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My lips tilt up at the sides. “I would love that. Truly.” I glance at the clock on the wall. “You know, if you’re not up to anything now, I was going to take a break and go grab a smoothie from that stand over by the marina if you wanna join me?”
Marie nods, and I make quick work of popping into the back to let Briar know I’m heading out for a few minutes. Then I grab my purse and we head out.
“So how are things going with the bookstore?” Marie asks as we sip our smoothies, strolling along near the marina, slowly making our way back to Happily Ever After. “Itlooksbeautiful inside.”
“It’s going really, really well,” I tell her, pride swelling in my chest at everything Briar has done to bring her dream to life.
“I’m so glad to hear that. I saw the sign about the kids story hour in August, and I’m excited to bring Nina and Leo for that.”
“I know! I’m gonna have my mom bring Junie. I think she’ll love it.”
We stop for a beat before crossing the street, waiting at the crosswalk as a few cars go by, and that’s when I see her.
Sarah. Coming out of Cohen Custom.
I feel stunned to see her, but I don’t know why. It just feels…like a smack in the face, somehow. Blinking, I realize I’ve come to a complete stop and Marie has gone a few paces in front of me before seeing she left me behind.
She turns, laughing. “You coming?”
Nodding, I quickly catch up, and we cross the street. But I realize when Marie sees Sarah, too, because she also slows slightly then lets out a long, dramatic sigh.
“What’s wrong?”
Marie groans. “Oh just…” Her head nods toward where Sarah is walking in the opposite direction, staring down at her phone. “Those idiots.”
“Sarah?”
She nods. “And Reid.”
I lick my lips, suddenly desperate for any information Marie might be willing to share.
“What happened there?” I ask as we continue walking, nearing Cohen Custom and the bookstore. “I feel like nobody knows.”
“Because nobody knows,” Marie replies, chuckling. “One day, they were happy, the next, they were getting a divorce and saying they were just better off as friends. Like, who does that?”
A question I’ve asked myself multiple times.
“And what’s evenmoreridiculous is the fact that Reid told his mom he just wants to be a single guy, never wants to date or get married again.”
She chews on her straw, and my brain scrambles over that information, trying to filter it into what I know about Reid. He wants to be single forever?
And then, a truly selfish thought…maybe him ending the kiss wasn’t because he wasn’t interested inme. Maybe it’s because he’s not interested inanyone. A mild balm on the wound.
But then I remember the kiss itself, how incredible it was, how it felt like he couldn’t stop touching me until suddenly, it was over. I can’t imagine him not being interested in someone, not dating or getting married. Maybe he just wants to be a bachelor forever, sleep around, have fun. Though I’ve nevernoticed any women coming or going from his cabin. Still, it wouldn’t be unheard of, even though he doesn’t exactly seem the type.
“I mean, he’s my cousin, but evenIknow he’s a catch. And he’s great with kids and just…unendingly kind.”
All things I already know. Things I’m beginning to love about him.
I clear my throat, trying to shake away that thought before it settles, with no luck. That’s not what I need to be thinking about Reid. He’s made it clear. He doesn’t want anything else to happen. He’s not interested. The reason itself doesn’t actually matter. Our friendship is all I will get, and that has to be enough.
It just has to be.
Even if it physically hurts.
“I’m planning a family dinner for Sunday night,” Mom says as she finishes packing up Junie’s diaper bag a few days later. “Does that work for you?”
I nod. “Yeah. We can come.”
