Page 28 of Wish For Me

Leif stands up. “Aunt Cass!”

Leif’s aunt wears a navy pantsuit; her silver hair done up in a neat chignon. I can’t help staring. She epitomizes how I want to look when I’m her age: graceful and owning her age in a way that makes me yearn to be there too.

I go to stand, but she shakes her head. “Please, you’re all good.”

“Noelle,” Leif says, “This is my Aunt Cassandra. She’s the long-time CEO of the Rolling Hills resort.”

“Not for long,” Cass says. “I’m retiring next year. Jack’s taking over.”

“I forgot,” Leif says. “End of an era.”

“Lovely to meet you, Noelle,” Cass says.

“And it’s an honor to meet you.”

Cass smiles. “You know, my dad wouldnotstop raving about you back when you two first met.”

My cheeks immediately grow hot. Did Leif’s grandfather tell herhowwe met? With Leif and I covered only in a hastily draped sheet after our one-night stand?

My eyes snap to Leif, but he’s looking away, his mouth twisted slightly. He’s trying not to laugh.

I scowl, then quickly rearrange my expression into a smile. “Well, it was lovely meeting your father, too.”Mortifying, but lovely.

“Anyway,” Cass says, “I won’t keep you two. Just wanted to say hi, and let you know everything’s set up, Leif.”

If thiswerea date, seeing the way his family is with him would check off some major boxes. It’s so warm and fuzzy I want to be a part of it.

Then I register what she said. “What’s everything?”

Leif opens his mouth, but Cass says, “Your meal’s on the house.”

Cass refuses to listen to my objections; just puts her hand up and says, “I hope you two have a wonderful night, and if you decide to stay, remember our doors are fully equipped with locks.”

She winks at Leif as I shrink down into my seat. “They know!” I whisper.

Leif grins. “Sorry. Grandpa thought it was hysterical how we met.”

“Oh my God.” I hold the menu over my head. “I’m never coming out of here again.”

Despite my promises, I do in fact come out from behind the menu, eventually, and we have the most incredible meal. A Belgian endive and blue cheese salad, lobster bisque, steak-frites, and a gorgeous mousse cake for dessert. Plus the good part of a bottle of a delicious Pinot Noir.

Leif and I talk the whole time. He tells me about how he applied for the internship last year, and all about what it’s like to be living in Houston. “My neighbor works from home, but constantly plays nature shows about elephants during his exact working hours at a very high volume. I never would have known if I didn’t spend a week home sick in the fall.”

“Elephants?”

“Yes. Elephants. Sometimes it’s the same documentary, too.”

“Maybe they’re an elephant researcher?” I suggest.

“That’s what I thought, too, but he told me he was an accountant. He’s just…really into elephants.”

I snort laugh at that.

I tell him I have some big career news, but I talk about the little things first. I tell him how at the show I wrapped last year, there was a woman who bought two tickets in the front row to every single performance in the season. “She kept one of the seats empty, and at the end of every show, she sobbed inconsolably. When I asked her about it, she said the play was her husband’s favorite. They were married thirty-four years.”

“Did he pass?” Leif asks softly.

“No. He left her. To become a Buddhist monk.”

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