“Don’t do that. So she’s starting to like you. You obviously feel something for her, otherwise we wouldn’t be having this conversation. Best I can say is just be honest with her and take it slow maybe? You’re a great guy, Jesse, and she’s clearly forgiven you for the thing with her dad. If you two want it to become something, or you want to explore your feelings, tell her. That way she can make an informed decision and so can you.” Lilah smiled and gave him a firm nod, like her intellectual mojo had just returned and she’d cracked the case.
She was right though. He had two options: Tell her how he felt, or keep it to himself. And he could see how well bottling shit up had worked out for him. “Thanks. I’ll do that. What’s your news?”
“Oh, this is great. You’re gonna love it. Fetu is gonna pretend to be my boyfriend.”
“Dr. Kuaea?”
“Yeah, we talked after church, just to figure out when we were gonna go on our auction date, and realized my dad will absolutely have to back off if he thinks I’m finally seeing someone. Also, he’s like the perfect, absolutely believable stand-in. He’s smart, great career, churchgoer, former athlete. We had a great conversation about Perry Saysmith’s chances in the draft. He’s super polite, and you know I hate rude people.”
“So why don’t you actually date him?”
“Oh, he’s not my person, but I think we could be great friends, and he looks so good on paper my mom will love him. Gerald will have no choice but to deal. Don’t tell anyone though. I’m only telling you because of our circle of trust.” She held up her pinky. Jesse stepped forward and linked his pinky with hers, a quick up, down, side-to-side motion before they snapped and bumped elbows. Yes, they still acted like they were twelve because that’s what cousins do.
“Anyway, we’re gonna do this for a few months and then I’ll release Fetu to the wind so he may find his own true love among the singles of Charming. He’s gonna swing by forThe Bachelorettetonight, if that’s cool. We gotta start sowing the seeds of our new love.”
“Yeah, that’s fine. There’s plenty of food. Lily-Grace will be here too.”
“Great!” Lilah jumped up and groaned, grabbing the small of her back. “Yeah, new shoes are definitely in order.”
* * *
Jesse’s plan wasn’t going according to plan. He hoped he would have time to give Lily-Grace the gift he’d grabbed for her at the store and then maybe they could talk beforeThe Bachelorettestarted, but he got a text that she was running a little late and by the time she arrived, Jesse’s cousins were already buzzing around the kitchen, fixing up their burgers and bratwursts that he had grilled to perfection. Jesse hung back, directing traffic, making sure everyone had drinks and napkins. His leather furniture had been loved over the years, but he still liked to keep it nice and clean.
Lily-Grace and Fetu arrived within two minutes of each other, so Jesse felt the need to be the gracious host, as his home training dictated, instead of whisking Lily-Grace off to a quiet corner of the house beforeThe Bachelorettestarted. He’d have to speak to her after the show or maybe another time. Which was probably a good idea. The minute she walked through his door, he felt like he wasn’t thinking straight. His whole mind was on her and what it might be like if they were more than friends who might like each other and had kissed under educational circumstances. He needed to sleep on it and see if having feelings for someone was for him. If this feeling in the pit of his stomach was what his brothers experienced every moment they spent with Evie and Amanda, he wasn’t sure he wanted to mess with it.
“Everyone good? Last call from the kitchen until the commercial break.” He almost grabbed a fresh tub of cheese balls out of the pantry to go along with his burgers, but reconsidered presenting Lily-Grace the oh-so-sexy image of him licking cheese dust off his fingers.
“I’m good,” Lilah said.
“All good, boss,” Fetu said from his spot next to her on the sectional. Vega shot Jesse a thumbs-up. She was already shoving her burger into her mouth as she watched some woman win her way to the final round ofWheel of Fortune.Corie mumbled something that Jesse interpreted asI’m all set.
“Oh wait,” Lily-Grace called out from her place on the couch where she was balancing her plate on her thighs. She carefully rushed into the kitchen and brushed by him to get to the cabinet where he’d pointed out the cups when she first arrived. “Lilah mentioned some punch.”
“You gotta try it!” Lilah yelled.
He grabbed the pitcher of pomegranate punch Lilah had made and a beer for himself out of the fridge. Lily-Grace took the pitcher from him and poured herself a glass. “You really pull out all the stops. Four kinds of chips and lemon cupcakes?”
“Miss Leona sent over the cupcakes.”
“Well, this is the fanciestBachelorettewatch party I’ve ever been to. It’s the only, but still.”
Jesse took the pitcher and put it back in the fridge. When he turned back around, Lily-Grace was still standing behind him. It wasn’t the privacy he’d hoped for, but they were near each other, with the kitchen island and a couple pieces of furniture between them and everyone else. Jesse stepped closer so he could lower his voice. He didn’t miss the way Lily-Grace’s gaze dropped to his lips before he spoke. “I usually sit in my recliner, but I can sit on the couch with you. If you want.”
“I mean, I don’t want to mess with tradition, but I am your guest and sitting with me would be the polite thing to do.”
“Then I’ll join you on the couch. But first I got you a little something.” Jesse set down his beer and grabbed the small plastic bag he’d stashed near the microwave. “Sorry I didn’t wrap it.”
“Wrapping just gets tossed anyway.” She stuck her hand inside and pulled out a keychain that saidI LEFT MY HEART IN CHARMINGand a piña colada air freshener. Jesse felt like a fist was squeezing his heart when she looked up at him with the biggest, most genuine smile he’d ever seen. “I love it.”
“Yeah?”
“Yes. I was feeling—I kinda crashed after we parted ways this afternoon. You know—big day, big purchase. All of that and this—” She turned the keychain over in her hand, rubbing it between her thumb and forefinger. “I don’t know, this makes today a little more real. Like when you get a new place and you finally decorate it so it feels like yours. This’ll make my car feel more like mine and not like an impulse purchase to use as a distraction.”
“You needed a car. You could afford it. I don’t think you’ve run anyone over since I saw you last. It’s okay to enjoy it.”
“Yeah, there’s just this feeling. I’m not a big fan of self-doubt.”
“What do you mean?”
