Page 45 of Hearts on the Line

Nana smacks her lips after a long sip of her White Russian. “I think we’ve let enough time pass.”

I tense, waiting for that fucking day to be brought up.

Instead, she continues, “So tell us the gossip, Sunny. Who’s this Monarchs player who broke your heart?”

“Oh,” she laughs to herself and takes a small sip of wine. “Is that why you all wanted me to come tonight?”

“Can you blame us?” June blinks twice, all innocent. But I know she loves to cheat at bingo at the senior center every week. Nana will confess to anything if I make her seared scallops.

I don’t want to know. Still, I catch myself leaning forward in my seat, afraid that if I move too fast, I might scare her. I know that smile on her face. I know how she loves to use it as armor against the world.

Gloria rubs her hands together. “What’s his name? I’ll do some Facebook stalking. Maybe give him a piece of my mind.”

I’d like to do the same, actually.

Sloane laughs, but it’s not the one that brings a smile to my face. She’d always been able to do that. That’s the damnedest thing of all. She’s literal sunshine.

“He was a mistake.” She clutches onto her wineglass, then flicks her glance at me before pulling it away.

“A mistake gave you that?” Nana exclaims, reaching for Sloane’s hand. “Look at that rock!”

June and Gloria coo, each examining the ring on Sloane’s finger. It’s big. Fucking huge, actually. I hate everything about it.

“Have you seen this, Ethan?” Nana asks.

“Hard to miss,” I grumble.

No one else seems to hear the small gasp that slips from Sloane. Probably for the best, but it cuts just the same. When she glances up at me, I mouth sorry, but her shrug tells me it’s too late.

“So this man—” Nana starts.

“—this rich man,” Gloria corrects her. “Broke your heart.”

“Good for you. Keep that ring,” June adds with a defiant nod. “Must be an asshole.”

“Definitely,” I say.

This earns me another pained glance. Fuck.

“He was nice enough. But we wanted different things.” Sloane waves off everyone’s attention. “He did, at least.”

“What else could he want?” June sets her fork down.

“His ex-girlfriend, apparently.”

I reach for the wine before Sloane and stand up to pour her another glass.

“And they’re having a baby.” Her voice cracks.

“What’s his name again? Jackson? Jeffrey?” Gloria demands, reaching for her phone.

“No phones at the table,” Nana snaps. She walks around to Sloane, then wraps her in a big hug. “I’m glad you came back. More glad you didn’t marry that terrible man.”

When she pulls away, Sloane twirls the stem of her wineglass between her fingers, her eyes fixed on the small stain on the tablecloth. “I have a job waiting for me in New York. I’m leaving at the end of the summer.”

“We’ll miss you,” Nana says, but before she shuffles back to her seat, she spins to face me. “I found the perfect date for Ethan.”

“Not now, Nana.” I scratch my head. I’d say I can’t believe she’s saying this right now, but I know what she’s doing.