Page 31 of Wicked Love

“Enjoy your night,” Rose added before I could clarify the fact Grace and I were not a couple. “I hope to see more of you some other time.” She waved at us as she went to meet a group of people.

Once both women were far enough, Grace stared at me. “Joe, how are we supposed to explain our complex relationship to people? Friends feels wrong, and siblings has a weird ring to it.”

I shrugged. “No idea.” If only she knew how hard I’d been trying to explain it to myself for weeks now and failing every time.

Silence fell upon us.

Two little boys wearing matching royal blue jackets and red hats neared us. They looked so much alike that no doubt they were brothers.

“Who are you?” the taller, who looked to be around six, asked.

“I’m Joe. And this is Grace.”

“Are you new in town?” the little boy asked.

“We’re just visiting. For a few weeks,” I said.

“Oh,” both boys exclaimed. “We live here. On Reindeer Way. In a red house.”

“Thomas. Mom said we’re not allowed to give personal information to strangers,” the older boy said, shaking his head.

“They’re not strangers. Their names are Joe and Grace.” The younger boy smiled, showing a missing tooth.

“That’s not how it works. Come on, we should go.” The older brother grabbed the younger one’s hand, but the small boy refused to follow him.

“I don’t want to go now.” He turned to face Grace. “You are pretty. Super pretty. Like a princess. Isn’t she pretty, Julian?”

The older brother nodded. “Yes.”

“Well, thank you,” Grace said, the color on her cheeks darkening. “I would love to be a real princess.”

“You are. This is a magic town. And pretty girls are always princesses in magic towns,” the older boy said. “Mom says so. Have you been to the castle yet?”

“A castle? I saw it earlier and wondered what it was.”

“It’s a real castle. You should go and see it,” the older brother said.

“Thanks for the information. We’ll look it up,” I said.

A woman, bundled up in a bright pink parka, waved at the boys.

“Oh, we should go,” Thomas said. “Bye.”

They ran toward their mother.

“Well, that was interesting,” Grace said. “Weren’t they adorable? And they said I look like a princess. How sweet.”

“They didn’t lie, you know. You really look like one.”

She averted her gaze, staring in the distance and rocking back and forth on her heels. I used one finger to turn her face so I could level our eyes. “It’s true. It’s about time you accept compliments. You are beautiful, Grace.”

“Huh, thanks.”

“You are. Never doubt it.”

Without a warning, Grace wrapped me in her embrace. I stiffened, before relaxing against her. “Thanks, Joe.”

I planted a kiss on the top of her head but said nothing as a cocktail of feelings rose inside me and messed with all my resolutions.