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“So then it’s all good for the two of you?” Kiera asks.
I shrug, my mouth pulling downward as an angst I didn’t know I was carrying hits me hard. “I don’t know,” I admit glumly. “He said he loved me, I told him part of my heart would always belong to him and then… nothing.”
Brienne frowns. “Nothing?”
“Nothing,” I repeat. “I would’ve thought he’d try to kiss me when we got back to his house after the reception. Or maybe want to talk some more. But he wished me goodnight at the bottom of the stairs and then went into his bedroom.”
The women shoot each other blank looks and shrugs.
Jenna hypothesizes. “Maybe he’s just giving you room to be certain about your feelings.”
Danica drums her gloved fingers on the tablecloth. “Maybe he’s nervous.”
“Or maybe,” Stevie drawls, her black nail polish in sharp contrast to the pastels everywhere, “he wants you to make the first move.”
“That’s it,” Brienne says with a sharp snap of her fingers. “He wants you to make the move. He’s opened the door and he wants you to step through it.”
“To do what?” I ask incredulously.
“To do whatever will take this relationship to the next level.”
“Maybe ask him out on a date,” Danica proposes.
Another sigh from Jenna. “Or cook a romantic meal.”
“Bone him,” Stevie says.
Kiera nods effusively, turning to Stevie to offer her fist. They bump and Kiera says, “That’s right, girl. Walk through that open bedroom door and reconnect physically.”
I grin at the bevy of advice and love how it’s split down the line between these women. Over the course of a two-hour tea, I’ve gotten to know their personalities pretty well—Danica and Jenna are the romantics while Stevie and Kiera are the spicy minxes.
It’s to Brienne I turn though, as I think she’s a mixture of both, plus she’s the smartest and wisest of all of us. She merely says, “Trust your gut but I agree that you should make your interest known. I know Callum and he won’t want to pressure you. He’ll take it slow. If you want to give this a little push, then you give the push and see where it goes.”
“But stripping naked and climbing into his bed is the best way to do it,” Kiera adds with a knowing wink.
The doorbell rings and my blood zips through my veins. I know that’s most likely Callum arriving to pick me up.
Brienne doesn’t move to answer the door as she has full-time house staff here who will handle it. Her gaze on me is unwavering as she repeats what I’m guessing is her most important advice. “Trust your gut.”
I don’t have a chance to reply as Callum walks into the room, followed by Gage.
“Wow, this looks amazing,” Callum says as he moves right to the table and reaches for a sandwich from one of the silver tiered plates. He pops the triangle into his mouth and grins at me as he chews. When he swallows, he nods at the champagne in my hand. “Told you.”
He’s referencing his proclamation earlier that I’d get drunk. “I didn’t have that much,” I say as I set my almost-empty flute down. Truth be told, I stopped counting after the third one.
I rise to stand from the chair and feel my ankles wobble in my high heels. Callum continues to grin knowingly.
Brienne stands, as do the other women, and one by one, they give me farewell hugs. Stevie whispers in my ear, “Sneak into his room tonight.”
“Stop it,” I whisper back, but I’d be lying if I said their suggestions weren’t playing through my head.
♦
I paced back and forth across the soft, thick carpeting of my bedroom. I ditched my tea party dress and heels and washed off my makeup. I brushed the taste of lemon tarts and champagne out of my mouth and pulled my hair into a high ponytail.
I am still buzzing from the champagne and if I were a smarter version of myself, I would force a nap to sober up. When Callum drove me home, he suggested just such a thing. It was only four thirty and he announced he was going to cook dinner and it would be ready by six.
I’ve been up here stewing over what to do. Brienne said to trust my gut. Danica and Jenna believe I should move slowly but surely. Kiera and Stevie think I should jump his bones.
