Page 128 of Champagne Nights

“Ah. I totally understand that. My family is the same way.”

“My family can’t keep secrets. They always do, no matter how much they promise not to tell.”

“I heard you mention a wedding. They’re getting married?” he asked.

“Yeah. They just got engaged.”

“So did my brother, Finn.”

“I have one better. Charlotte announced that she was pregnant the same day as Piper announced her engagement.”

“Ouch. A double whammy isn’t good. How do you feel about that? Wait…don’t answer. I bet you’re happy for them on the surface, but deep down, you’re distraught and hurting because it’s hard to sit back and watch other people be happy when you’re miserable because your happiness was snatched away from you.”

Wow. Tears filled my eyes as I sat there and listened to his truth. I had to look away and out the window before I made a fool of myself.

“It’s okay, Paisley,” he said as he reached across the table and placed his hand on my arm. “I feel the same way, and nobody would or could ever understand unless they experienced what we did.”

His touch. The feel of his hand on my skin. It felt good to feel a man’s touch again, and it scared me. I didn’t pull my arm away because he meant well, and I didn’t want to hurt his feelings. It was a simple gesture to say that everything was okay.

“You’re right,” I said.

Suddenly, my phone beeped with a text message from Keaton.

“Whatcha doing tonight, sis?”

Then, one from Charlotte came through.

“Hey, just checking in to see if you’re doing okay. What are you up to?”

And one last message from my mother.

“Hi, honey. I wanted to see how your week went. What are you up to right now?”

I shook my head and rolled my eyes. “See, I told you,” I said as I held up my phone and showed him the text messages.

“You weren’t kidding.” He chuckled.

“Oh no. I don’t kid around when it comes to my family.” I laughed.

“Do you mind?” he asked as he took my phone. “I’m going to put my phone number into your contacts in case you ever want to talk about anything.”

I smiled at him as he handed my phone back. When I took it from his hand, our fingers brushed lightly, and a wave of hysteria swept over my body.

“What else do you do besides being a fireman and running every day?” I asked.

“I build furniture.”

“Real furniture?” I asked.

“Yes. Real furniture.” He chuckled.

“That’s great. You have to be really talented and have a lot of patience to do something like that.”

“It keeps me busy.”

I looked at the clock on my phone. It was eleven o’clock. “Wow. I can’t believe it’s eleven already,” I said.

“Is it really? I guess time flies when you’re having fun.” He smiled.

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