Page 59 of Falling for Keeps

She gestures around her. “Welcome to the Beauty and the Beast room.”

“This place is going to make you rich when you’re ready to open.” It’s so quaint and chic, and Rosie is going to make it even more adorable with her fairy tale themed rooms.

“Fingers crossed.” She laughs, sitting back and resting her forearms on her bent knees. “I’ll be satisfied if it pays the bills.”

I hand over the ice-cold Dr Pepper I picked up on my way and sit down next to her, leaning my back against the wall.

“Bless your heart!” Rosie takes a deep swig and sighs, ice rattling in the styrofoam cup.

“Being happy is important, too.” I glance around the half-finished room. “What kind of help do you need? I can probably come by tomorrow.”

“You have enough to worry about.” She shakes her head, eyebrows pulling together, and takes another drink before setting the cup on the floor. “Someday you have to actually finish your bathroom.”

“I’ll get to it. Eventually.”

Rosie shakes her head. “I’m good here. Don’t worry about me.”

“I figured since you’re in charge of the entire fall festival, you might have a lot going on.”

Her smile is tight. “I have help. Juliet Monroe is doing so much. Don’t worry.”

“I’m not,” I promise. “Just don’t want you taking on too much.”

Rosie wipes stray hair out of her eyes with the back of her wrist. “I heard you were going out with the new dentist.”

Going out? “I swear, if it was possible to fuel a town on gossip, we’d never have to pay an electric bill.”

“That would be nice.”

“We’re friends.” I shrug. “Carson doesn’t want anything more, which is fine, because I like hanging out with him. I’m dating other people, anyway.”

“Other people?” Rosie raises an eyebrow.

“Fine. Other person.”

“Who?” She draws in a little gasp. “Do not say Seth or I’m kicking you out.”

“He’s changed.”

“How? Does he pick you up for dates now?”

My cheeks warm.

“Does he open your car door? Text you the next day to check on you? Has he become less self-absorbed at all?”

Since I’m en route to a date currently and meeting him there, I don’t answer most of these things. “You know, sometimes it makes sense to meet at the restaurant. There’s nothing wrong with being pragmatic.”

“Oh my gosh.” Rosie sits up. “You’re meeting him now, aren’t you? That’s why you’re in that.” She waves her hand to indicate my date outfit, a particularly flattering sage green romper with fluttery sleeves and a V-neck.

I close my eyes and lean against the wall. “Am I making a mistake? I want—I mean, I don’t know. I don’t want to be alone forever. But putting myself out there is terrifying, and Seth is really into it. He could have changed. I won’t know unless I give him another try, right? I didn’t break things off last time because of anything crazy or egregious. He just wasn’t the one.”

Rosie looks at me for so long, I regret cracking open my heart for a moment. “How long did it take you to convince yourself of all that?”

“About ten minutes. I went from adamantly against him to open-minded like that.” I snap my fingers. “Desperate much?”

“It’s not desperate to want companionship, Em.” Rosie folds her arms around her bent knees. “Go for it but keep your guard up. I don’t want you to get hurt.”

“It’s just Seth.” I try to laugh it off. What does it mean that I’m only half taking this date seriously?