Page 44 of Bear and Book

Me: Busted.

Me: Still worth it.

Me: I had a really good time tonight, Elias.

That was the truth, plain and simple. And maybe it was too much, too soon, but holding it back felt impossible.

I waited, pulse thudding in my throat. This was Elias, after all. The man who second-guessed every step, who always seemed one breath away from pulling back.

If he thought I was moving too fast, he’d tell me.

The dots appeared, disappeared. Appeared again.

Elias: I did too.

Three words. Small. But to me, they landed like something bigger, heavier. Because Elias wasn’t careless with what he gave. He never had been.

I lay back on the couch, grinning at the ceiling like a fool.

Me: Good. Then I’ll say it again: best date I’ve ever been on.

Another pause.

Elias: You’re ridiculous.

Me: You like that about me.

No reply came right away, but I didn’t need one. I knew. I could feel it.

I stared at the phone for a long moment, torn between wanting to keep the conversation going and not wanting to push him past his comfort.

Then an idea popped into my head, one that had been lurking in the back of my mind all day. Addie.

She’d texted me earlier, reminding me once again that she was swinging by this weekend. Usually it was just me and her grabbing lunch somewhere simple. But this time, it could be different.

I chewed the inside of my cheek, debating. Was it too soon? Probably.

But the thought of Elias meeting Addie, of the two of them sitting across from me, Elias with his quiet sarcasm and Addie with her sharp laugh felt right. Like something I wanted, maybe even needed.

I typed before I could talk myself out of it.

Me: Hey. So my sister’s coming into town Saturday. She usually checks in on me once a month.

The dots appeared instantly, as if he’d been waiting.

Elias: Your older sister Addie?

I blinked. I’d mentioned Addie once or twice .

How she worked long shifts at her job, how she was basically half my mom and half my best friend rolled into one when I was growing up. Elias had remembered.

That made me smile, soft and a little stupid.

Me: Yeah, that’s her.

I hesitated, then typed.

Me: I was thinking maybe you could come to lunch with us.