Chapter 29

Twenty-Nine

Gemma

“ C an I try a blackberry mimosa?” I ask our server, glancing up from the menu.

“Absolutely! Those are delicious, I think you’ll love it.”

“Oooh, I’ll try that too,” Grace squeaks, shimmying in her seat.

Looking between Georgia and Charley, the server asks, “What about you two? The same?”

Charley and Georgia look at one another before shrugging and laughing.

“May as well make it the same,” Georgia says.

“Coming right up, ladies.”

It’s a bright, warm, sunny Sunday morning, and the girls and I are at Taylor’s Grill for their monthly Sunday boozy brunch. We don’t make it here every month, but it’s always yummy and a great time when we do. The bartender from High Tide Tavern down the road teams up with the owner of the grill, and they come up with a fun and tasty selection of mimosas and over-the-top Bloody Marys, with a small menu of brunch items to eat. It’s bottomless, and that can get pretty dangerous, especially for a Sunday afternoon.

“Okay, so what happened?” Grace asks after the server comes back with our drinks and takes our order.

“I don’t know all the details, but his father called while I was over there last night, and I guess his mom had a fall and was in the hospital.”

“Shit,” Georgia breathes out. “Is she okay?”

“I don’t know. Everett was understandably shaken up when he got off the phone, and we didn’t get to talk about much after that. He started packing while I got online and booked him a flight.”

I hated seeing how stressed out he was, and feeling like I couldn’t do anything.

“And he’s already gone?” Charley asks.

“Yeah, he flew out a few hours later.”

“I hope she’s okay.”

“Me too. I’m sure she’s going to be fine, but I can’t imagine finding something like that out and being all the way across the country from my mom. It probably added to his stress.”

“Do you know how long he’s gone for?”

I shake my head, taking a sip from my straw. “No, I haven’t heard from him yet today. I’m sure it’ll depend on how badly she’s hurt.”

“Mom, look!”

Shielding my eyes from the sun with my hand, I look out toward the beach where the kids are having their own little picnic. The grill’s back patio area opens up right to the beach, which makes it convenient for moms like us who want to enjoy a girls’ brunch while the kids play. We can keep an eye on them while they still get to feel like they’re hanging out alone.

Sutton’s smile is wide and bright as he shows me the kite he’s got floating in the air. They’ve been working on getting their kites airborne since we got here, and he’s the first one to do it.

“Good job, babe!” Glancing across the table at Grace, I ask, “How was your date last night?”

Her face scrunches up, which tells me all I need to know. “It went okay, I guess. Could’ve been better, could’ve been worse.”

“What didn’t you like about it?”

“You know how it goes.” She rolls her eyes. “First dates are awkward. The conversation often feels forced, and I don’t know. I just didn’t feel that spark with him, you know?”

“This is exactly why I’m more than fine staying single for a while.” Georgia laughs dryly. “I’m sorry it didn’t go as well as you wanted it to.”

Grace has been single for a while, but lately I can tell she’s getting tired of it and is more than ready to put herself out there again. She’s always been somewhat of a hopeless romantic, hence why the divorce of her high school sweetheart hit her so hard.

“I’m sure the right guy will come along… eventually.” Grace chuckles. “I also don’t even really know what I’m looking for, if I’m being honest. Do I want to just have so me casual fun? Am I wanting a relationship? Am I ready for that?”

“A little casual fun couldn’t hurt.” I shrug, thoughts of Everett and what he admitted last night coming back to me. “You’ve never been with anybody other than Ethan, so figuring out what you like and what you don’t might be good for you.”

Breathing out a sigh, she takes a drink. “It’s intimidating,” she admits. “And I think I’m too far in my head about it. The last time anybody other than Ethan saw me naked was back when I was a hot, skinny cheerleader who had boobs up to my chin, and now I’m a divorced single mom who looks like I was rode hard and put away wet.”

Laughter bubbles past my lips before I can stop myself. “Oh, please,” I choke out. “Grace, you are gorgeous and the furthest thing from haggard.”

Grace frowns, and I want to pull her in for a hug. “Logically, I know you’re right, but it’s just… daunting.”

“Just keep doing what you’re doing,” Georgia says in reference to the dating app Grace downloaded. “It’ll happen, but I’m proud of you for getting back out there.”

“What about you?” Grace asks Georgia. “I haven’t heard any fun sexcapades from you in a while. You going soft on us, big sis?”

Georgia doesn’t date per se, but she does get laid quite frequently. I’ve always admired my older sister for how she prioritizes her needs and the things she wants. She has a strong personality and she’s not afraid to use it, especially when it comes to men—and the occasional woman. She’s got some of the best sex stories .

“Nah, work’s been pretty crazy lately, so I haven’t had time for much else.”

“Boo, that’s boring,” Grace pouts, and I laugh.

“I’m going to that book convention in Charlotte next weekend, though,” Georgia adds. “I’m thinking of downloading an app while I’m there and finding somebody hot to spend the night with.”

“What about you, Char?” I ask, turning my attention to our friend quietly listening to it all.

“Not a damn thing is happening in this corner,” she mutters with a laugh. “It’s cobwebs up here, and I plan to keep it that way. However, I did just purchase the best damn vibrator I’ve ever used.”

“Well, cheers to that!”

We all laugh, taking a drink as our food gets dropped off. Right as I start eating, my phone vibrates in my pocket. Pulling it out, I somehow already know who it is before I even look at the screen. A smile tugs on my lips as I realize I’m right.

Everett: This time difference is kicking my ass. Just wanted to say hi and that I was thinking of you. ;) I didn’t get a chance to say it last night in my hurry to get packed, but thank you for booking the flight for me. It was a huge help.

