?”
“He’s filling in and coaching her girls youth team, and I’m contracted to do team bonding sessions with them starting this week.”
“For the next six weeks?” Eva repeats as if she’s trying to get the facts straight, which, same sister. Same.
“Yep,” I say, holding my flute in the air. “Cheers.”
“Are you teaching these girls to make out?” Lucy laughs. Next thing I know, Eva is as well. I need backup.
“It’s not like that,” I say again, but it sounds weaker this time.
“What is it like, then?” Eva asks, very calmly.
I open my mouth. Close it.
“I don’t know. I mean, it’s not ‘like’ anything,” I say, the words coming out in a tumble. “He’s cute, yes, and his lips served a purpose. But I’ve seen him around, and he comes across stand-offish and broody. And he clearly doesn’t listen to directions, because I told him not to put that ring on and still, he did it.”
Lucy tilts her head, studying me for a second.
“He’s not—” she starts, then stops herself. “He’s had a lot going on lately. Just…don’t write him off too fast, okay?”
Her words are light and her tone is casual, but like she knows me, I also know Lucy Snyder very well. And I know there’s moreto what she’s saying than she’s letting on. Something she’s choosing not to say.
I narrow my eyes at her. “That sounded like insider information.”
“It sounded like I’m observant,” she shoots back easily, with a wink to boot. “And he’s, like, besties with my bro now, so I hear stuff.”
Eva glances between us, already clocking the shift. “Oh, I like this. Layers.”
“Really, this is all fun news.” Lucy leans back, shaking her head, already smiling. “I feel like I’ve been given the gift of the golden ticket to watch the Ty and Vivian show for the next month and a half.”
I take a sip of champagne, letting the bubbles sit on my tongue a second longer than necessary, like they might help me keep up with everything happening in real time. Because this is new for me, too.
Sitting here, talking about kisses like it’s not a big deal. Like I didn’t just step into something I don’t fully understand yet. Like I have people to sit with while I figure it out. A small smile pulls at my mouth before I can stop it.
I’d almost forgotten what this felt like. The lightness of it. The giddy, slightly ridiculous edge of “Oh…I liked that more than I expected to.”
Maybe it wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world to do it again. And with Ty, obviously. The thought settles in quietly. I can sit here and dance on the edge of possibility, and for the first time in ages, I’m pleasantly surprised.
I glance between them, Lucy already watching me like she knows exactly where my head just went, Eva smiling into her glass like she’s happy just to be included in whatever this is becoming.
For once, I don’t feel behind. If anything, I feel like I might be just getting started. With that, I take another sip, letting myself sit right here for a second longer.
And for the first time in a long time, I’m not bracing for the ending. I’m thinking about the next time I see him.
CHAPTER 6
