Page 67 of Beg, Borrow, or Steal

“Well, you’ve got to sit down with us and tell me all about it, then,” my mom says, her eyes lighting up in a way I never saw from her when I introduced her to Zoe. Then again, she was standing next to my dad when the introductions happened—and when he’s around, she tends to hang back and let him do all the talking. It’s so good to see her like this.

Emily looks at me with an unsure expression—her golden brows pinched together. “I don’t want to intrude.”

And even though we’re not alone, I still tell her the truth. “You can intrude on me anytime you want.”

June 21

Emily (5:15 PM):So Friday night at Hank’s is sort of a big deal around here. You haven’t experienced one yet, and I think it’s definitely time. Me and my siblings get there around 7:00 if you want to join.

Chapter Twenty-One

Emily

I lied to Jack.

I said I knew how to let what happened between us in the closet stay in the closet. At the time, I thought what I was saying was true, but it turns out, I have never been more wrong. Because what happened in the closet changed me. I am a different woman after having Jack’s hands on my body.

I am a woman who wakes up and her first thought isI wonder if Jack is awake yet.A woman who has endlessly dirty dreams where we’re back in that closet but never get interrupted. A woman who has typed the wordsDo you want to come scene-block snuggling with me?five different times into her text box and then deleted it before sending each time. (So maybe I’m not completely different.)

And Jack? He doesn’t seem to be as tortured as me. We’ve hung out a few times since The Closet—mainly so he can listen to me panic that Colette won’t like my manuscript—but each time he never once tried to kiss me again.

Not. Once.

What the hell is wrong with him? I’ve given him ample opportunities too. Two days ago at The Diner, we were sitting at the bar, and I looked over my shoulder at him with a grin that saidoh hello would you please put your lips on mine?He just picked up his coffee and took a long drink. And because I know that Jack has never once in his life been clueless, I have to assume he’s resisting me on purpose. Maybe he doesn’t want to kiss me again. Or maybe he thinks a fling would be a bad idea between us. (It would.) (But maybe I just don’t care and want it to happen anyway?)

I can’t take the uncertainty anymore, though. I have to find out the answer soon, and I’m hoping that it will be tonight. It’s my favorite time of the week: Friday night at Hank’s. I pull into the gravel lot, dust kicking up behind me, and park next to Noah’s orange-and-white truck—just under the neon sign illuminatingHank’s.

As I’m getting out, Annie pulls in on the other side of me. All that’s missing is Maddie’s truck for it to look like a true Friday night.

“Emily!” says Annie, practically jumping from her truck in her floral dress and boots the moment it’s in park. “Wait!”

“I’m literally waiting. You don’t have to jog.”

She breathes out like she just sprinted a mile when she gets close. “Whew. I hate running. I don’t know how Will does it every morning. Anyway, I’m glad I caught you before you went in. I need advice about something…”

“Who do I need to beat up? Did someone hurt your feelings? Is it Will?”

“What!” She laughs like she can’t tell if I’m serious or not. I’m actually not sure if I’m serious or not either. “No one hurt me. Definitely not Will.”

“Okay…usually you ask me for advice when someone’s saidsomething offensive and you don’t know how to respond. So this is me saying, I’ll happily respond for you.”

“Stop that. Everything is good. Better than good, actually. And that’s why…” She bites her bottom lip and crinkles her nose like a bad case of butterflies has swept through her. “I think I want to accept Will’s proposal…by proposing to him myself.”

My stomach clenches.

“Wow, Annie!” I say, trying to sound in awe and not gutted. “You feel ready now?”

“I’ve felt ready for a long time now if I’m being honest.”

I take her by the shoulders and tug her in for a huge hug. Partly because this news deserves one, and partly because I need a second to fix my face. “This is incredible news.”

And it really is. I am so happy for Annie because she and Will are perfect for each other. But I also can’t shake the urge to cry either.

“Why do you need my advice, then?” I ask when we pull away.

“Oh! I was wondering what you think about the way I’m planning to do it…”

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