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As I made my way back to my car, my phone buzzed, and I saw a text come over that made my stomach tense.
Looks like I’ll be able to get to the signing after all. See ya there.
“Things don’t have to be messy,” I repeated under my breath. “But I sure as heck had better tell Emily how I got the tickets.”
I shoved the phone into my pocket and climbed into my car, trying to push away the worrisome feeling.
By the time I got to the antique store, I knew my old life had caught up with me. But that didn’t mean I needed to tell Emily everything.
We were only friends.
As I yanked on the door to the store, the little bell jangled, and all eyes turned in my direction. Every Evans sister happened to be at the store. I didn’t spot their brother, Brad, thankfully.
There were times when I wasn’t sure he liked me.
“The hero of the moment,” Emily’s mom shouted from behind the counter.
Amelia chuckled as her gaze caught mine while Emily wandered toward the front of the store with a porcelain poodle in her arms.
“There you are,” Emily sang out. “I thought maybe you got cold feet.”
I scowled. “Cold feet?”
Emily’s long, dark lashes outlined her vibrant green eyes, and the hint of red gloss on her lips distracted me just enough to forget her family was around.
Almost.
“James said you’d left our house an hour ago,” Amelia explained.
“Ah, right. The tattle tale.” I grinned. “There’s no hiding anything on this island.”
Emily laughed, which made my insides toss and turn like a sinking ship. I was doomed. Everything about her was insanely attractive.
But I could do this. I could be the dutiful friend. We’d been doing it for nearly a year, this back and forth.
“Speaking of, you still haven’t told me how you got the tickets.” Emily set the porcelain poodle on a table and smiled at me.
Emily was so damn pretty. She took a step forward, sending another look in my direction. Something about her eyes always made me feel like I was where I belonged, right in front of her.
I tore my gaze away and shook my head. “I can’t tell you all my secrets, or you won’t find me mysterious and alluring.”
She laughed. “You’re about as mysterious as a pot scrubber.”
“What does that even mean?”
She wandered over toward me. “I don’t know, but it’s what popped out. Are you ready?”
I glanced at her mom, who was eyeing us, and nodded. “Absolutely. And dinner in Seattle, right?”
She groaned. “Are you sure we can’t do Milo’s down the street?”
Amelia chuckled. “It’s true. Emily does spend most Friday nights whooping it up there. I think she has a crush on Rick, the bartender.”
Emily threw a withering look in her sister’s direction, which only made her sister grin wider.
“And the last time we were there together, he asked you out,” she added.
Her sister Audrey came down from the upstairs offices and waved.
