Page 52 of This Feeling

“Basically, she hasn’t stopped pushing him since childhood toward a relationship with a friend who he thinks of as a sister.”

Cadie rolled her eyes. “What is it with the mothers in this town? They’re all up in their kids’ business.”

“Mine isn’t.”

She pointed at me. “Yours is a rare exception. Kian’s mother is. Sean’s. Judith Turner, as well. Poor Hope has to deal with that woman constantly.”

I nodded. “Speaking of Hope, have you seen her lately?”

Cadie looked up in thought, then finally shook her head. “Come to think of it, I haven’t seen her in at least a month. You?”

“No.” I shook my head. “I haven’t. And the last time she came in, she looked pale and exhausted.”

“Maybe we should all go see her. I know Brystol and Aurora would love to. Aurora mentioned her the other day when I stopped in to get a cookbook I ordered.”

“Aren’t Hope and Aurora good friends?” I asked.

Cadie shrugged. “I think they’re pretty close. Hope told me that Aurora was the first person to welcome her to Moose Village. Apparently, her husband and Aurora’s brother are friends?”

“Oh yeah. Liam and Nathan have been best friends since childhood. Aurora said that Nathan almost cried when he found out Liam was moving back to Moose Village, he was so happy.”

Cadie smiled. “That’s sweet. But wait—we got off the topic of your hot and heavy dream! So, you’re fake-dating Sean, but you have the hots for his brother.”

I sighed. “That about sums it up.”

“What did you dream?” she asked, waggling her brows.

I could feel my face heating again.

“Oh my gosh, Harper, you are blushing!”

Clearing my throat, I stood and reached for her plate.

“I’m not done! Sit your ass back down and finish your bread.”

“Okay!” I laughed as I took my seat once again. “In my dream, Declan had just finished giving me oral, and he asked if he was better than his brother. Or maybe he said I wouldn’t ever think of his brother again? I don’t remember. But then—this is the best part—he took my tube of lipstick and wrote the word ‘mine’ on my thigh.”

Cadie gasped, both her hands flying to her mouth to smother a squeal. She slowly dropped them and whispered, “Like the Taylor Swift song. Oh my God, you’re living that song right now! Do you feel guilty about your dream?”

Frowning, I tried to think what song she was talking about. When I couldn’t, I shook my head. “Why would I feel guilty? I’m not really dating Sean.”

She sat back. “That’s true. So the song doesn’t really apply here. Damn it.”

I rolled my eyes. “I’m sorry if my life isn’t a playbook of Taylor Swift songs, Cadie.”

She waved me off. “We’ll find another one. By the way, the song title is ‘Guilty as Sin’.”

I snapped my fingers. “That’s right! Geesh, if it were a snake, it would’ve bitten me.”

Cadie giggled.

“I mean, some of the lyrics could make it my song. I was dreaming about it. I swear to God I woke up having an orgasm.”

Cadie bounced in her seat. “This is amazing! I’ve been trying to figure out your Tay Tay song!”

“Tay Tay? Good Lord, you’ve been hanging around Brystol way too much. Please tell me you don’t have Taylor Swift songs playing over the speakers in the bakery like Brystol does in the toy store.”

“I’m not that bad, but trying to find one of her songs that mimics your own life is kind of fun.”

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