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Tenley gets my attention when she clears her throat from the driver’s seat. She generously offered to drive when I texted her earlier to request an emergency dress-shopping trip.
“Truth be told, I’m really glad you asked me to come with you this afternoon. There’s something I wanted to talk to you about.”
“Oh?”
She glances over shyly. “It doesn’t compare to the expensive bouquet from your boyfriend, but that little bag in the back seat is yours.”
I smile and turn in my seat to find the gift bag in question. “What’s this?”
“Somewhat of an apology. You know I’m terrible at this girly stuff, but I still feel bad about not giving you a proper bridesmaid experience.”
“Ten, why would you think you owe me anything? It was your wedding. I was just glad to be a part of it.”
She shrugs. “Just open it.”
“Okay,” I agree, hesitantly reaching in to pull out a gorgeously decorated copy of Jane Austen’sPersuasion.There’s a bookmark sticking out, and I open the book to find what looks like a folded-up ultrasound image with writing on the back. “Will you be my godmother?” I read it aloud, then I gasp and turn in my seat to face Tenley. “Really?” I ask eagerly.
“I know it’s a lot to ask, but JD and I both agree that you’re the besttantefor the job.”
I press my lips together to stop my chin from trembling, but my voice still cracks when I give her my answer. “Of course, Ten. Nothing would make me happier.”
“Thank you, Lo,” she tells me, and her eyes look watery when she glances my way again. “For everything. I owe you more than you know.”
I nod and swallow the lump in my throat. “Thank you for letting me play a role in your story. And I’m totally hugging you about this later, like it or not.”
She sniffles through a laugh before she clears her throat again, her cue that she’s done with the mushy part of this conversation for now.
“So, not that I’m complaining, because this is actually one of my favorite books, but I’m not sure I get the reference,” I say once we’ve both managed to pull ourselves back together.
“Oh, um, sorry. I told you I was terrible at this stuff. I looked up ‘Jane Austen books with a cool aunt,’ and this is what I found. The mom’s best friend basically becomes the main character’s favorite aunt, right?”
I smirk. “You’re right, she totally does. This is perfect. I love it,” I declare, replacing the bookmark and hugging the book against my chest. I decide against bursting her bubble by explaining that Anne’s surrogate aunt and mother figure, Lady Russell, nearly ruins Anne’s life by talking her out of marrying her one true love. It’s the thought that counts, right?
“Speaking of godparents … How are things going with you and my charming brother-in-law?” she transitions.
I gulp. “They’re—it’s … good.”
“Good?”
“Mm-hmm,” I squeak.
“Seriously? That’s all I get?” she demands. “I still don’t even know how this developed. And what ever happened to the cute MFM specialist, anyway?”
My heart beats loudly. “Uh, well, Blake and I sort of … we have a little more history than you probably think.”
She laughs. “I always wondered, especially after that party when we found the two of you alone in a pool house.”
“He gave me my first kiss that night. And I gave him his,” I admit with a smirk.
“Your first kiss must have been better than mine,” she teases. “Wait, have you guys dated before? Like, in secret?”
“Not officially, but I guess you could say there’s always been a little something between us. Sometimes it feels like chemistry, sometimes animosity. It changes day by day, from one year to the next.”
“And lately it’s been feeling like chemistry?” she offers.
I shrug shyly. “Yeah.”
“What made you decide to actually get together this time?”
