Page 22 of Ardently Yours

Me: Will said that earlier.

Jane: Why were you talking to Will about George?

Me: Long story…

Nic: Well, be prepared to tell us this long story tomorrow night.

Me: What’s happening tomorrow night?

Nic: The wedding donut and latte tasting.

Jane: Oh no, did you forget? Need to reschedule?

Me: Shoot! I forgot but I’ll be ready for tomorrow. I promise. Just been super busy.

Nic: We can tell… three guys and all this drama.

Jane: LOL stop.

Me: WHAT? Billie is gone. Will is just Will. There is just one guy: George. And despite what everyone thinks, I think he’s cute.

Nic: Just be careful.

Jane: And remember that we love you and are just a text away.

Me: You guys are so sappy. But so am I. Love ya!

***

After dinner, George and I walk to the front door and stop on the steps.

“I would say thanks for coming, but I think I should say thank you for surviving this train wreck of a dinner instead, so thank you, George.”

He laughs, taking my hand in his. He kisses it softly. I melt.

“I think meeting the family is the perfect first date,” he says.

“First date?” I ask, leaving off part of the question I want to ask.

“You know, the date that comes before the second, third, fourth, fifth... tenth.”

“That’s a lot of dates,” I say, laughing again, feeling like a teenager.

“I’m hoping that we get to go on all the dates.”

“Really?”

“Really,” he say, nodding. He pulls me closer, wrapping his hand around my waist.

When he lifts my chin up and looks at my lips, I don’t pull away. I let him press his lips against mine. But, something feels off.

I break away from the kiss, about to speak. He misinterprets this and kisses my hand, saying something about taking things slow. He says something flirty as he walks to his car. But I stand there, watching him go.

My mind drifts to the flowers he brought me tonight. It was thoughtful of him, but they are not my favorite flowers. My favorite flowers are tulips.

Billie didn’t remember that. George didn’t either.

But Will remembered the tulips.