Page 21
“Of course. Whatever you say.”
Phoebe shared the address of Flamingo Cottage, and Jonathan waved as he headed toward the car he’d borrowed from his parents.
Fifteen minutes later, Phoebe stood beside the horseshoe-adorned pergola, tapping Arden’s house key against her palm, wondering if this was a good idea. But she quickly dismissed the thought. Because she had missed Jonathan. And she had felt bad about the way things had ended between them. She hadn’t let herself dwell on how they’d parted ways, trying to be at peace with the decision she’d made. But now? The chance to catch up with him one-on-one was tantalizing.
Plus, she couldn’t wait to get a campfire going. She had already bought the ingredients for s’mores, and now she wouldn’t have to do it alone. That was why she was so excited—obviously. For the s’mores.
She waved as Jonathan parked his car next to hers.
“Nice place,” he called.
“I feel like I’m on a country estate.” Phoebe flung her arms wide. “All I need are some horses. I mean, the house is tiny. But I was thinking we could sit out here. You still know how to make a fire?”
“Please. Once a Cub Scout, always a Cub Scout.”
“That is so wholesome.”
Jonathan made quick work of the kindling Phoebe had found by the side of the house. Soon they were lounging in the lawn chairs, toasting marshmallows above the merrily crackling fire.
“So, tell me everything,” Phoebe said. “Tell me about New York. What is your life like now?”
“Everything?” Jonathan ran a hand through his black hair. His hair was longer than hers now. She tried to ignore the fact that he had grown up to be, well, hot. Because that was confusing.
“Still in the city. I left that brand-manager job after five years. For the last three years, I’ve been at a smaller agency doing a little bit of everything.”
Phoebe gently knocked his marshmallow stick with hers.
“And? Who do you live with? What do you do for fun? Are you”—she waved a hand casually—“dating anyone?”
“I live on my own in Brooklyn. One of the benefits of sticking it out at my big-boy job—no more roomies. Fun? I run every morning. Joined a CrossFit gym a while back.”
“I can tell,” Phoebe muttered. He gave her a sharp look. “Sorry, sorry. I know you were always self-conscious about your body, so I won’t say anything more about it. What else do you do?”
“I’m still working on the writing stuff.”
“You are?” Phoebe leaned in. “I’m so glad! I always loved that you had big dreams.”
He turned his marshmallow carefully, letting it hover just above the fire.
“I got an agent. We had a bit of interest last year in one of my screenplays, but I haven’t made it big yet. Hey, watch your marshmallow!”
Phoebe brandished her stick like a torch, the flaming marshmallow smoking and turning black. She blew it out and smiled innocently. “I like it like that.”
“I forgot that about you.” Jonathan frowned in concentration as he extracted his perfectly toasted marshmallow between two squares of graham cracker.
Phoebe stared at him as she ate her burnt marshmallow in one bite. He had failed to mention whether he was seeing anyone. But she couldn’t bring herself to ask again. It felt weird.
“I have a confession to make,” he said.
“What?” Phoebe wiped her mouth with a paper towel and speared another marshmallow. She tried to seem casual, but her heart raced. Were they going to discuss their past—already? The way they’d gone from inseparable besties to not talking for eight years? She wasn’t about to bring it up first, but if he did…
“I kind of know what you’re up to. A little bit, at least. I follow your marketing account.”
“No, you don’t.” Phoebe would definitely have noticed if Jonathan had started following her. She had occasionally looked him up on social media, only to be stymied by his apparently Luddite existence.
“I followed you from a work account.”
“You what?” Phoebe smacked his arm.
