Page 127 of The Life-Changing Magic of Falling in Love

‘As Zach should I go with spectacular again?’

‘As Zach you’re not going to need to answer that.’

Interesting. Is that because she didn’t sleep with Zach? And why am I fishing for information? Why is my chest puffing out a little and a warmth spreading through me? ‘I’ll just say that the sex between us is good?’

‘You’re not going to need to say anything because no one’s going to ask.’

‘You’re kidding? That’s one of the first questions your sister’s going to ask you.’

‘No, she isn’t.’

‘If not her, then your brother?’

‘He better not.’

‘Well, what do you want me to say if your father pulls me aside and asks what my intentions are?’

‘What do you want to say? No. Stop. We are not having this conversation.’

‘I don’t want you to get blind-sided. Weddings do funny things to people.’

‘Well, then, I’ll just tell them…’ She trails off, blows out another breath.

‘You’ll tell them…?’

Her voice is back to shaky as she says, ‘This is a really bad idea.’

‘You’re going to tell them we’re a really bad idea? I don’t think that’s going to help them not worry about you. This situation has Divide and Conquer written all over it and if we don’t give them what they want you can bet innocent-looking Granny in the corner will get the info out of us.’

‘You think Granny will be a ringer?’

‘Is this the first time you’ve brought a guy home?’

‘Crap,’ she says and the next thing I know she’s pulling into a gas station, switching off the engine and reaching for her phone.

‘Ma?’

‘Oh my god you’re not coming,’ I hear her mother immediately say. ‘I knew it. Joe? Joe? Didn’t I tell you this was going to be too difficult for her?—’

‘Relax, I’m still coming,’ Ashleigh quickly inserts. ‘I just wanted to give you a heads-up I’m no longer bringing Zach but instead my friend, George.’ She pauses and with a roll of her eyes, adds, ‘I’m not seeing Zach anymore and yes, George is a guy.’ I can’t quite make out her mother’s response before Ashleigh turns to me and with her gorgeous button-brown eyes sparkling, adds, ‘The poor guy has been super lonely and I just felt so sorry for him.’

I burst into laughter and mouth the word, ‘Touché.’

Ashleigh has this ability to make me feel light, whole, happy. It’s familiar – as if she’s returned a piece of me that I didn’t even know I’d lost. If I took that job, I could be around her energy even more.

And explore the spark between us.

Chapter Thirty-Eight

HOME BITTERSWEET HOME

Ashleigh

‘You asked for it,’ I whisper out the side of my mouth as George and I stand in front of my folks’ front porch.

‘Actually, I believe it was you who asked for me,’ he whispers back.

Liquid fire ignites inside me as I wonder if I did, in fact, ask the universe for George. Luckily, I’m spared any deep-thinking as family descends the porch steps in a wall of sound and we’re collected up as if we’re one unit. Bear hugs abound and emotion swells within me.

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