Page 62 of Starting Over with You
I grab one, furrowing my brow as I pop the top before pulling my phone out of my back pocket. I sit at the island, setting my phone down as I take a long pull and open my text thread with Dean.
Me
How’d you know I love Ginger Lime Poppis?
He answers right away.
Dean
Skyye told me. You have salt and vinegar chips too. Let me know if you need anything else.
My heart kicks up, but before I can write him back, my phone rings, showing a photo of Sadie and me at her wedding. I hit answer and greet her happily.
“Hey! You get settled? Sorry I didn’t come over to help. I had a day,” she says, and it’s almost like she’s out of breath. “Rae and Tillie had skating, and then Mitchell has hockey, so I’m running ragged.”
I grin. “Enjoy it. Soon, they’ll be off to college.”
She groans. “Don’t remind me. I love them too much.”
“Oh, I know,” I say on a sigh. “But yeah, I’m settled. Dean has done so much with this place.”
“Right? It’s so gorgeous.” I can hear the smile in her voice. “And he kept true to our great-great-grandparents and more.”
“I know. I love it,” I say softly, sliding my fingers along the condensation on my can.
“That makes me so happy,” she gushes, and I can’t help but smile. “So, I want us all to wear matching dresses, white, with our boots.”
I snort. “Lord, why are we matching when it’s Matt’s and your anniversary?”
“Because I said so,” she says simply. “We’re gonna have a blast.”
“That’s a given.” Then I realize that with Sadie with Matt, and Missy with Nyle, it’ll leave Dean and me. How is that still happening as adults just as it did as kids? It makes me think the universe is fucking with me—or my brain is.
Something is.
I swallow down that thought, but Sadie is in my head. “Have you noticed that Dean has been flirty with you?”
I force a scoff, laughing. “What? No. Not at all. He’s just a goof.”
I’m met with silence, and I want to hide my face even though she can’t see me. “I don’t believe you one bit, Kenleigh Colburn.”
“Well, that’s rude. I’m your best friend.”
“And as your best friend, I know you know he’s been flirting with you.”
“No, I do not.”
“Wow, denial is not cute on you,” she laughs, but I just press my lips together. I can’t unload on Sadie. She is his sister, and while we’re all best friends, I know she’s closer to Missy. I don’t want Missy knowing I’m lusting after her baby daddy. I swear, Sadie is in my head again because she says slowly, almost like I’m a child, “It’d be okay.”
My heart is slamming into my ribs, and I press my hand to my stomach. “What are you talking about?”
“If you acted on your crush.”
I sputter, “What? Crush? I’m not crushing on your brother!”
“Kenni,” she says softly. “I’ve always noticed how you seek him out whenever he is around. I can’t forget how you cried when he got Missy pregnant?—”
“Those were tears of happiness,” I try, but my voice breaks, giving me away.
