Page 60 of Forgettable in Every Way

Simon laughed, but then said, “You once mentioned loving this cottage.”

I thought about coming here every week for years of piano lessons. As much as I looked forward to the little dose of sunshine it was in my life growing up, it had nothing on the blast of heat and light I was feeling now. “I do love this place. Miss Sally had a vintage upright she kept in her dining room. That piano had the richest sound. She collected old music boxes and had them all throughout the house. I once thought I would buy this place when I grew up. There was something fairy tale like to it. And I needed the enchantment of this place every week. Miss Sally always gave me the encouragement I craved.”

Simon wrapped his arms around me tighter. “I’m glad you had someone like her in your life.”

“Me too.”

“Do you ever think ...”—he paused—“you would consider moving back here? Back to Aspen Lake?”

“No,” I said before thinking. I could feel all the breath leave Simon’s chest.

“Oh,” he said, disappointed. “You should know, per the custody agreement, I have to live in either the same state or district as Penelope, depending on which country we reside in.”

I thought about what that meant. What he was really asking of me. He thought we had a future together. I wanted that more than anything. “Simon.” I stilled against him. “For so long, I felt invisible in this town. Even today, Maisy couldn’t remember my name. But then I realized she at least recognized me. It also dawned on me I could tell her who I was. I think for years, I thought something was wrong with me, so I never reintroduced myself. That was on me. But now that I’m finding myself again, I’m also remembering all there is to love about Aspen Lake. Especially some of its residents.” I hoped he understood that meant him and Jack.

Simon tipped my chin up and leaned back so we were face-to-face. “I’m not asking you to change your life or your zip code for me. I just want to be up front about it.”

“I appreciate that.” I knew I wasn’t ready to make Aspen Lake a permanent residence yet, or maybe ever. Living in the same town as Penelope honestly scared me. As strong as I was trying to be, I feared falling into old patterns of behavior around her. Namely, seeing myself as less. “But ... you should know. You changed my life the moment you walked into that coffeehouse.”

A soft expression washed over him. “Jules,” he said like he revered my name. “I hope one day you’ll forgive me for being so blind to what I could have had.”

“Well ...” I smiled. “You could show me that book and tell me who the prince is. I think that would go a long way toward me forgiving you.” I figured since Jack was asleep, now would be a good time. I hated disappointing him by not remembering.

Simon nuzzled my nose. “Nice try, love.”

“I don’t understand the mystery.”

“There’s no mystery. It’s just not time yet.”

“When will it be time?” I was getting suspicious about this Princess Jewel and Daft Prince story. I wondered if it even existed.

“I hope soon,” he said seriously.

His tone concerned me. “Am I missing something?”

“Not at all. You’re perfect.”

I rolled my eyes.

He ran a finger down my cheek. “I’m serious, Jules. You are perfect, and I want to be deserving of you in every way.”

I wasn’t sure what that had to do with me reading the book, but it touched me to know he thought of me as perfect. Although, I felt he was mistaken. I was far from perfect. “Even if I don’t want to live in Aspen Lake?” I had to know.

“If it were up to only me, I would follow you anywhere. With that said, we’ll find a way to make it work.”

“I like the sound of that.”

“But since you’re here,” he crooned as sexily as humanly possible, “I think we should take advantage of it. How about we get better acquainted by not using any words?”

An adrenaline rush the size of a tsunami went through me. “I have always felt showing is much better than telling.”

Jules

I HEARD MY DAD SWEARING loudly in the garage, so I went to investigate. I walked in to find him polishing my Vespa. He was the one who had been taking care of it. His thoughtfulness had me pausing at the door and choking up a bit. I thought about how the last few weeks at home had changed the way I saw my parents, and even my life. I would have never guessed the turn of events that had culminated this summer. The main one being my relationship with Simon.

We’d spent almost every waking moment together and even some of our sleeping ones too. I thought of our nights sleeping out under the stars on the beach with Jack, roasting marshmallows and singing songs by the campfire. Waking up in Simon’s arms with the sunlight kissing our cheeks was my favorite thing.

If only my parents could be as happy as we were. At least they were talking. Not a lot in my presence, but I’d noticed small gestures, like Mom bringing Dad his coffee and Dad helping Mom solve the crossword puzzles she likes to do every morning. Dad was also dressing and grooming more like himself.

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