Page 107 of Runaway Bride's Guide to Love

“I mean, it is horrible,” Quinn says. “Not all of us can stumble into a bar and into the arms of a hunky construction man.”

“What I was saying,” Maeve continues while giving Quinn the eye. “Just because I didn’t want to date right away doesn’t mean that’s the right way. Hell, who am I to say what I know is right? Who are any of us? When it’s right it’s right. And if he treats her well, she’s happy, and he’s not getting flogged by a dominatrix, then who are we to object?”

We laugh at Maeve’s joke. “Thank you. That means a lot.”

“I know you want us to approve, but at the end of the day, Stella, this is your life,” Maeve continues. “It’s not something you need to have because the rest of us do. Or because you see everyone else having it. If this is right for you, then fucking do it. Be happy. Be in love. And we’ll have your back. Like always.”

Tears fall down my cheeks as I stand to walk over and hug my sister, Ainsley right behind me, making it a group hug.

“Stop!” Quinn groans from the iPad. “I’m already jealous I’m not there.”

“Then come home,” Ainsley says as we all wipe our tears of joy away. “Why are you even in Arizona still anyway?”

“Because I have a job,” she says. “And friends. And a cat.”

“You know the cat can move,” I say. “And there are teaching jobs in Tennessee.”

She doesn’t answer, instead changing the subject like she’s so good at doing. “I did just think of another pro in the Emmett column.”

“What’s that?” I ask.

“He’s already Simon approved. At least I assume. Wait! How did he find out first?”

I instantly blush thinking back to this morning. “He might have walked in on us in the break room today.”

“Stella Leigh!” Ainsley scolds in the nicest way possible.

“We weren’t having sex…yet. Or then.”

“Did you have office sex?”

I smile at Quinn. “A lady never tells.”

“Bullshit. A lady tells. And brags. Because if she’s getting railed on a desk, her sisters need to know.”

We all laugh as I fill them in on enough details to assuage their curiosity. They aren’t surprised whatsoever that Simon is taking credit for this. But also agree that no one is going to go along with his narrative.

Quinn tells us she has to sign off as she has to grade papers before going to bed, so we start cleaning up. We’re just about wrapped up when there’s a knock at Maeve’s door.

“Who could that be?” I ask.

Maeve tosses down a dish towel before walking to her front door. “I have no idea.”

Ainsley and I follow her to see that when she opens the door, there’s a teenage boy holding two huge paper bags. “Delivery for Stella and her sisters.”

What in the world?

I step in front of Maeve and take the bags as Maeve finds her purse to hand him a tip. Something is cold in here, which makes me even more confused.

“What’s in the bags?” Ainsley asks.

“I’m not sure.” I put them down on the coffee table and openthe first. I start grinning from ear to ear as I see two tubs of ice cream, one birthday cake flavor and one mint chocolate chip, and a note on top.

Hope you have a good night with your sisters. Call me and I’ll come get you when you’re done. That way you make it home safe. And when I mean home, I mean with me.

Love, Cap

“Stop! Did Emmett send us ice cream?” Ainsley squeals.

---