“That’s neighbor boy, isn’t it?” Georgia asks, and when I look up from my phone, she’s got a knowing smirk on her face as she pops a hash brown into her mouth.

Breathing out a laugh, I nod. “Yeah, it is.”

Me: How’s your mom doing? I hope you were able to get some sleep on the plane.

As I hit send, Grace chimes in. “Tell him we hope his mom’s okay!” Charley and Georgia hum in agreement, so I type out the second message before placing the phone on the table and getting back to eating.

What Everett mentioned to me last night keeps replaying in my head, and I know I need to tell them and get it off my chest, but why am I so nervous? Either way, I drag in a deep breath and go for it.

“I’ve got to tell you guys something,” I start off with, garnering three sets of curious, and slightly puzzled, eyes on me.

“You’re pregnant,” Grace guesses.

My brows pinch. “What? No.”

“You got married!” Charley tries next.

Staring at her deadpan, I ask, “Now, when the hell would I have had time to do that?”

She shrugs. “It’s not exactly time that you need. Just someone to officiate the whole thing.”

Apparently, Georgia wanted to throw her wacky-ass guess in the ring too. “Everett isn’t actually in Seattle visiting his mom, but instead locked up in your basement as your newest sex slave?”

“Okay, first of all”—I hold up a finger—“you read entirely too much. And secondly, no. Shut up and listen, because I’m actually kind of freaking out about this.”

That sobers them up, which only makes me even more nervous to tell them. God, I’m being freaking ridiculous! He admitted he had feelings for me, so what?

Just spit it out.

“Okay, there’s a slight chance I’m making this bigger than it needs to be, but Everett told me he has feelings for me last night. ”

“Like, before he left for the airport?” Grace asks, her brows scrunched together in confusion.

“Right before he found out about his mom, actually.”

Georgia looks from Grace to me, resting her arm on the table as she leans forward. “Babe, did you honestly think that man didn’t have feelings for you?”

I flit my gaze between the three of them, finding Charley and Grace both biting back grins. “I mean… yeah?” I respond, not meaning to make that sound like a question. “We agreed to no strings.”

I swear, the more I say this, the less believable it becomes.

Georgia sighs. “Oh, you sweet, innocent woman.” Reaching over, she covers my hand with hers. “I mean this in the nicest way possible, but you, my naive sister, are delusional as hell if you could see the way Everett looks at you and think there’s nothing there. And in the same breath, if you honestly think you don’t have feelings involved too, then you’re even more delusional than I originally thought.”

I huff, face twisting up. Georgia’s right. I know it, she knows it, everybody at this table knows it, but that doesn’t make it any easier to say out loud. I don’t know why either.

My oldest sister sits back in her chair, taking a drink from her mimosa as her eyes twinkle with mirth from above the glass. “Will somebody help me here?” she murmurs.

“Georgia is right,” Grace adds, earning her a scowl. “I know you guys always poke fun at me about how I’m a hopeless romantic and how I always take things to mean much more than they do, but I fear you’re chronically the opposite. ”

Gaze dancing between the three of them, I ask, “What the hell does that mean?”

“It means that you’ve been closed off to the idea of anything even remotely romantic, aside from your books, for so long, I think it’s easy for you to deny what’s right in front of you.” Grace’s features soften as she takes me in, and I know she’s trying to be as gentle but to the point as possible. “And I think it’s easy for you to deny how you feel, even to yourself, because opening yourself up to someone is scary as hell. Even somebody as wonderful as Everett.”

I take in a deep breath, exhaling harshly through my nose.

Is she right?

Are they both right?

“Let me ask you this,” Charley adds. “You told us that you’re freaking out about what he said. Why?” Before I can answer, she cuts me off, holding up a finger. “And don’t just give us some generic bullshit answer. Really think about why him telling you that would freak you out.”

Spotting our server coming this way, I use this opportunity to down the rest of my mimosa, clearly needing another if we’re going to get down to the nitty-gritty of my damn feelings this afternoon. After she comes and picks up our empty glasses, I let out another deep breath.

“Because what if it doesn’t work out?” The question feels like an admission. It feels like my heart is flayed out in front of three of the most important people in my life, and I hate how uncomfortably vulnerable I feel because of it.

“But what if it does?” Grace challenges. “Of course, there’s a chance it could not work out, but what if it does?”

“What if Sutton gets attached, and then it doesn’t work out?” My throat tightens and the backs of my eyes sting. “He’s been through enough loss for one lifetime.”

“Honey, that boy is already attached,” Grace says softly. “And that’s not a bad thing. If I had to guess, I’d say that Everett is also attached, not just to you, but to your son too. It is so obvious to everyone, except you, apparently, that he cares about y’all. I can’t imagine what it must feel like to lose a partner the way you did, Gem, and I can’t even begin to imagine what moving on from something like that must feel like. Your fears and concerns are one hundred percent valid, but I think getting attached and having feelings aren’t the worst things in the world. At least not in this situation.”

“Grace is right,” Georgia murmurs. “He’s one of the good ones, babe. It’s okay to let yourself feel. It’s okay to want more than what you’ve allowed yourself thus far. You deserve the world, and exactly like you said with Sutton, you’ve been through enough in your lifetime. You’ve been strong and brave and responsible. It’s okay to be scared, but don’t let that fear hold you back from a really great thing.”

Wiping away a stray tear that spilled over my cheek, I breathe out a laugh. “I didn’t come here today to cry.”

Sharing a laugh, we all take a drink of fresh mimosas. I look out onto the sand, where Sutton is still flying his kite. The smile on his face is wide, and his shoulders shake with laughter as he nearly runs into his cousin. He’s such a happy, good kid.

Maybe my sisters are right.

Maybe it’s okay to allow myself to want more. Being around Everett makes me so happy, it makes Sutton happy, so why not let myself bask in that feeling?