Page 50 of View With Your Heart

“Since I fell in love for real this time.” Jess stares at me, and I look away.

“So what if it’s not love? Can’t I just enjoy her while I’m here?” As cavalier as the words sound, they taste bitter in my mouth and offer no defense against Jess’s concerns.

I glance up to find Britton slowly walking down the stairs. From the expression on her face, it’s evident she heard what I just said.

“Candy,” I whine as she cautiously lowers off the last step.

“No need to explain, Sport.” Her voice holds no tease despite the use of my old nickname. “The fun will just be outside.”

“Dammit, Britton. That’s not what . . .” I don’t bother to finish as she rounds the staircase and exits through the dining room to the backyard.

I glare at Jess, waving out a hand. “Thanks for that.”

His eyes remain on me, narrowing even more as I swipe through my hair and blow out a breath.

“You like her, don’t you?”

“Like her?” I snap as Jess continues to stare at me. “What is this, high school? Of course, I like her. I’ve never stopped.”

I might be in love with her again.

Jess watches me, his jaw clenching in that way when he’s concentrating. “No, you really like her.”

“What are you getting at?” I hiss, not liking his assessment of me.

“You know she’s the kind of woman you settle down with, right? The kind you move home for.”

“I’m not moving,” I bark. “My home is in California.”

Jess nods once. “If that’s what you say.”

“That’s what I say,” I reply to him, feeling unsettled by the answer.

“I’ll remind you of that when you realize home isn’t a place. It’s a person. Sometimes it’s even more than one.”

What the . . . I don’t have time to respond as he turns for the staircase, taking the stairs two at a time, and I’m left wondering what he meant.

Take 17

Scene: Emily and Jess’s Party (continued)

[Britton]

While Gavin’s words stung, it was also the truth. We don’t need to discuss love because that isn’t going to happen between us. This is only about reconnecting. We are only getting tangled in the reminder of our youth.

For the remainder of the evening, Gavin and I are separated. It isn’t that I’m ignoring him, but I don’t give him my undivided attention, especially when Emily and the girls start talking about a last-minute girls’ night out.

“Come with us,” Emily suggests. She moved here a little less than a year ago, and it’s something we bonded over when she first entered the tea shop. For her, she needed to learn to navigate a small town she also used to visit as a child. She stayed in this house, owned by her grandmother back then.

“I don’t want to intrude if it’s a family thing,” I note, as her future sisters-in-law, Tricia and Pam would be attending.

“Ella’s going,” Emily adds.

“My boss Mae from Mae’s Flower Shop is coming,” Pam adds.

“And you already know Jenna. I teach with her, and she’s coming as well,” Tricia says.

“Okay,” I sheepishly respond, falling short of an excuse. I can’t remember the last time I went out with a group of women. “Where will it be again?”