Page 161 of Key West Homecoming

Emma narrowed her eyes. “You knew.”

“I have eyes.”

“Does everyone know?”

“Probably.”

“That’s comforting.”

Leah smiled. “Keep going.”

Emma took a drink of iced tea.

“I like him. More than I expected to.”

“That sounds terrible.”

“Leah.”

“I’m listening.”

Emma tried to decide how to explain something she hadn’t quite explained to herself.

“I told Priya yesterday that I don’t think I’m going back to my old life in Chicago.”

Leah’s expression changed. “That sounds like a pretty big decision.”

“It is, but I still don’t know exactly what comes next. Staying in Key West for now is one thing. Building an entirely different life here is another.”

“And Jake is part of that.”

Emma nodded.

She thought about the day before. Jake had spent hours showing her the island, but he hadn’t tried to convince her to stay. He had simply let her see the place he loved.

“I don’t know how serious this is for him,” Emma said. “I know how I feel when I’m with him, but we haven’t really talked about what this is.”

“Then talk about it.”

Emma shook her head. “I can’t just ask him if he’s falling in love with me.”

“Why not?”

“Because that sounds terrifying.”

Leah laughed. “There it is.”

“What?”

“The actual problem.”

Emma looked at her.

“You’re not confused about Jake. You’re scared to find out whether he feels the same way you do.”

Emma started to argue and stopped.

Leah was right, which was irritating.