“I’d have offered her my spare room except it’s currently full of baskets for the spring auction.”Anastasia grimaces.“And I meanfull.We’re talking top to bottom.Remind me again why I volunteered to help put them together?”
“Because you have a heart of gold.”Sawyer bows, then grins up at her.“And because you haven’t figured out how to tell Pastor Reeves’ wifeno.”
Anastasia glares at him.“Yeah, yeah.Well, see if I bring you coffee next time.”She takes a deep breath and turns to me.“Let me know if anything changes.I can try to get that spare room cleaned out.”
“I’ll be fine.But thanks.If she decides she’s uncomfortable, I’ll probably just give her my place and crash with Sawyer.”
“Did Sawyer agree to this?”Sawyer asks.When I don’t respond, he downs the rest of his coffee and groans.“Fine.But I amnotbraiding your hair.”
“I bet he does,” Anastasia whispers loudly.“Anyway, I’m headed out.Errands to run, baskets to prep.”
“I’ll walk you out,” I offer.“See you guys later.Try not to mess up his face,” I tell Weston.“It really is his only redeeming quality.”
“You’re just jealous of the fact that I have charm, wit,andgood looks!”Sawyer calls back at me as I follow Anastasia out.
Once we’re on the sidewalk, she turns to me.“You doing okay?”
“I am.Taking things day by day.”
“And Kyle?”Anastasia used to babysit Kyle back when he was little more than a toddler.While she lost touch with Ursula over the years, I know she’s been particularly upset with everything that’s happened with the family recently.
“He’s doing good.Grades are up, and he’s been working hard.”
She nods.“I keep meaning to call Ursula, but it’s been so long, and I don’t want her to think I’m pressing her for information after what happened with you.She knows we’re close.”
“I don’t think she’d think that,” I reply.“Honestly, the support would be nice.”
“Okay.”Anastasia looks honestly relieved as she tips her face up toward me.“I’ll call her then.”
“Good.And since we’re on the subject of calling people, how are things with you and Jack?”
Anastasia snorts.“Great segue, Garrison.”
“I thought so.You make any life-changing decisions lately?”
She starts walking toward her car, so I follow.“Not yet.Things are okay.He’s great—really.”
“But?”
“I don’t know.Like I said, there just seems to be something missing.”She glances back at the gym, and I follow her gaze through the glass to where Sawyer and Weston are squared up on the mat.
“Someone missing?”I question.
She turns toward me, and her cheeks turn a deep pink.“What?Oh, no.Sorry, spacing out, I guess.Things are good.I’m looking forward to seeing where they end up.”She unlocks the door to her car and climbs in.“Call if you need me.Tell Katelyn the same.”
“Will do.See ya, Anastasia.”
“See ya.”She shuts her door and turns on the engine, then pulls away from the curb.Shoving both hands into my pockets, I stand there and watch her taillights fade, my thoughts focused entirely on Katelyn Ellis and how hard being “just friends” is going to be.
“And he is asleep.”Katelyn jokes as she comes to sit on the opposite end of the couch.I glance up from where I was reading through Romans and have to take a moment just to catch my breath.
Hair wet from the shower, it falls in sodden strands down past her shoulders.She’s wearing a grey crew-neck sweatshirt withUCLAon the front and a pair of plaid pajama pants.
She’s gorgeous.
“I’m surprised.Anytime it was the night before something I was excited about, I couldn’t seem to get to sleep, no matter how hard I tried.”
Katelyn laughs.“Same here.”Things have been easier between us since our conversation at the beginning of the week.Almost like, since we agreed to just be friends, she doesn’t see me as a threat anymore.I can’t decide if that’s a good thing or a bad thing, considering how desperately I want to be more than what I promised her I could be.