Page 77 of The Snowball Effect

“Absolutely,” Regan confirmed, heartily.

Emma couldn’t stop herself from scoffing. “I don’t know about that.”

“I do,” Regan defended, narrowing her eyes at Emma.

Emma held her ground. “A meet-cute is somethingcharming.”

“It’s a memorable, exciting first interaction,” Regan argued, turning to face everyone else, who were staring with undeniably rapt attention. “Iaccidentallyspilled coffee all over Emma’s shirt–”

“Which she then proceeded to literally tear off of me,” Emma cut in dryly, garnering laughter from around the table.

Being the cause of the laughter in that light moment made her feel strangely… proud, and she found herself sitting up straighter in her chair.

“Not all the way off,” Regan attempted to reason. “I just had to open it to ensure she didn’t get burned!”

“Liquid burns are no joke,” Ted added with a firm nod.

Emma couldn’t help the incredulous laugh that left her throat. “Oh my god!”

Regan’s grin was sheer triumph as she tossed a look at Emma. “Thank you, Ted. I agree.”

Emma stared back, a ridiculous smile working onto her face at Regan’s self-righteous expression. A smile she could not get rid of, even as she explained herself, “There were dozens of people there, watching this happen.”

“But, I promptly took her back to the break room and gave her my favorite sweatshirt to change into.” Regantsked at her, eyes gleaming with laughter. “You always forget that part.”

“Itisa very comfy sweatshirt,” Emma admitted with a defeated sigh. That much, she would give Regan.

She didn’t realize what exactly she’d said to make the sweet playfulness drop from Regan’s expression, shifting to something that looked curious.

And she didn’t have much time to think about it before Kimberly let out anaww. “That is a meet-cute! You don’t really ever hear about people meeting in person like that too much these days.”

“Um… yeah,” Regan quietly agreed, still looking intently at Emma.

Sointently, it made her stomach clench, not with nerves but with an… awareness.

Finally, Regan shook her head and looked back at Kimberly. “It’s so true; not in the day and age of dating apps.”

Eva cleared her throat. “Can I start clearing plates? I’m done… and it looks like Emma is, too.”

Emma’s attention – and everyone else’s – went to her own plate. Where she’d been pushing around the same carrot in the beef stew Kimberly had made for a while.

“Did you not like it?” Kimberly asked. “I know it’s summer, so this is a bit out of season, but I thought – well, I remembered that you always loved Gram’s beef stew, and this is her recipe.”

There it was again, that hopeful edge in her tone.

Emma had always loved her gram’s beef stew, and Regan’s effusive compliments toward Kimberly when they’d first sat down were true; it was delicious. At least, the few bites Emma had managed to take of it.

But she felt so uncomfortable, her stomach so tight, she hadn’t been able to eat much at all.

“No, it’s good. I’m just, um, I’m not super hungry tonight, I guess,” she muttered.

“Maybe for dessert, then?” Kimberly asked, ever optimistic, as she looked between Emma and Regan. “I know it’s a Saturday night, and you two probably have some other plans, but–”

“But every Saturday, we have dessert during family movie night,” Everly eagerly interrupted, grinning widely. “It’smyturn to pick the movie!”

“If you’re able to stay?” Kimberly finished, focusing on Emma, her eyes bright.

Emma’s stomach churned again, and she placed her fork down in her bowl, steadfastly avoiding her mom’s gaze. “I actually need to use the bathroom. Excuse me.”

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