Page 39 of A Good Book

“The fact that you think you have to tell me this just proves he’s not the one. Nobody had to tell you that Isaac was the one.”

“Isaac did. He relentlessly told me in a million subtle and a few not-so-subtle ways. But I had it in my head that Matt was the one for me. The whole town thought he was the one for me. But Isaac really saw me. He brought passion to my life. Despite my resistance. Despite my brain telling me he wasn’t the one. He. Was. It.”

I sat in my desk chair on a big sigh. “Well, I’m not you.”

“Then why are you calling me? Are you looking for my blessing to be with Matt? You’ve got it. Good luck with that.”

“I just want someone to be happy for me. I’ve liked Matt for so long. And now, I actually have a chance with him. And Ben’s messing with my head. And you’re on Ben’s side. I need someone to be on my side. Ugh! I should have called Eve.”

Sarah blew out a long breath. “You’re right. I’m sorry. You like Matt. I get it. He’s a nice guy. Smart. Talented. And his brother’s good in bed. There’s really no reason you shouldn’t like him.”

“Stop,” I said, trying not to giggle. “Why must you make everything about you? Everyone knows Isaac is good in bed.” I blushed just talking about sex. “I’ve heard you two when you come home for the holidays.”

“Yeah, well, take notes. If you can’t stop thinking about him, then he might be the one. But if he makes you scream, toes curling, body shaking, mind-blowing ecstasy, then he’s definitely the one. As long as he looks at you like you’re the only girl in the world. Understood?”

“Understood,” I grumbled.

“And just for the record, he wasn’t too good for me. You can like Matt. You may even decide you love him. But he doesn’t belong on a pedestal. He’s not the god you need to worship. And you arenotthe most boring person on the planet. Now, I gotta go. Don’t you have church?”

I looked at the time. “I suppose.”

“I won that bet,” she said.

“What bet?”

“Isaac said there was no way you were at a public college and still going to church on Sunday since Mom and Dad wouldn’t know if you didn’t go. But I said you were absolutely still going to church.”

“Well, I might not go today because Ben usually goes with me, but now I don’t know if he’ll want to go with me after what happened last night.”

Sarah laughed. “Yes, Gabby, I bet after kissing the girl he’s loved for approximatelyeternity, he won’t be in the mood to go to church with you.”

It was too confusing to think about Ben loving me like that because I risked a lot to follow the man of my dreams to college, having no idea if he could ever feel the same about me. And Ben was supposed to be my friend, supporting me, not loving me like that or kissing me like he did.

“Thanks for no help.”

“Gabby.” Sarah sighed. “I love you. And I’ll support you no matter what. Just be yourself, and everything will work out how it’s supposed to.”

“And who am I?” It sounded like a dumb question, but after that kiss, I wasn’t sure.

“You’re kind. Everyone knows it. If you’re kind, then you and everyone else will be fine.”

I wasn’t so sure.

“Okay,” I said.

“See you at Thanksgiving. I’m here if you need anything.”

“Thanks. Bye.”

“Bye, Gabbs.”

I hung up the phone, grabbed my toiletry bag, and opened the door to head to the bathroom.

“Oh!” I jumped, not expecting Ben to be on the other side.

“We should talk.”

Pressing my lips together, I nodded several times. “I don’t know why that happened. And I don’t want things to be weird. Do they have to be weird?”

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