But I restrain myself.
“You’re definitely invited,” I say fiercely. “Plus it’s a costume party.”
She starts to laugh. “You got everyone to go along with that idea?”
“Yeah, when I told Georgia about the cake design and I suggested costumes, she totally went for it. We’re all supposed to dress like we’re in The Great Gatsby movie. The DiCaprio version,” I explain to her as we start walking again.
Now Maisey is full blown laughing. “Oh, that ought to be funny, seeing you in your twenties’ gear.”
“Are you making fun of me?” I nudge her side.
“Maybe.” She nudges me back. “Where am I going to find a costume? I don’t have much time.”
“You have over a week. And Amazon is an amazing thing,” I suggest.
“Hmm. I do have a Prime membership,” she says, pursing her lips. “Think I could find a costume there?”
“I know you can.” That’s where I already found mine.
“I’ll have to check it out.”
We come to a stop at my rental car and I reluctantly remove my arm from around her shoulders so I can open the door for her. “Will you be my date?”
She whirls around, frowning at me. “Date for what?”
“The anniversary party.” I smile, suddenly feeling nervous. Like I’m a teenage kid again, asking my favorite girl to prom. “My parents would probably love that. To see us back together again.”
I say the words and I can see the flicker of emotion in he
r gaze, the creases in her forehead as she frowns. Maybe I pushed too hard. I shouldn’t have said that. I shouldn’t assume anything. I’m walking on thin ice here.
And I don’t want to screw this up. Not again.
“I’m sure they would,” she murmurs just before she slides into the passenger seat. “Can I think about it? Before I give you my answer?”
My heart drops in my gut. There goes my chance at a goodnight kiss. “Sure,” I say easily, just before I slam her car door. “Think about it all you want,” I mutter under my breath. “You know where to find me.”
Chapter Nine
Maisey
“…and so then I asked him if I could think about it first. Before I give him my answer,” I finish, waiting for my older sister’s reaction.
By the way she’s gaping at me like I’ve just lost my mind, it’s not a good one.
“He asked you to be his date at his parents’ anniversary party, and you asked him if you could think about it first?” she asks incredulously.
We’re at her flower shop, since we just met with a potential client looking for flowers and the cake for her wedding. It’s such a bonus that we’re a one-stop shop for both, but now our future client is gone and Brooke is being her usual self.
An interrogator.
I nod at her question, hating the dread that is filling me, making my stomach churn. “I shouldn’t have said that?” I ask weakly.
“Uh, no.” She’s shaking her head, her disappointment clear. “Maise, it’s Tucker. Your first love. Hell, I consider him your only love.”
“Oh please. I can find more love. He’s not the only fish in the sea,” I remind her. God, I sound like our mother with that fish in the sea nonsense.
“Yeah, but for some reason, he seems to be the only fish for you,” she stresses. “You haven’t dated many guys beyond Tucker.”