“And?”
“He asked me out!” she half-whispers.
“Get it,” I tease.
She gives a soft laugh. “You want me to ask about CJ?”
My stomach pitches. “Please don’t.” Though our goodbye was rushed, he didn’t ask for my number. Or attempt to follow me out.
She sighs. “I can say no.”
“Why?” On the way home from the Sweetwater, after I shared what happened in that back hallway, Maryanne told me about dancing with Bear, her eyes all dreamy.
“But that night was supposed to be about you.”
“I had a good time.” Even with the abrupt ending. It’s no big deal.
“It should have been him on his knees.”
I laugh to cover the wave of warmth rolling through my belly. “I dunno, it kind of worked.”
“Would you see him again?”
I check for passing cars at the crosswalk, then continue, my boots crunching on the gritty concrete. “Being on my own right now is good for me.” Did CJ ever intend to tell me his full name? Ugh. I’m trying so hard not to overthink it. We danced, laughed, and enjoyed each other’s company. End of story.
“Not pressuring you to give up your vow of celibacy, but…” She trails off, her tone playful, and I picture the cheeky smirk on her face.
“Too late,” I interrupt with a laugh.
Maryanne sighs. “This conversation isn’t over, but I’ve got fourth graders to wrangle. Still up for hot yoga Friday?”
I hate yoga, especially the hot part, but after Nathan, I’m trying to say yes more. “Only if we can follow it up with donuts.”
“Linn! I’m trying to lose five pounds before summer hits.”
“Why?” I scowl at my reflection in a shop window, then look away because there are dark circles under my eyes. “You’re fucking perfect.”
She laughs, and I relax a little. “I love you.”
“Love you back.”
Inside Love Buzz, Sofie’s not here yet, but it gives me a moment to soak up the welcoming whir of the espresso machine and scents ofcinnamon and maple and the low hum of conversation. I might be in the middle of questioning my life choices right now, but there’s no questioning how nice it feels to be here.
I’m debating between a caramel macchiato and an espresso shake when my sister nearly mauls me in a warm, tight hug.
I wrap my arms around her and squeeze her back. She smells faintly of her strawberry shampoo and when we step back, her eyes are glassy with emotion. “It’s so good to see you.”
The lump in my throat takes me a hard swallow to work around. “I’ve missed you too.”
She links arms with me as we gaze up at the menu board. She’s wearing makeup but it looks good on her, and though she’s dressed up for work, I know she’d be ready to tack up and go for a ride or join a trail work party at a moment’s notice. It’s a relief knowing that we can try and fail and grow but the important things don’t change.
After we order and take our coffees to a table by the window, I barely get past my questions about Zach and their littles, Curren and Tanya, when she brings up Nathan. “He hasn’t tried to contact you again, has he?”
I shake my head. For six months after he broke things off, Nathan would call me just to mess with my head. I finally blocked his number, then I took the Alaska internship if only to put a hefty chunk of distance between us. After that, the Selkirk project was a great fit. Closer to home but the remoteness and isolation of that post was enough to keep him from “accidentally” bumping into me.
“He’s getting married.”
Sofie’s eyebrows rise. “Oh. How’d you find out?”