Page 54 of When Love Is Unexpected

"Do you know what the spark feels like?" I ask.

"I do," he says. "I've felt it at least twice."

"That's right," I say. "Twice. Listen, it's getting late. I should probably go."

"Okay," he says. "I'll see you tomorrow?"

"Yeah," I say, looking at him. "See you tomorrow."

***

When I get home, I shut the door behind me and lean against it, realizing that, one, I'm jealous. I chuckle under my breath and shake my head. I'm jealous. Two, he still owes me a kiss.

Walking into my bedroom, I find Mom sitting on my bed.

"You heard," I say.

"Yes, your sister called earlier."

"There's nothing to worry about, Mom. Eric is upset, and understandably so. I hurt him, and I can't expect him to get over it overnight. Adam and Aaron have been good friends to him. They'll talk some sense into him."

"Okay, that makes me feel better. I'll let you go to bed now. Do you have plans with Sam tomorrow?"

"We're having dinner with Loren and Aaron."

"Just to let you know, everyone is coming over for breakfast in the morning. Have a good night, Sweetheart."

She gives me a hug and a kiss before leaving the room.

I get up early in the morning, planning to help Mom fix breakfast.

When I walk into the kitchen, Mom is peeling potatoes, and Dad is sitting at the table drinking coffee.

"Sit down, Princess," Dad says. "Tell me exactly what happened with Eric."

When I finish giving him a complete account of what transpired between Eric and me and then between Sam and Eric, Dad doesn't say anything, but his face tells a story.

"You're worried," I say.

"You're my daughter," he says. "I'm not going to apologize for wanting to protect you."

"I don't want you and Mom to worry," I say. "Sam and I are leaving tomorrow. Putting some distance between Eric and me will help him gain some clarity."

"I think so, too," says Mom, handing me a pan.

Together, we make eggs, sausage, pancakes, and hash browns. By the time Katherine and Loren show up with their families, the topic of Eric has been put to rest.

"Where's Sam?" asks Adam, piling his plate with pancakes and sausage.

"He's at the studio," I say. "They hired a couple more people to help Zoe, and he wants to meet them."

"I don't know how you did it all by yourself," Aaron says, reaching for Loren's hand.

"When I ran it by myself, it wasn't as busy as it is now," says Loren.

"Daddy," says Holly, "can Tori and I go to Mommy's studio to paint new plates?"

"The studio isn't mine anymore, Sweetie," says Loren. "But I'm sure we can stop by. Maybe tomorrow?"

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