Page 5 of Even In Our Dreams

With all three set of eyes staring, my ears burn and my face heats. “He said he would pick me up around six.”

“I want to know what shoes he’s going to wear,” Gemma comments as Marlena tells me the pleated navy sundress is perfect. I have a white button down cashmere cardigan to pair with it and white sandals too. Not too dressy but not too casual.

“What shoes?” Lauren scrunches her nose, the ice in her sangria clinking against the glass as she leans forward questioning Gemma’s reasoning.

“Well I’ve noticed if they wear sneakers on the first date they aren’t going to put effort in.” Marlena laughs and Lauren waves her off, all the while butterflies flutter in my lower belly.

I couldn’t count the number of times I thought about Bennet asking me out … while wearing his cleats after a game in high school. Instead of commenting, I simply take another sip of sangria and silently ask the cocktail to calm my nerves.

It doesn’t seem to be helping. With every minute that passes, the anxiousness only soars.

“It’s going to be fine,” Lauren reassures me as the porch swing ebbs and flows. Her brow is arched as she brings the straw to her lips. She eyes me like she knows I’m overthinking everything. I’ve known these women for all my life in this small town, so they probably know every thought flying through my head right now.

“At least you know he likes your boobs,” Marlena says with a shrug and girlish smile and Gemma snickers into her drink before covering her grin.

Lauren doesn’t try to hide her laugh.

“I’m not even sure he really saw,” I tell them as I yet again glance up to check my driveway.

They all answer in unison, “He saw.”

“There is a zero chance he didn’t see.” Lauren puts a finality on it.

A violent blush creeps into my cheeks. I almost tell them what I saw as he left the room, but I keep that piece of information to myself. At least for now, another sangria and depending on how tonight goes and I might spill it.

There’s a golden rule with these wine down Wednesdays: what’s confessed on Marlena’s porch, stays on Marlena’s porch.

BENNET

You learn something new every day. As I read the message from Steve, a good buddy of mine and currently my landlord since I’m renting his place until I find my own, my brow cocks.

Tommy moved away and has four kids.

He adds: So go for it. We all thought you two were going to get together after high school anyway.

I almost text him, Maybe we would have, if I hadn’t moved away. I delete the message and let out an uneasy sigh. It’s a simple story. I had a crush on Bree, but I was too young and dumb and nervous with puppy dog feelings to do anything about it. Then I left for college, then med school, then an internship and I’ve only just come back.

I’m damn surprised, and damn lucky too, that she’s single. Even more surprised that the first week back we stumbled into each other’s paths like we did.

My phone pings in my hand as I sit in my parked car at the end of her drive alerting me to another text from Steve: That’s my two cents anyway. He’s gone, she’s single, go for it.

This is a small town and no one ever really leaves, so it’s surprising Tommy settled down up north. Maybe I should send him a thank you card, I think as I glance between my phone and Bree’s front door.

I think I just might, I text Tommy as if I’m not parked in her driveway as we speak.

The corner of my lip picks up into an asymmetric grin, knowing there shouldn’t be any issues. Steve would have given me the heads up if there was anything to worry about. In a small town, there’s always someone spreading gossip or starting up shit. There’s always someone who has feelings for someone else or toes being stepped on as a new lover comes in.

The unnecessary bullshit is why I left this place but I missed my family, my friends… and it’s home. This small town will always be home for me.

“Bennet,” a feminine voice calls out and I glance across the paved street to a raised ranch on Cedar Lane. The porch swing rocks as someone raises a glass to me and across her two other women wave. All the while, my eyes are drawn to a beautiful woman in an easy sundress and heels, covering her face as if she’s embarrassed by her friends.

My smile widens, Bree. Just as I open the door, my phone pings again and it’s Steve: You always had a crush on her, didn’t you?

We all knew on the team

Well no one told me, I quickly type out and before I can add that I’m with her now, he texts: Pretty sure you knew you had a crush on her.

Bree’s heels drown out the chuckle that leaves me and I slip my phone in my pocket just in time to look up and see her only a foot away.

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