Slowly, I did.
“Thanks.”
He didn’t mention it, lifting the remote to the screen and letting it flare to life. “I do have a show I’ve been meaning to watch if you want?—”
The door to the apartment creaked open.
“I’m sorry I forced you to sit through your practice date with my brother. I know, worst-friend status!” Gina called out as she entered, shrugging off her coat like the wind had offended her personally.
She glanced between the two of us. “You okay?”
“Just—”
“Recapping our evening,” Josh jumped in smoothly. “So, your dear friend, who you so generously subjected to my company tonight, can go into her blind dates with confidence.”
Gina narrowed her eyes at him. She didn’t look convinced.
I stood from the couch. The edge of the blanket I’d tucked around my feet—and the quiet touch of Josh’s hand—slipped away.
Did I imagine the way his fingers had lingered for just a second longer, like they didn’t want to let go?
“I’m about to head to bed,” I said, ignoring the way my chest suddenly ached with the loss of that small warmth. I didn’t look back as I stepped toward my room.
Gina followed. “So? How’d it go? How was the restaurant I’d picked out?”
“We ended up going to the bar for wings.”
“Ugh. Do you have no class, Josh? Seriously?” she called out the door.
Josh didn’t respond.
She turned back to me, expecting backup.
“The wings were good,” I admitted. “Sweet chili.”
“You’re too nice,” she scoffed. Then she softened. “But I’m glad you guys didn’t kill each other. I mean, it’s good that you two are finally on better terms. Especially since we’re all living together now—and spending Christmas at home.”
“I still don’t know if I’m coming home, Gina. I’ve got a lot to do here.”
“Lies,” she declared. “I’m not leaving you here alone. I let you make excuses for years, but unless one of your blind dates ends in a spontaneous elopement to Fiji, you’re coming. I already told my mom you were.”
I stared at her. “How was work?”
Her face lit up instantly, eyes bright and excited. “You won’t believe the installation we’re getting last minute this month. You should take one of your dates there.”
First, I thought,I have to actually go on one of them.
Though the idea didn’t hit quite the same anymore. My heart was still gently pounding from earlier, like it hadn’t caught up with the rest of me. I told myself it was just the adrenaline from going out, talking, socializing again.
But I knew what it was.
Josh.
I shook it off. “Guess we’ll see. You’ll have to send me the info.”
“You’ll hear about it,” she promised, practically bouncing. “I’m just so excited for you. This is your moment. But I still think you should start a new blog series or something. Like, document everything—job-hunting, dates, all of it. It’s content gold.”
I groaned. “You want me to write about my dating woes?”
