Page 26 of Dream a Little Dream

“How’d that go?” Devyn asked.

“She’s really pretty, isn’t she?” Elizabeth said, risking another glance back.

“Um, I’m not exactly sure how it went. Fine, I guess?” I told Devyn. My mind raced. “She was nice. Again.” I turned to Elizabeth and nodded. “And hot, which she has no right being, because this is my town. I should get to be the hot one.”

“Maybe she thinks you are,” Devyn said.

“Not helping,” Elizabeth said quietly.

“It’s fine,” I said, waving the whole thing off. “Totally fine.”

“Which is what all fine people say,” Devyn pointed out.

They exchanged a look. I was confident they saw how rattled I’d been on the return.

“It’s okay to be thrown for a loop,” Elizabeth said softly. “It was pretty bold of her to show up inyourhometown, inyourAirbnb of all places. She could have reached out first. Seen how you felt about her coming to stay.”

“That’s true. A thoughtful person would have done just that.”

“She’s a doctor, you know,” Elizabeth said quietly to Devyn, whose eyebrows hit her hairline.

“Lots of people are doctors,” I said automatically, refusing to hand out the credit. “Anyway, MJ and I are going to dinner soon. It’s like the stars aligned and sent her at the exact right time.”

An order of mozzarella sticks was placed in the center of our table. I lifted my gaze to thank Sean only to see that Kyle had delivered them. She shrugged. “He seemed busy and I wanted to introduce myself to your friends.”

“Why?” I should have maybe said that in a nicer tone, but my mouth had lost its filter in Kyle’s presence, apparently.

“Because I’m friendly and nosy and wanted you all to have your mozzarella before it got cold sitting on that bar waiting for Steve to walk it over.” That shut me up.

“That’s friendly of you,” Elizabeth said conservatively. “I’m Elizabeth and this is Devyn, who I’m desperately in love with.”

Kyle nodded. “It’s awesome to meet you both. I’m Kyle, a friend of Savanna’s.”

“Oh, we know,” Devyn said with pointed eye contact. She was so good at this.

Kyle shifted her aqua blue eyes to me, her brow furrowed. “At least, I hope we’re still friends. I suppose time will tell.”

“Sean,” I said.

“I’m sorry?”

“His name is Sean, the bartender. You called him Steve. He’s a friend of ours, so just wanted to set that straight.”

Kyle’s mouth formed the shape of an O and she placed a hand on her chest. “That’s on me. I’m so sorry. Sean, from now on.”

“And that rhymes,” Elizabeth said with an uneasy smile. She never was one for tension and would do anything in her power to make choppy waters calm.

Kyle offered her a smile and tapped the table. “Well, I’ll let you get back to your evening and the cheese sticks.”

Once she was out of earshot, Elizabeth’s eyes went wide. “Wow. So that’s Kyle. Wow. Wow. Wow. I get it.”

I closed my eyes, knowing exactly what she meant. Kyle was gorgeous up close and had presence for days, more so than my memory had even allowed for. “That’s her,” I said with a sigh.

“And you’re certain we can’t forgive her?” Elizabeth asked, having totally changed her tune. The Kyle effect, I realized.

I leaned forward. “Do not get weak on me just because she’s friendly and has impressive lips. She’s a no-call, no-show variety.”

“You’re totally right,” Elizabeth said weakly, her eyes darting toward the bar and back. “She’s tricky, though,” she whispered. “Because she seems human and nice.”

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