Page 103 of Falling Back to You

Wear your favourite dress that makes you confident (but also comfortable—must be comfortable!). I’ll pick you up at six. I’ll be the guy on your porch with flowers and a starry-eyed look.

P.S. Check your front door.

Kicking my feet under the sheets, I laughed in the quietness of the cottage. Cal was the perfect blend of humorous and flirty. I clutched my phone to my chest, gathering the energy to haul myself out of bed. Lord, I don’t want to mess this up. I really like him.

A decaf caramel macchiato from Bean There, Done That was waiting on the porch. And a gift bag. Under the tissue paper were baby blue boxing gloves. That man. I snapped a picture of the coffee and gloves and sent it to him.

ME:

You shouldn’t have but thank you. *red heart emoji*

CAL:

Anything for you, Holiday.

And in the privacy of the cottage, I did something I’d never done before—I squealed.

Chapter thirty-five

Noelle

13 Years Ago . . . mid-July

“Boys are gross,” six-year-old Ruby announced, swinging her legs as she perched on my bed.

I chuckled and tugged two dresses from my closet. “You’ll change your mind one day.”

“Nuh-uh. I saw Simon picking his nose during snack time today, and he didn’t wash his hands.”

Okay, that really was gross. But six-year-old boys were a different breed than their nineteen-year-old counterparts—less nose picking and more kissing. Biting back a laugh, I held up the two dresses. “Which one? Blue or green?”

Ruby eyed them critically. “Pink.”

Her favourite colour, naturally. “I don’t have pink, Rubes.”

She dramatically starfished back on the bed. “Fine. Green.”

I hesitated, holding the blue one to my chest as I glanced in the mirror. “I’m thinking the blue.”

“Why ask me if you’re not going to listen?” she demanded, popping up with a fierce frown.

Good point. “Green it is.”

“Um . . . Elle?” Ten-year-old Quinn shuffled uncomfortably in the open doorway. “How do you get mustard stains out?”

“Did you try the stain stick?”

“Yeah, but I . . . uh . . . sort of forgot it in the hamper.”

I sighed inwardly but smiled reassuringly. “Leave it on my bed. I’ll take care of it.”

“Thanks.” Quinn visibly relaxed and draped the white T-shirt over the metal bedframe. “Are you going out with Cal?”

“Sure am.”

“You should wear the blue one.”

“No!” Ruby cried. “Green.”