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“Aw.” Leesa’s expression softened. “I love how you’ll always be in each other’s lives.”

“Until she moves to London with Oliver,” said Stefanie.

“They’ve been on ONE date,” snapped Kaitlin. “Give her a chance to breathe!”

Ignoring Kait’s cautioning, Stefanie clutched Georgie’s forearm. “Oh Gigi, you’ve always wanted to see London. If Oliver’s the one, you have to go!”

Georgie’s pulse accelerated. That pesky thought had been troubling her since their kiss on her doorstep twenty-four hours earlier. What would she do if she fell entirely and irrevocably in love with him, with the smoldering intensity in his eyes, the tenderness of his embrace, the hunger in his kiss?

She gulped. Face it, girl. You’d be screwed.

Releasing her grip on Georgie, Stefanie plucked the orange slice from the rim of her glass. “I can’t think of anything more romantic.”

Kaitlin rolled her eyes. “What’s romantic about leaving behind everything and everyone you love?”

“Except Oliver.” Stefanie nibbled her drink’s garnish.

No, Kait’s right. Sitting back in the booth, Georgie curled her fingers under the edge of her bracelet. The idea of being whisked away from her life in Toronto and all the people and things she loved dearly was frightening as fuck. I couldn’t. I can’t! She swallowed, unable to dissolve the reluctance thickening her throat. And besides, who’s to say we’ll still be together in nine months!

Stefanie, that’s who. “You’ll love London, Georgie! The history, the restaurants, the busyness—it was made for you.”

That’s what she was afraid of. Georgie picked up her drink and sipped, stalling. “If you were still with your ex, would you move?”

“In a flash!” Stefanie discarded the mangled orange rind on a beer mat. “It’d be easy, too. I could get an ancestry visa ’cause my grandpa was born in Edinburgh. You could too, with your mum being from Orkney. Think about it! Heaven knows the alternative is awful.”

“Splitting up?” asked Kaitlin.

“No, long distance.” Stefanie met Georgie’s gaze again. “You had a taste of it with Michael. You know it sucks as much as I do. One missed phone call and the mind spirals with insecurity.”

Georgie scratched her neck. “Yeah, but that doesn’t mean I’m considering a move to London. Even talking about it is extremely premature.”

“Which is good!” said Stefanie. “You have time to weigh all options.”

Kaitlin nodded. “Including whether to keep seeing him. If he’s moving next year, maybe it’s best to spare yourself the heartache and end it now.”

But that was the problem. Georgie did want to continue seeing him, but she also dreaded the idea of saying goodbye in a few months. Fuck. Why did romantic relationships have to be so difficult?

“Well, like I said, we’ll see how it goes,” said Georgie, committing to nothing. “Our next date isn’t until the San Jose game.”

Leesa frowned. “That’s ages away! I thought you were hot for each other?”

An image of Oliver’s ass in his exquisitely tailored black trousers trespassed through Georgie’s mind, raising the corners of her mouth. “Oh, we are! But we’re both SO busy. Oliver’s away a lot.”

“Maybe he’s a spy! A real-life James Bond,” said Kaitlin.

Georgie shot her a quizzical look.

“Think about it: the travel, speaking numerous languages⁠—”

“Romancing women in every city?” Georgie cringed. “I certainly hope not.”

“No wonder you’re sexually frustrated,” said Stefanie. “Don’t worry, Gi. I’ll buy you another Magic Wand.”

Georgie laughed. “I was joking earlier! I may be horny, but I’m not that horny.”

“You say that, but a lot could happen over the next nine months.” Leesa winked.

“Please god, not a baby.” Kaitlin winced, her reaction mirroring the unease churning in Georgie’s stomach.