Page 40 of Just One Kiss

“I seem to remember not all that long ago you were the one telling me how important it was to take risks.”

Carly groaned again. That was true. Before Quinn and Grady started dating, it was Carly who prodded Quinn out of her comfort zone.

“And now look at me. I’m getting married.”

“I’m hanging up now,” Carly said.

“Fine, but don’t you dare back out.”

“Fine.”

“Let me know when I can bring Jaden home.”

“Yeah, thanks for hanging out with him,” Carly said.

“Was Josh busy tonight?”

Carly’s brief pause was enough of a reply for Quinn to put two and two together.

“Oh, I get it,” she said. “You don’t want Josh there when the doctor picks you up.”

Carly sighed. “Can you blame me?”

“Do you still have feelings for Josh? Is that why? I mean—you could look at this as an excellent way to make him jealous.”

Carly plopped on the edge of the bed and caught her reflection in the mirror. She was too old for playing games, and that was part of it—but was there another reason she didn’t want Josh to see her with the doctor?

Lord, help. My feelings are a jumbled ball of confusion right now. I don’t want to even think about Josh, but for Jaden’s sake—I need to be kind to him. How do I do that and still protect my heart? How do I reconcile the fact that I’m still mad at him?

“Carly?”

“Sorry—I got distracted. I don’t have feelings for Josh.” But it surprised her how easy it was to admit to God that she was still mad at her ex. Didn’t that mean she hadn’t forgiven him? Shouldn’t she figure out a way to do that?

But forgiving him meant letting go of some of this anger. And that, she didn’t think she could do. That anger kept her heart safe.

“Why do I feel like you’re trying to convince yourself?” Quinn asked.

“I have to go. I have to stuff the baby kangaroo into my dress.”

Quinn laughed. “Have fun!”

Carly clicked her phone off and flopped back on the bed, staring at the ceiling. Wasn’t thirty-four too old for first dates and awkward new relationships?

Apparently not, because here she was, going through all the motions of getting ready for a first date and preparing herself for the awkwardness of this new relationship.

Another text came in from Josh:Let me know if you need me to pick Jaden up later.

She reapplied her makeup and curled her hair, then stepped into the black dress. She slipped her feet into her black pumps—the ones she only wore when she knew she wasn’t going to be on her feet for any length of time—then stood in front of the full-length mirror and snapped a picture.

She texted it to Quinn with the captionIs this stunning enough for you?

Seconds later, the reply came in:Are you trying to kill me?

She frowned as her eyes scanned the top of the screen and horror washed over her. Somehow, she’d sent the photo—and the text—to Josh and not to her sister.

Oh no! I meant to send that to Quinn!

Yeah, sure.

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