“Maybe not,” she said. “But you need a reminder that you’re loved. And I amreallygood at reminding people of that.”
For a second, I had to look away. Because if I didn’t, she might see that she was getting to me.
She reached across the table and tapped the table in front of me. “Think about it. In the meantime, I’ll just quietly plan it behind your back. I have what? Like a month-ish? By that time, you’ll be so happy with Hunter you’ll be begging for a party to show off. Trust me.”
“Quietly plan? That’s not how ‘quietly’ works,” I muttered as I tried to muster a glare, but my lips betrayed me. “You’re impossible,” I said, failing to keep the affection from my voice.
She only shrugged, her smile gentle. “Only when it comes to the people I love.”
“I love you, too.”
A silence stretched between us, companionable and full of things unsaid. My fingers traced circles on the rim of my mug, and I let myself imagine—just for a moment—what it would be like to say yes to the party. To let go, even briefly.
Piper’s phone chimed, and she glanced at it before shoving it away like nothing could distract her from this mission. “No pressure,” she added. “Let yourself have hope, okay?”
I let out a breath. “Okay. I’ll try.”
She brightened. “That’s all I wanted to hear. You’ll show up and it’ll be the best night of your life. I promise.”
I rolled my eyes, but there was a little warmth in my chest now. A spark I hadn’t felt in weeks.
Piper was going on about cake flavors when my phone buzzed again.
I pulled it closer, half-expecting another message from Ren about legal nightmares. The muscles in my shoulders eased when I saw the name.
Hunter: Eat breakfast. Real breakfast. Not coffee and stress. If you say you don’t have time, I’m bringing you bacon and eggs, and you know I’ll do it.
A smile tugged at my mouth before I could stop it. I took a long sip of coffee, hoping the mug would hide the way my cheeks went warm.
Piper was watching me over the rim of her own mug, her eyes narrowing like a cat stalking something shiny. “Is that him?”
“No,” I lied, my voice coming out too fast and too high.
Her mouth curled into a slow, knowing grin. She leaned forward, elbows on the table, her napkin crinkling in her fingers. “Uh-huh. Let me guess—something sweet, slightly bossy, and guaranteed to make you blush?”
I shoved my phone into the front pocket of my pants and busied myself with tidying up the table. “Stop.”
She made a satisfiedmm-hmmsound, brushing a stray crumb off the table like she’d just wrapped up a successful interrogation. “This is going to be so fun. I’m putting him on the guest list and sitting you two at the same table. Maybe under mistletoe.”
“It’s not even Christmas,” I said, shaking my head.
“Details,” she said, waving me off. “It doesn’t have to be Christmas for mistletoe to be effective at a party. Just saying.”
“I’d rather you help me plan my grand reopening party for the bar. I don’t need a birthday party.”
“I’ve already decided to combine the two. How fun will that be?”
Before I could throw my napkin at her, my phone buzzed again. The vibration rattled against the table, and this time, I didn’t grab it right away.
Piper’s brows shot up. “Is it him again? Already? That’s a good sign.”
“I don’t think so,” I said slowly, pulling the phone out, “I’m afraid it’s Ren with more bad news. My text notifications should come with a warning alarm.”
It wasn’t Ren with bad news. But I almost wished it was.
Eliza: Were you and Hunter making out in front of the tavern last night, or was that just the world’s most romantic Heimlich maneuver? Asking for the entire town, because they’re driving through asking me about it when they order coffee. I’d promise not to say anything, but it’s already out there.
My stomach dropped like a stone into cold water.
