Page 72 of Love is an Open Book
And if I’m certain of anything, it’s that after today, friendship will never be enough. But if this doesn’t work out, it will have to be.
My phone buzzes in my purse, and when I pull it out, I see Serafina’s calling. I mute it, looking over my shoulder by reflex. We’re overdue to hang out, but between work and herpreparation for the new baby, we haven’t found a time to catch up, which means she doesn’t have a clue what’s going on here.
“Aren’t you going to answer?” he asks.
“What if she hears you?”
“She’ll think we’re hanging out.” He shrugs, not seeing the issue.
“Yeah, but we’rehanging out.” I take a deep breath, trying to explain. “This is a big deal. I know your nephews’ birthdays, for goodness’ sake.”
His lips curve in a confused grin. “How is that relevant?”
“How is it not?” I wave my arms, flailing metaphorically and physically. “We’re wrapped up in each other’s lives, Gavin. We’refriends.” The word comes out pained, and I rush to explain. “We know everything about each other. You were there when I came out of anesthesia for my wisdom teeth surgery.”
His smile dips, like he’s catching on, and not liking the implication. “That means we can’t be more?”
“No. It means we’re way past the first date here.” And the thought of Sera finding out, or any of our friends and family, means more potential fallout if this ends.
He nods, his expression thoughtful. “About that... There’s somewhere I’d like to take you.”
Which is how I find myself agreeing to go on a real date with Gavin, the exact thing I hoped to avoid at the start of all this. But this time, there’s no pretending our feelings are fake. I like him and he likes me, and if the date ends in disaster, we won’t be able to find refuge in each other like we normally do.
Who we are to each other has already changed, and I’m not sure I’m ready.
Twenty-Four
Gavin
The arboretum is one of my favorite places—a college buddy of mine works here and I visit at least once a season. I feel like I can breathe with the wide-open spaces and shady groves. I’m fully aware I should be driving the other direction tonight, toward the farm and the hard conversations I’ve been avoiding, but I can’t help wanting to stay in this bubble a little longer.
Mia seems sure that others finding out about us will complicate things, and while I disagree in general, I do hate the thought of Scott thinking he was right and that Mia is all that’s keeping me here.
Still, it was hard to keep quiet about what happened between us at work all week when I wanted so badly to share the news with Riley, who kept looking at me like she wanted to say something but was holding back, and Morris, who I’m 90 percent sure has already told her his suspicions after spending Sunday staining the pergola with us.
But coming home to Mia every evening has made up for the secrecy. She’s stayed at my house every day to watch the kittens, and most nights. Sometimes she works until I’m long asleep,nudging me awake after I’ve dozed off on the couch or rising in the middle of the night to write with a shift of the mattress that has me instantly awake but pretending otherwise, not wanting to disrupt the rhythm she’s found.
With only three weeks left until she turns in the book, the last thing I want is to be a distraction, but these past few days have been some of the best of my life, and I don’t want to think of what will happen if she decides she never wants to make this trial run the real thing.
Tonight feels like a big step and I’m excited to bring her to the arboretum. I haven’t come here for a date since a disastrous night out with my then-girlfriend who made it clear I was a walking cliché. Even though I know Mia would never tease me for loving it here, I hesitated to invite her, because I wasn’t sure she’d enjoy it. But I wanted to bring her somewhere we’ve never made memories as friends so we could start fresh as a couple, and the timing is perfect because tonight the arboretum is hosting a sip-and-savor night with food trucks and tastings from local wineries. Mia will never have a bad time if good food is involved.
The drive over was quieter than normal, since I was filled with first-date jitters, a weird sensation around the woman who’s been my friend for years. But things feel so different now, even though—or maybe especially because—I woke up in her arms this morning.
She’s never been a fan of bouquets, so I snipped a few sprigs of lavender from my garden and tucked them into the string knotted around a charcuterie box I picked up for the road. The flowers are in her hair now, the stems tucked into the braids she knotted into a low bun. She’s gorgeous as ever, and I have to remind myself not to stare.
We order kebabs and spring rolls to share and eat on high-top tables near the arboretum entrance, then take our wine on a stroll along the garden paths, before I lead her out onto one of the many woodland trails.
“Where are you at in the book?” Conversation is an uphill battle tonight since I’m weighing all my words, not wanting to get it wrong, but I know she’s thinking about the story from the far-off look in her eyes. She gets that way when her characters push to the forefront of her thoughts.
“Ugh, now is where things start to fall apart. Tensions are high, and not in a good way. I just want to protect them from what’s coming next.”
“So do it.” Sounds great to me.
She shakes her head. “It’s important to put their relationship to the test. But right now I’m not in the mood for that.”
A smile tugs at my cheeks, and she glances my way with a cute grin. “Quit looking so smug. Or don’t actually, because it’s sexy.”
Mia just called me sexy. I think my brain might have short-circuited, but I’m okay with it.
