Page 105 of Flirting with 40

Keep howling at the moon.

You deserve every bit of this.

—Slade

“Slade?” Minka asks.

I nod and read it again. “Yeah.”

“God, you’re so lucky. I wish Jared looked at me the way Slade looks at you.”

The lump in my throat grows even bigger.

I look up and smile at her. “I’m a lucky girl.” But the words sound a little shakier than I intend them to sound.

Because it hits me how damn much I care for Slade.

Not care for, who am I kidding? Love.

I bite the bullet and admit it to myself.

I think I’ve gone and fallen for Slade.

Jesus, even I know how stupid that sounds.

If he knew, he would run the other way.

It’s the kind of emotion that people will tell me I’m crazy for feeling so quickly.

But it’s true.

I pick up my phone and call him, but he doesn’t pick up. Within seconds my phone alerts a text.

Slade: Everything ok? I can’t pick up.

Me: Yes. I’m fine. Thank you for my flowers. They’re gorgeous.

Slade: You deserve them.

Me: How did you know peonies were my favorite? I love them.

Slade: They are? Good guess then. But isn’t that just how things are with us?

Me: Strangely yes. See you Friday.

Slade: I’ll be there with bells on.

I laugh because I don’t put it past him to actually wear bells. Staring at our texts, all I can think is how right his comment is about knowing peonies are my favorite.

It’s just how things are with us.

CHAPTER FORTY-FIVE

Slade

“I’m confused,” I say when I open the front door, bleary-eyed and craving my bed more than my half-eaten pasta sitting on the counter. “I thought you were here and then left already, swearing to never come back.”

My mom’s smile widens as she steps inside and presses a kiss to my cheek. “You look exhausted,” she says and breezes past me like she owns the place. “How come you look like you’re working when you’re still not working?”