Jules gave her a sympathetic smile. “I know it’s been a while since you really liked anyone. It was always going to be scary. But it’s like getting back on a horse. Or a bike. Or a—”
“I’m going to stop that riding metaphor before it goes to a very filthy place,” Evie cut her off with a grin.
“Fine.” Jules laughed. “But you know what I mean. It might feel strange at first, but you’ll get back into the swing of things in no time.”
But Evie wasn’t so sure. She didn’t just mean that it had been a while, that she needed to get the hang of dating again. That if she could practice her flirty quips and light banter, her fears would melt away and everything would be fine.
The truth was, she’d never felt this kind of desire before.
Not for anyone.
Not even Glen.
Just the thought felt like a betrayal. He’d been her husband; she’d pledged to love him forever. She’d adored him—she’d wanted him.
But had she ever wanted him like this? A sheet-twisting, knee-weakening, driven-to-distraction kind of want? A want that left her breathless, lost in daydreams about their kiss—and everything that could come after? Evie had to admit, there was no comparison. Because when Noah smiled at her—when he touched her—she caught a glimpse of a world she hadn’t known existed. And if all this time, there had been something more …
What did that say about her marriage?
What did that say about her?
Even thinking these things tied her stomach up in knots; she couldn’t bring herself to speak them out loud. So she poured the cocoa instead and led Jules up to her guest suite. They set up a fort of blankets and pillows on her camping mattress, and Jules shook her head, taking in the makeshift scene.
“We need to get you a real bed,” she said.
“We need at least ten of them,” Evie replied. “All the guest suites, plus some trundle beds for the kids …”
“Yes, but yours should be king-sized,” Jules declared with a wink. “Plenty of room for two.”
And then, because Jules was Jules—and could never leave well enough alone—she turned to Evie head-on. “So what are you going to do?” Jules asked. “He asked you on a date. The ball’s in your court now.”
Evie cleared her throat. The idea of going on a real date with Noah, having that charming smile all to herself, losing herself in his blue eyes …
Kissing him goodnight …
It was intoxicating and terrifying, all at the same time.
“Remember the summer in college when we went camping?” Evie asked, snuggling back into their fort of blankets and pillows.
“You mean when I fooled around with Jason Ajai in the bushes and got poison oak somewhere poison oak should never be?”
Evie smiled. “Yes, before we had to drive back with an ice pack between your legs. There was that creek near the campgrounds, do you remember? We went swimming that day, and everyone was jumping off the top of the waterfall.”
“That was so much fun!” Jules exclaimed. “Except you stayed up there for like a full half hour, working up the nerve to jump.”
“Exactly.” Evie nodded. “It feels like that when I’m with Noah,” she said, trying to explain. “Like I’m standing on the edge of a cliff, trying to decide if I should leap into the water. And I know it could be amazing, and a part of me wants to do it, but … I’m scared.”
Jules propped herself up on one elbow, looking at Evie. “Scared of what?
Evie bit her lip, still not able to confess what she was really feeling. “What if I’m not ready?” she asked instead.
“You don’t have to dive into the deep end,” Jules pointed out. “You could just take a paddle in the shallows, to use your cliff-diving metaphor. Splash around a little.”
“Maybe.” But Evie already knew she wouldn’t be content with that. Not when Noah was already occupying her mind. Her dreams.
Her fantasies.
Jules reached over and gave her hand a reassuring squeeze. “It’ll be OK,” she said. “There’s no rush. When you’re ready to explore this thing with Noah, you’ll know. And until then … well, it’s not like you don’t have a few other things to keep you busy.”
Evie looked around at the bare plaster walls and creaky floorboards and smiled. “Just a few,” she agreed.
“But first things first,” Jules said. “You and I are going to put on our dorkiest, most comfortable pajamas—the flannel ones we’d never let a man see us in—and we’re going to eat too much candy and watch Grey’s Anatomy.”
“Again?”
“Yes!” Jules grinned. “The episode with the pole going through those two people.”
“No,” Evie protested, laughing. “You know it makes me cry every time.”
“Exactly. A nice cathartic cry,” Jules said.
“OK,” Evie relented. “But not the plane crash episode.”
“Never,” Jules agreed, cueing up her laptop to play. “We’ll just get a couple with the hot guy with the bad heart, he’s all grizzled and manly, just my type.”
Evie settled back, smiling. “Do you ever wonder how we managed to graduate when all we did was watch TV?” she asked as she passed Jules some candy.
“All the time, babe. All the time.”
They stayed up late watching Netflix and eating way too much candy, and when the construction crew arrived early the next morning, Evie dragged Jules out of the house for breakfast.
“But I’ve got a sugar hangover,” Jules complained from behind dark sunglasses.
Evie laughed at her whining. “How about some hair of the dog then?” she said, leading her friend into the bakery and over to the counter full of delicious pastries and cake.
Jules brightened immediately. “I knew there was a reason you’re my best friend,” she said, hugging Evie.”
“Because we both have freakishly large feet and you’re always borrowing my shoes?” Evie asked, smiling.
“That too. Ooh, is that a chocolate croissant?”
As Jules drooled over the baked goods, Evie took a quick glance around the cafe. She wasn’t looking for Noah, not exactly, she told herself. And she definitely wasn’t disappointed, when she saw he wasn’t there. But Poppy waved at her from the corner, where she was sitting with a group of familiar faces, so after they’d claimed their morning croissants and coffee, Evie steered Jules over to introduce her.
“Wait—Poppy Sommerville?” Jules asked, her eyes widening. “I love your books!”
Poppy grinned. “Pull up a chair, sit down, I like you already.”
Jules shook her head. “Seriously, I’ve read everything you’ve written. Remember?” she asked, nudging Evie. “I told you to read the last one because of the dirty bits. You write amazing dirty bits,” she told Poppy, who laughed.
“The highest compliment for a romance author.”
They grabbed a pair of extra chairs and joined the breakfast chat, Jules immediately launching into a discussion about Poppy’s new book. Mackenzie was cooing over another woman, Paige’s newborn, while a brunette woman named Cassie lit up when Evie squeezed in next to her. “You!” she said, looking excited. “I was going to call you. I heard all about your renovation, and I want in.”